Employment and Contract Considerations for Family Physicians in the Era of COVID-19 -- FPM
Feb 1, 2021 - Family physicians may encounter unfamiliar employment challenges in the short-term, but long-term job prospects remain promising.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2021/0100/p11.html
Encouraging Signs in Washington for Family Medicine
There’s reason to hope that the incoming administration is ready to recognize primary care’s importance as it works to improve vaccination efforts and health care policy as a whole.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20210121itt-newadministration.html
Telemedicine II: What We’ve Learned So Far
This spring our new physician bloggers told us about their experiences with implementing telemedicine. Several months later, we asked for an update regarding their lessons learned.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20201203fp-telehealth.html
Topic Collections -- FPM
Nov 11, 2020 - FPM editors' choice of best available content for family physicians.
Family Practice Management : Topic Collections
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/topicModules/viewAll.htm
Outpatient Management of COVID-19: Rapid Evidence Review - American Family Physician
Oct 15, 2020 - Common presenting symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. However, patients may have a wide range of symptoms representing a spectrum of mild to severe illness. Symptoms in children tend to be milder and may include fever, cough, ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2020/1015/p478.html
Sorry, Boss, I Can't Guarantee Your Worker Is COVID-free
With asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 and the potential for false-negative tests, Allison Edwards, M.D., questions the utility of providing doctor’s notes for patients returning to work in this Fresh Perspectives blog post.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20201007fp-covidnote.html
Would Medicare for All Be the Most Beneficial Health Care System for Family Physicians ...
Oct 1, 2020 - Expansion of Medicare or private insurance would not address the deeper problems in our health care system.
American Family Physician : Editorials: Controversies in Family Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2020/1001/p392.html
House Calls - American Family Physician
Aug 15, 2020 - The demand for house calls is increasing because of the aging U.S. population, an increase in patients who are homebound, and the acknowledgment of the value of house calls by the public and health care industry. Literature from current U.S. home-based primary care programs describes ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2020/0815/p211.html
Transitioning to Direct Primary Care -- FPM
Aug 1, 2020 - Imagine practicing medicine without all the administrative burdens related to billing insurance. Here’s how one physician made the switch.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2020/0700/p29.html
Understanding Value-Based Payment: A Primer for Family Physicians -- FPM
Aug 1, 2020 - Public and private payers are transitioning away from fee-for-service and emphasizing value-based payment models. This supplement from the American Academy of Family Physicians describes what you need to know about the transition and how it may affect you and your practice.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2020/0700/p25.html
Ten Tips for Cultivating Patience During Uncertain Times -- FPM
Aug 1, 2020 - It’s easy to feel impatient with ourselves and others these days. But research suggests impatience can be bad for our health. Here’s a better way to respond.
Family Practice Management : The Last Word
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2020/0700/p43.html
Considering direct primary care? Here are five tips to get started -- FPM
Interest in DPC was growing even before the pandemic took a chunk out of fee-for-service revenues. If you’re among those interested in the model, here are five tips for making the switch.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/dpc_online_resources.html
Pandemic Exposes Flaws in Health Care Payment System
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the many challenges that the fee-for-service system presents to primary care. In this In the Trenches blog post, AAFP Senior Vice President of Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Stephanie Quinn examines what needs to change.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20200623itt-payment.html
CMS opens Direct Contracting alternative payment program applications -- FPM
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation has opened applications for its Direct Contracting program.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/direct_contracting_portal.html
Snorkeling or Paralysis: An FP's Strange Experience With COVID-19
Ryan Neuhofel, D.O., M.P.H., explains how the pandemic has forced him to try some unconventional things, including new approaches to personal protective equipment, in the FPs on the Front Lines blog.
AAFP News : FPs on the Front Lines: Meeting the Challenge | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/fpsonfrontlines/entry/20200602fl-newapproaches.html
How Do We Talk About the Worst-case Scenario?
Against the backdrop of a pandemic, Allison Edwards, M.D., ponders the best way to broach the subject of end-of-life care with a relatively young patient panel in the Fresh Perspectives blog.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20200520fp-endoflife.html
Carpe Diem: It's Time to Fix Our Broken Health Care System
AAFP Senior VP for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin writes in this In the Trenches blog post that the current health crisis presents an opportunity to drastically improve the U.S. health care system.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20200414itt-fixsystem.html
COVID-19: FP Searches for Supplies, Information and Lessons
As COVID-19 spreads across the country, Allison Edwards, M.D., describes the difficulty and frustration of preparing for the pandemic in this Fresh Perspectives blog post.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20200320fp-ppesearch.html
One thing every physician can do to help change health policy -- FPM
Physicians, who see firsthand the effects poor health policy can have on a community, can be a powerful voice to help bring about change. Here’s how.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/health_policy_change_tip.html
Get the Most Out of Your AAFP Membership
Academy members receive exclusive products, programs, services and discounts totaling more than $4,000 in savings each year. In this Leader Voices Blog post, AAFP President Gary LeRoy, M.D., highlights some perks you might not be aware of.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20200101lv-membervalue.html
Reflections on a Decade of Change
Positive and sometimes negative, the 2010s saw massive shifts in health policy. In this In the Trenches blog post, AAFP Senior Vice President of Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin looks back at the issues he thinks made the biggest impact.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20191210itt-lookback.html
In Business -- Including Health Care -- Someone Has To Pay
A group of physicians recently spoke out about their institution's aggressive collections tactics. Allison Edwards, M.D., asks in this Fresh Perspectives post whether anyone will follow their lead in standing up for patients regarding skyrocketing costs in the U.S. health care system.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20191209fp-collections.html
The Right-Sized Patient Panel: A Practical Way to Make Adjustments for Acuity and ...
Dec 1, 2019 - Do you have the right number of patients on your panel? Here’s a process and a spreadsheet for calculating and adjusting your panel based on actual patient behavior.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2019/1100/p23.html
How Much Will This Cost, Doc?
Allison Edwards, M.D., writes in this Fresh Perspectives blog post that CME can arm physicians with new approaches to treatment, but too often discussions leave out the aspect of cost and value.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20191126fp-cost.html
It Started With One Question: What Is High-value Care?
Health policy wonk Kyle Leggott, M.D., and direct primary care physician Allison Edwards, M.D., debate the flaws and potential fixes of our health care system in this wide-ranging QandA.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20191008fp-highvaluecare.html
Social Media Influencers or FPs: Who Do Patients Trust?
Michael Richardson, M.D., writes in this Fresh Perspectives blog post that physicians can overcome the spate of false and misleading health reports that consumers find on social media by emphasizing the doctor-patient relationship.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190903fp-socialmedia.html
Direct Primary Care: A Snapshot
Direct primary care family physician Allison Edwards, M.D., reflects in this Fresh Perspectives blog post on insights from the AAFP's DPC Data Brief and offers a path for the movement to grow thoughtfully.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190820fp-dpcsnapshot.html
Residency Grad Thanks His Best Teachers -- His Patients
In this Fresh Perspectives blog post, recent graduate Kyle Leggott, M.D., reflects on one of the most difficult tasks of his residency training: saying goodbye to his patients.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190812fp-thankpatients.html
Find Joy in Practice -- Physician Health First
Find tools and resources to help you reignite your joy in practice and passion for medicine.
Membership : Member Benefits
https://www.aafp.org/membership/benefits/physician-health-first/find-joy-in-practice.html
Fight Burnout Causes -- Physician Health First
Find advocacy stories, tools, and resources to fight the causes of physician burnout, including a broken health care system and increased administrative complexities.
Membership : Member Benefits
https://www.aafp.org/membership/benefits/physician-health-first/fight-burnout-causes.html
Celebrating Disruptive Innovators in Primary Care
In his latest In the Trenches blog post, AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin spotlights four family physician leaders who found innovative ways to improve care.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20190806itt-disrupters.html
Reaping Benefits (and Avoiding Pitfalls) of Social Media
After recent research showed the effect one negative social media post can have on a doctor's credibility, we asked our new physician bloggers how -- and why -- they use social media. This Fresh Perspectives blog post presents their responses.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190710fp-socialmedia.html
Data in (Direct) Primary Care: Striking the Right Balance
In this Fresh Perspectives blog post, Allison Edwards, M.D., writes that the health care system has done a poor job of measuring quality overall, but says that direct primary care can start over with a blank slate.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190624fp-dpcmeasures.html
FPs Steer the AAFP With Plenty of Ways to Influence Course
AAFP President John Cullen, M.D., explains how AAFP policy is set by members who represent a wide scope of opinions about the best ways to advance family medicine.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190605lv-governance.html
Family physician pay goes up, satisfaction with pay goes down -- FPM
An annual survey of physician compensation shows a healthy gain for physicians. How do you compare?
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/2019_compensation.html
Surveys: Physician Salaries Are Increasing, Burnout Persists
AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin writes in the latest In the Trenches blog post that findings from a pair of Medscape surveys on compensation and burnout offer a mix of good and bad news.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20190416itt-docsurveys.html
Objection! Can We Bring Order to Documentation and Billing?
Have you ever seen a lawyer documenting everything said during court? Neither has Allison Edwards, M.D., who ponders in this Fresh Perspectives blog post whether doctors could learn something about how attorneys document -- and bill for -- their work.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190405fp-billing.html
Practical Strategies to Achieve Your Health Policy Goals -- FPM
Apr 1, 2019 - As a physician, you can have a powerful voice in bringing about change in your community. Here’s how to go about it.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2019/0300/p20.html
High-deductible Plans Give 'Prevention' a New Meaning
Robert Raspa, M.D., writes in this Leader Voices Blog post that high-deductible plans are causing patients to delay needed care, which leads to more costly urgent care later.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190401lv-hdhp.html
Tracks
Attend one of the seven tracks being offered at the 2020 AAFP Family Medicine Experience (FMX) Conference: Chicago, October 13-17.
Events : Family Medicine Experience (FMX) Virtual
https://www.aafp.org/events/fmx/cme/opportunities/tracks.html
2020 CME Session Topics
View the CME topics that will be discussed at the 2020 AAFP Family Medicine Experience (FMX) Conference: Chicago, October 13-17.
Events : Family Medicine Experience (FMX) Virtual
https://www.aafp.org/events/fmx/cme/opportunities/session-topics.html
Take Note of Growing Demand for Subscription Services
Consumer Reports recently advised consumers that direct primary care could save them money and improve their care. Allison Edwards, M.D., makes the case for the subscription model in this Fresh Perspectives blog post.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190222fp-subscriptioncare.html
Shift Health System's Focus From Profit to Prevention
Leonard Reeves, M.D., writes in this Leader Voices Blog post that a single-payer system reserved for primary care would put the focus on keeping people healthy rather than on treating illness.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190221lv-change.html
Beat the Clock: Why I Chose Direct Primary Care
Allison Edwards, M.D., writes in this Fresh Perspectives blog post that the limitations of the 12-minute patient visits she experienced as a resident inspired her to start her own direct primary care practice.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190115fp-whydpc.html
No Margin, No Mission: Better Physician Pay = Better Patient Care
AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin outlines six areas of focus where the Academy's advocacy work is aimed at improving payment for primary care.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20190108itt-betterpayment.html
Physician Leaders Can't Wait for Squeaks to Turn Into Clunks
Gary LeRoy, M.D., writes in this Leader Voices Blog post that the AAFP must listen to its members' urgent concerns while also pursuing the long-term needs of family medicine.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190102lv-listening.html
High-deductible Plans Shouldn't Endanger Continuity of Care
AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin addresses the need for continuity of care among patients with high-deductible health plans.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20181218itt-hdhp.html
Let's Get Drug Pricing Under Control
Allison Edwards, M.D., writes in this Fresh Perspectives blog post that it's high time we find a fix for the drug pricing system that we've grown too accustomed to.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20181126fp-drugprices.html
The Votes Were Cast. What Does It Mean for Family Medicine?
AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin sets the stage for an analysis of the 2018 midterm elections and looks at Wall Street's growing interest in health care.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20181120itt-postelection.html
State Legislative Conference Offers Insight Into 2019's Top Issues
AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin offers highlights from the Academy's annual State Legislative Conference.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20181106itt-elections.html