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Oct. 4, 2018 | Issue 198
The Latest News
Government Affairs and Practice Advocacy
PAFP-supported POLST legislation clears Pa. Senate
The PAFP, for several years, has been working with the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) and 26 other health care organizations and advocacy groups on clarifying the legal framework of the Pennsylvania Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) directives. This week, Senate Bill 623 (Sen. Yaw – Lycoming) passed the Senate on Oct. 1, 47-1, aided by PAFP advocacy under President David O’Gurek, MD. This complex legislation, among other things, would amend prior statutes to update and codify the use of a POLST form and to improve communication and portability of end-of-life care decisions. The PAFP will continue to work with our partners in the 2019-20 legislative session on this important legislation.
Education
Room block at Nemacolin filling up quickly
The block of rooms the PAFP has reserved at Nemacolin is filling quickly, and you may have trouble securing a room for one or more nights for this CME conference. Call 1-866-344-6957, pick option #3 for new reservations, and reference group code 10A0CR to book your room. The deadline for PAFP room rate is October 8, 2018. If you are unable to secure a reservation for a room at the Nemacolin resort, we have booked a block of rooms at the Summit Inn Resort in Farmington. Rates are $139 for a king or double room, or $129 for a queen room. Please call 724-438-8594 and be sure to identify yourself as being a PAFP member. Click here to book a room at the Summit Inn.
Public Health
Will 2018-19 match last year's brutal flu season?
Music superstar Drake has it, according to ABC - but there's still plenty of time to avoid the flu this season after a brutal 2017-18 which saw record-breaking hospitalization rates. While last year's flu vaccine was a poor match for the dominant strain of the virus, that's no reason for patients not to get this year's vaccine: the CDC recommends nearly all patients receive the shot.
Residents and Students
Don't miss these upcoming events!
Next week: SWPA AHEC Family Medicine Residency Fair
Thursday, Oct. 11, 5-8 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn, Pittsburgh University Place
For: Third- and fourth-year medical students
RSVP via email to Patti Zahnhausen by Friday, Oct. 5
Medical students on rotations in southwestern Pa. are invited to this special event to network with eight area family medicine residency programs ready to advise you on training opportunities in the region. Hosted by the Southwest Pa. AHEC.
Career and networking event, Pittsburgh
Oct. 25, 5:30-8 p.m.
Networking event with Pittsburgh’s safety-net clinic teams.
Featured guest: Jim Withers, MD, of Operation Safety Net.
FMEC Annual Meeting, Rye Brook, N.Y.
Nov. 9-11
Student scholarships available!
Other News
Welcome New PAFP Members!
- Stanley Kozakowski, MD
- George Xakellis, MD
- Maureen Buckley, MD
- Rupa Natarajan, MD
- Jihad Irani, MD
- Brian Shefulsky, DO
- Nora Callinan, MD
- Nicholas Schenk, MD
- Ruba Nicola, MD
- Jonathan Miller, MD
- Kyle Ungvarsky, MD
Become the leader you're meant to be with PAFP Leadership Institute
Next month, the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians is recommitting itself to fostering the unique skills and talents of its members. The PAFP Leadership Institute provides members with the tools to be influential community leaders and advocates of family medicine. Registry for PAFP Leadership Institute events is separate from other PAFP events - click here to join us!
Enroll in ABFM PRIME Registry free for 3 years
The ABFM invites board-certified family physicians to enroll in its PRIME Registry free for the first three years! PRIME Registry is a practice and population data tool developed by the ABFM that safely extracts patient data from your electronic health records (EHRs) and turns it into actionable measures, presented in an easy-to-use, personalized dashboard, maintaining its full confidentiality.
PRIME not only simplifies quality reporting for payment programs such as MIPS and CPC+, but also allows you to better evaluate aspects of your practice, patient groups, and individual patients, illuminating gaps or successes in patient care. Click here for full details!
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