Ronald M. Davis, MD
Exercise: a dose of medicine we all can use
If you learned that a single prescription could prevent and treat dozens of diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, would you prescribe it to your patients? I'll bet most of you would.
A new collaboration between the AMA and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) encourages physicians to write this magical prescription for all their patients. Only it's not magic—it's exercise. Through the "Exercise is Medicine" initiative, both the AMA and the ACSM are calling on physicians, regardless of specialty, to share with their patients the importance of incorporating physical activity and exercise into their daily routines.
Nearly 30 supporting organizations are involved with "Exercise is Medicine," which was unveiled at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., earlier this week. As part of the campaign, which received some positive publicity in last weekend's issue of USA Weekend, educational materials and tool kits are available online that physicians can use in their practices. And educational models will be developed for use in medical schools so students can learn, early in their careers, about the importance of prescribing exercise to patients.>>>Read More
Please send comments, questions, and replies to amaprez@ama-assn.org.
eVoice®
Nov. 8, 2007
AMA eVoice is your regular update on the most important health care issues and recent AMA activities.
The AMA is committed to communication. We encourage you to help us spread the word by forwarding AMA eVoice to your colleagues.
Your news interests
Sign up to receive customized AMA eVoice messages.
Faculty practice physician issues
1) AMA calls on government to extend medical education loan deferment option
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender physician issues
1) Study: Nature versus nurture in worms
2) Research shows gay men face more discrimination than lesbians in workplace
3) Submit ideas to the AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee
Group practice physician issues
1) AMA issues new CPT® codes to screen for substance abuse
International medical graduate issues
1) AMA-IMG Section Governing Council member inspires future physicians
2) Mark your calendar for AMA-IMG Section events
3) Attend AMA sections and special groups events
Medical school news
1) Listen to recording of AMA webcast on young adult high-risk drinking
2) In AMNews: New law ends loan deferment program
3) In the Houston Chronicle: Influx of medical students creates concern for residency
training
Medical student issues
1) Are you informed about presidential candidates' health care proposals?
2) The CDC Experience: Applied Epidemiology Fellowship—apply today
3) Take part in Wilson's Disease Association 2008 Student Writing Competition
4) Mark your calendar: AMPAC political education programs for 2008
Minority health issues and professional concerns of minority
physicians
1) October DBTS visit a huge success
2) Mark your calendar: AMA-MAC events planned for Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates attendees
Organized medical staff issues
1) Listen to Joint Commission conference calls on MS.1.20 and new leadership standards
Resident and fellow issues
1) AMA wins extension of student loan deferment pathway
2) In Resident & Staff Physician: Impact of international health and humanitarian
medicine on U.S. graduate medical education globalization movement is expanding to medicine
3) In Archives of Internal Medicine: Medical errors involving trainees
Senior physicians issues
1) Sermo is for senior physicians too
Women physician and women's health issues
1) Join in on AMWA conference calls with presidential candidates
2) AMA-WPC physician mentor program featured at caucus and reception
3) AMA-WPC members invited to learn about the future of medicine
Young physician issues
1) Check out "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign podcast
2) Virtual Mentor examines ethical issues in diagnostic radiology
3) In AMNews: The failed promise of prompt pay
General AMA news:
1) AMA Interim Meeting is underway
2) Call your U.S. senators to urge action on Medicare physician payment
3) AMA addresses issues with compensation for switching patients to generic
drugs
4) Resource can help doctors overcome language barriers with patients
5) On Sermo: Your patient said what?
6) In JAMA: Study examines association between weight amount and cause of
death
Your news interests
Sign up to receive customized AMA eVoice messages.
Faculty practice physician issues
1) AMA calls on government to extend medical education loan deferment option
Following the AMA's advocacy efforts and grassroots action, the U.S. Department of Education
announced a temporary extension of the deferment eligibility that allows graduate physicians to
delay paying back student loans until after the completion of residencies. As part of the
College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the "20/220 pathway" option was eliminated on Oct. 1 in
favor of a new loan repayment program that does not begin until July 1, 2009. Thousands of
resident physicians will be forced to begin making extremely large loan payments or go into
deeper debt unless action is taken to account for the 21-month gap created by the new law. "The
rules are being changed midstream, which does not provide residents enough time to restructure
their repayment plans," said AMA Trustee Samantha L. Rosman, MD. Members of the AMA Medical
Student Section (MSS) and Resident and Fellow Section (RFS) have mobilized to urge Congress to
restore the 20/220 pathway permanently.
Learn more and view the AMA's letter to the U.S. Department of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings.
Learn more about this issue, how it affects the AMA-MSS, and what you can do to help.
Learn more about the issue, how it affects the AMA-RFS, and what you can do to help.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender physician issues
1) Study: Nature versus nurture in worms
A couple weeks ago, AMA eVoice featured an article about a study currently being
conducted that looks at gay brothers and related genetics.
In continuing to examine the biological origins of homosexuality, biologist Erik Jorgensen and his research team at the University of Utah took female nematodes with normal reproductive organs and activated genes that determine "maleness," thereby converting female brains to male brains.
Learn more about the study.
2) Research shows gay men face more discrimination than lesbians in workplace
Gay men working in management and traditional blue collar, male-dominated jobs make less than
straight men because they are discriminated against by their employers, according to new
research released Oct. 24 by the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Whittemore School of Business
and Economics.
Lesbians, however, do not experience similar discrimination in the labor market, according to UNH Economics Professor Bruce Elmslie and his co-author and former UNH Economics Assistant Professor Edinaldo Tebaldi—now at Bryant University in Rhode Island.
Learn more about the study.
3) Submit ideas to the AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee
The AMA Advisory Committee on GLBT Issues will be gathering for a business meeting Nov. 8 in
Honolulu. While the agenda has been set, the committee still wants to hear from you.
Send an e-mail if you have a topic or idea you would like the committee to address.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Group practice physician issues
1) AMA issues new CPT® codes to screen for substance abuse
Beginning Jan. 1, 2008, physicians in the U.S. will be able to use new health care codes to
screen for substance abuse in their patients and provide a brief intervention for those they
deem to have a problem. The new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes, issued by the AMA,
will make it possible for the health care system to efficiently report screening services for
drug and alcohol abuse, noted a statement from the White House Office of National Drug Control
Policy (ONDCP). According to the ONDCP, the AMA Level I CPT Codes (99408 and 99409), will
streamline reporting and reimbursement procedures for doctors who perform alcohol and/or
substance abuse (other than tobacco) structured screening and brief intervention.
>>Return to your news interest contents
International medical graduate issues
1) AMA-IMG Section Governing Council member inspires future physicians
AMA-IMG Section Member at-large Mitra B. Kalelkar, MD, was among the physicians taking part in
an Oct. 23 Doctors Back to School (DBTS) event at Pershing West Magnet School in Chicago. DBTS,
a program that aims to raise awareness of the need for more minority physicians, encourages
children from underrepresented minority groups to look at medicine as a career option. Dr.
Kalelkar, a forensic pathologist, inspired students with props and stories from her work as
assistant chief medical examiner of Cook County, Ill.
AMA-IMG Section members attending the 2007 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates are invited to inspire physicians at a DBTS visit Nov. 8 at Mililani Middle School in Mililani, Hawaii, just outside of Waikiki.
Send an e-mail to Wilda Knox if you are interested in hosting a DBTS event in your community.
2) Mark your calendar for AMA-IMG Section events
Attend the following AMA-IMG Section events at the 2007 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of
Delegates, and make sure your voice is heard on important AMA-IMG Section issues.
- AMA-IMG Section Congress—4:30–6 p.m., Nov. 9, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu
- AMA-IMG Section Caucus—5:30–7 p.m., Nov. 10, Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu
- AMA-IMG Delegate Caucus—8–9:30 a.m., Nov. 12, Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu
- AMA-IMG Leadership Session, "Communicating effectively"—9:30–11:30 a.m., Nov. 12, Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu
Register for these events.
3) Attend AMA sections and special groups events
All AMA-IMG Section physicians are invited to attend the following joint AMA sections and
special groups events held at the 2007 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates in
Honolulu. Don't miss out on the following events:
- AMA sections and special groups luau—9–11 p.m., Nov. 8
- Continuing medical education session, "The future of medicine," and lunch—noon–1:30 p.m., Nov. 9
- AMA welcoming reception, honoring the AMA Women Physicians Congress—6–7 p.m., Nov. 9
- Educational session, "Washington update"—8–8:30 a.m., Nov. 10
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical school news
(Brought to you by the AMA Section on Medical Schools)
1) Listen to recording of AMA webcast on young adult high-risk drinking
The AMA is concluding a highly successful decade-long Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant that
addressed college high-risk drinking. Medical school administrators, students and physicians
participated in a 60-minute webcast on Oct. 23 with an expert panel from the AMA, Louisiana
State University, University of Iowa, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Brown University and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The panel discussed the incidence of and problems
related to college high-risk drinking and underage drinking on student well-being, effects on
the campus and community, and evidence-based policy strategies to reduce problems.
Listen to the free webcast. Send an e-mail to Donald Zeigler with questions.
Learn more about the AMA's alcohol and drug abuse initiatives.
2) In AMNews: New law ends loan deferment program
On Sept. 27, President George W. Bush signed into law the College Cost Reduction and Access Act,
eliminating a widely used loan deferment program that allowed many resident physicians to delay
making loan repayments for three years without accruing interest. Many residents are questioning
how they will manage to start paying back their medical school debt while continuing to train as
physicians. The AMA wants Congress to reinstate the plan to protect residents from unexpected
loan repayments, according to an article in the Nov. 5 issue of American Medical News
(AMNews).
View the article.
The U.S. Department of Education announced last week a temporary extension of the deferment eligibility that allows graduate physicians to delay paying back student loans until after the completion of residencies. Medical students and resident physicians will continue to call on Congress and urge them to permanently restore the "20/220 pathway."
3) In the Houston Chronicle: Influx of medical students creates concern for
residency training
As enrollment is increasing at medical schools nationally, the schools in Houston are also
contributing to that increase, according to an article in the Oct. 28 issue of the Houston
Chronicle. The University of Texas Medical School at Houston enrolled 230 first-year
students this fall—up 12 percent, and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston plans to
increase its first-year class to 200 by 2011—a 19 percent increase. Without enough
residency positions for its graduates, Texas could lose physicians-in-training to other states
even though the Texas legislature approved an increase of state funding from $25 million
appropriated last year to $63 million this year for residency programs.
View the article.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical student issues
1) Are you informed about presidential candidates' health care proposals?
As health care reform is shaping up to be one of the most important issues in the 2008
presidential election, a page on the AMA Web site now provides links directly to each declared
candidate's health care proposal. The AMA's 2007 Advocacy Agenda includes efforts to expand
health coverage for the uninsured, reform the Medicare physician payment system, reform the
medical liability system, improve the health of the public, and more. Remember to keep these
issues in mind when you're evaluating the proposals and platforms of the 2008 presidential
candidates.
View each candidate's health care proposal.
View (PDF, 32KB) the AMA's 2007 Advocacy Agenda online.
2) The CDC Experience: Applied Epidemiology Fellowship—apply today
Are you looking for something different to do next year?
- Are you curious about how public health works?
- Would you be interested in investigating outbreaks of tuberculosis among the homeless or in a prison population?
- How about investigating an outbreak of leptospirosis among adventure racers in a Florida swamp?
- What about assessing risk factors for reproductive health visits to emergency departments?
- Or perhaps you would like to be at the forefront of cardiovascular health policy development?
Do you want an experience that offers an opportunity to enhance your research skills, build leadership potential and improve your clinical acumen via a population health perspective—all by working on real-life problems? Then consider applying to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Experience.
The CDC Experience: Applied Epidemiology Fellowship is a one-year fellowship tailored for rising third- and fourth-year medical students, designed to increase the pool of physicians with a population health perspective. Eight competitively selected fellows spend 10 to 12 months at the CDC offices in Atlanta, Ga., where they carry out epidemiologic analyses in areas of public health that interest them. Examples of previous and current areas of concentration include viral diseases, cardiovascular health, birth defects, sexually transmitted diseases, foodborne diseases, and air pollution and respiratory health.
Learn more about The CDC Experience.
Applications for next year's fellowship class must be postmarked by Dec. 3. Send an e-mail to the Foundation with questions.
3) Take part in Wilson's Disease Association 2008 Student Writing Competition
To encourage high-quality scholarship and promote a career interest in Wilson's disease, the
Wilson's Disease Association invites medical students, residents and fellows to participate in
its 2008 Student Writing Competition.
The diagnosis of asymptomatic or early Wilson's disease can lead to simple, inexpensive, benign treatment and a normal life expectancy. Delayed diagnosis may lead to severe morbidity, including hepatic failure, neurologic impairment and severe psychiatric disease. The Wilson's Disease Association aims to raise professional awareness and competence in diagnosing and treating asymptomatic or early Wilson disease.
The first place award winner receives a $1,000 cash award and an all-expense paid trip to the Wilson's Disease Association Annual Conference, April 24–26, 2008, in Chicago, where the prize will be awarded. The scientific portion of the conference includes presentations by medical professionals substantially involved in the diagnosis and treatment of Wilson disease. Second and third place awards are $350 and $250 respectively.
Learn more about the writing competition.
4) Mark your calendar: AMPAC political education programs for 2008
The American Medical Association Political Action Committee (AMPAC) is pleased to announce the
dates of the 2008 political education programs for AMPAC. The AMPAC Candidate Workshop will be
held Feb. 29–March 2, 2008, and the AMPAC Campaign School will be held April 9–13,
2008. These programs—held for over 20 years—provide unmatched political training for
physicians and other friends of medicine who are interested in either seeking public office
themselves or in working to elect other friends of medicine. Both programs will be held at the
Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, Va., just a short ride from Ronald Reagan Washington
National Airport.
- AMPAC covers all transportation costs to the Washington, D.C., area for AMA members and their spouses, but make sure your membership is renewed for 2008. This is a significant benefit for AMA members. Nonmember physicians are only admitted if space allows and upon the payment of $1,000 tuition.
- Medical student admission is limited. Students must also submit a 500-word essay on why they would like to attend the school and what they hope to gain from attendance. Student applications for the workshop are due Dec. 14, while applications for the school are due Jan. 18, 2008.
Learn more about upcoming AMPAC political education programs.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Minority health issues and professional concerns of minority physicians
(brought to you by the AMA Minority Affairs Consortium)
1) October DBTS visit a huge success
More than 250 students at Pershing West Magnet School in Chicago took part in a successful
Doctors Back to School (DBTS) event Oct. 23. Students in fourth through eighth grade spent time
with physicians and other professionals who shared their stories and experiences in medicine to
encourage minority children to become physicians. DBTS, a program that aims to raise awareness
of the need for more minority physicians, encourages children from underrepresented minority
groups to look at medicine as a career option.
Send an e-mail to Wilda Knox if you would like to host a DBTS event in your community.
Learn more about this program.
2) Mark your calendar: AMA-MAC events planned for Interim Meeting of the AMA House of
Delegates attendees
All AMA-MAC members are invited to attend the AMA-MAC Caucus from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Nov. 9 at the
Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu. In addition to caucus business, the program will feature AMA
President Ronald M. Davis, MD, and National Medical Association Past President Sandra Gadson,
MD. As co-chairs of the Commission to End Health Care Disparities, Drs. Davis and Gadson will
discuss important issues impacting the health of minority communities.
AMA-MAC members are encouraged to attend the joint sections and special groups reception from 9 to 11 p.m., Nov. 8 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu. Also, the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section will be hosting an educational session, "The future of health care: The quest for value for all Americans," led by Ian Morrison, an author, consultant and futurist. The session will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m., Nov. 9 at the Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu. A box lunch for the event can be purchased for $20. Advanced registration for lunch is required.
Visit the Web site to register. Payment for lunch will be collected on-site.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Organized medical staff issues
1) Listen to Joint Commission conference calls on MS.1.20 and new leadership
standards
Did you miss the Joint Commission conference calls on the new leadership standards and Standard
MS.1.20 on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1? If so, you can listen to the conference calls by calling (877)
919–4059. The replay will be available for 60 days. The conference replay password for the Nov.
1 call on MS.1.20 and the new leadership standards is 25460006. The conference replay password
for the Oct. 25 call on the new leadership standards is 24759244.
Learn more about these conference calls and access playback instructions.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Resident and fellow issues
1) AMA wins extension of student loan deferment pathway
Following the AMA's advocacy efforts and grassroots action, the U.S. Department of Education
announced that it will extend the deferment eligibility that allows graduate physicians to delay
paying back student loans until after the completion of residencies, through at least the fall
of 2008. For a more permanent fix, the AMA is lobbying to restore the 20/220 pathway through
legislation in Congress. Phone banks will be set up at the AMA-RFS Interim Assembly Meeting this
month so that residents can call key Congressional members and urge them to support Senate bill
S.2303, which was introduced on Nov. 2 and would restore the 20/220 pathway.
Learn more about this issue, how it affects students and residents, and what you can do to help.
2) In Resident & Staff Physician: Impact of international health and humanitarian
medicine on U.S. graduate medical education globalization movement is expanding to
medicine
In the October issue of Resident & Staff Physician, AMA-RFS Governing Council Immediate
Past Chair Sunny Ramchandani, MD, looks at the effect of increasing globalization in medicine on
graduate medical education. The acceleration of globalization is due to the rise of the
Internet, the increasing availability of foreign travel, and the growing concern for improving
the health of less-fortunate populations. This is also reflected in the increasing number of
graduating medical students participating in an international health experience. Dr. Ramchandani
explores the importance of international health and how to integrate it into training.
View the article.
3) In Archives of Internal Medicine: Medical errors involving trainees
A study in the Oct. 22 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine analyzed malpractice
claims in which trainees were involved in harmful errors. The study found that among 240 cases,
the most prevalent factors were errors in judgment, teamwork breakdowns and lack of technical
competence. Lack of supervision and handoff problems were the most prevalent types of teamwork
problems and failures of technical competence was due to diagnostic decision-making and
monitoring of the patient or situation. The study suggests that graduate medical education
reform should focus more on strengthening these aspects of training.
View the study.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Senior Physicians issues
1) Sermo is for senior physicians too
Sermo, the largest online community for physicians, allows all licensed physicians the ability
to quickly exchange thoughts and ideas about journal articles, news or their own experiences,
including retirement. The AMA has a strategic alliance with Sermo and it is free for licensed
physician members. Join Sermo now, and keep your medical skills tuned with diagnostic tests such
as this one:
"An 8-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department with a chief complaint of right hip pain after football practice. He says that it started hurting after running and the pain spreads from his groin to his thigh. It's been hurting for several months, but has gotten worse with football season. No history of trauma, recent travel, fevers, erythema or swelling. There is no family history of arthritic conditions, cancer or collagen vascular diseases. On physical exam, his vitals are stable; his complete blood count is within normal limits. His right hip shows decreased and painful internal rotation and abduction, and his right thigh is smaller in circumference."
As part of a regular series of diagnostic challenges on Sermo, this case includes a chance at a monetary reward for those who offer a correct diagnosis.
Join Sermo to view this posting and others.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Women physician and women's health issues
(brought to you by the AMA Women Physicians Congress)
1) Join in on AMWA conference calls with presidential candidates
The American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) invites you to join in on conversations with
presidential candidates. The calls are part of AMWA's campaign to engage presidential candidates
of both parties in conversations about health care. The first conversation was held Oct. 18 with
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. A conference call is scheduled at 2
p.m. CST, Nov. 9 with John Edwards.
Register and learn more.
2) AMA-WPC physician mentor program featured at caucus and reception
All AMA-WPC members and attendees of the 2007 AMA Interim Meeting are invited to attend the
welcome reception sponsored by the AMA-WPC from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Nov. 9 at the Hilton Hawaiian
Village, Honolulu. Festivities include a special display recognizing mentors nominated in the
first AMA-WPC Physician Mentor Recognition Program.
Learn more about the physician recognition program and view a list of physicians being honored.
The AMA-WPC Caucus will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Nov. 10 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu. This caucus includes a discussion of excellence in mentoring with a panel of caring and committed mentors identified through the AMA-WPC Physician Mentor Recognition Program, along with the caucus business program and networking opportunities.
All AMA-WPC members are also encouraged to attend the joint sections and special groups reception from 9 to 11 p.m., Nov. 8 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu.
3) AMA-WPC members invited to learn about the future of medicine
The AMA Organized Medical Staff Section will be hosting an educational session, "The future of
health care: The quest for value for all Americans," led by Ian Morrison, an author, consultant
and futurist from noon to 1:30 p.m., Nov. 9 at the Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu. A box
lunch for the event can be purchased for $20. Advanced registration for lunch is required
Visit the Web site to register. Payment for lunch will be collected on-site.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Young physician issues
1) Check out "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign podcast
The first installment in the new "Voices" podcast series is now available online. Featuring
music and interviews with uninsured artists, this series aims to share the real-life experiences
of the 47 million people in America who are without health care coverage. The first podcast
features Los Angeles-based recording artist Brian Joseph, who, like many musicians, lived for
years without health insurance.
Download each podcast as it becomes available. While visiting this site, you can also view the AMA's proposal for the uninsured and other campaign advertising materials, as well as sign a petition in support of the AMA's plan.
2) Virtual Mentor examines ethical issues in diagnostic radiology
The November Virtual Mentor examines some ethical and educational challenges brought
about by the transformation and widespread use of imaging technology, and asks some lingering
questions about the accuracy of the centenarian X-ray itself.
View the November issue.
3) In AMNews: The failed promise of prompt pay
Though all 50 states have some form of law penalizing insurers for late payments, the problem of
delayed reimbursement persists. According to the AMA, what's needed is a tough federal law that
closes some of the loopholes under which payments to physicians continue to be delayed. Learn
more about this problem and the AMA's proposal for federal action in the Nov. 5 issue of
American Medical News (AMNews).
View the article.
>>Return to your news interest contents
General AMA news
1) AMA Interim Meeting is
underway
Hundreds of physicians and medical students have gathered in Honolulu for meetings of the AMA
sections and special groups in conjunction with the 2007 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of
Delegates. Attendees are discussing policy proposals, participating in an array of educational
sessions and networking with colleagues from around the country.
Among the early highlights is the AMA Medical Student Section's public outreach at a high school football game as part of its 2006–2008 National Service Project, "Covering the Uninsured and Protecting Access to Care." Another is the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section's Gary F. Krieger, MD, Memorial Lecture on the future of health care, led by author, consultant and futurist Ian Morrison.
The AMA House of Delegates will assemble Nov. 10–13 to consider policies on a variety of advocacy matters, including efforts to cover the uninsured, reform the Medicare physician payment system and ease the implementation of electronic medical records systems.
Bookmark the Web site and check back to view and download daily meeting highlights.
>>Return to your general news contents
2) Call your U.S. senators to urge action on
Medicare physician payment
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee is considering legislation that would replace two years of cuts in
Medicare physician payments with two years of positive updates. But some senators have said they are
not hearing directly from physicians about how important it is to stop looming cuts. The AMA and
several national specialty medical societies have orchestrated a nationwide physician call-in
campaign to urge action on this critical issue. All AMA members are encouraged to call their senators
at (800) 833–6354 and urge them to include positive Medicare physician payment updates for the
next two years in the Medicare bill they are drafting. Tell them Congress must dedicate new funding
for this—and not use funding gimmicks that would result in steeper payment cuts down the
road.
Learn more about the nationwide call-in campaign.
>>Return to your general news contents
3) AMA addresses issues with compensation for switching patients to generic drugs
With some health insurers offering to pay physicians to switch their patients from brand-name drugs
to generic, the AMA has developed a question-and-answer document to address the legality or ethical
propriety of accepting this type of compensation.
AMA policy recognizes that generic drugs can be less costly alternatives to brand-name products, but also states that physicians should be free to use either the generic or brand name in prescribing drugs for their patients. Physicians should supplement medical judgment with cost considerations in making this choice.
Access this document.
>>Return to your general news contents
4) Resource can help doctors overcome language barriers with patients
The limited English proficient (LEP) population is rising in both rural and urban areas of the United
States—so much so that the American Community Survey identified approximately 23 million
individuals in this category. The rise in the LEP patient population has triggered an increasing
language gap among patients and physicians during health care encounters, which can result in
miscommunication.
The AMA's second edition of its "Office guide to communicating with limited English proficient patients" offers detailed information and resources that physicians and other health care professionals can use to provide better care to patients with LEP. The booklet explains how LEP affect patient care and offers strategies to address the language needs of patients in a culturally, linguistically and an ethically appropriate manner. It includes commonly asked questions surrounding the issue of LEP, tips for working effectively with interpreters, and a chart to explain when to use varying levels of interpretation resources.
View (PDF, 607KB) and download a copy. Send an e-mail to Jennifer Matiasek if you would like to obtain a hard copy for your office.
>>Return to your general news contents
5) On Sermo: Your patient said what?
A fever and stiff neck leads to the "smiling mighty Jesus" (spinal meningitis), patients are taking
"peanut butter balls" (phenobarbital) for seizures, and an undiagnosed patient with belly pain was
anxious to find out his "CAT Scam" (CAT Scan) results. Right now, physicians on Sermo are discussing
humorous terms they encounter every day, such as "I have gas stational diabetes" and "I have erotic
stenosis."
>>Return to your general news contents
6) In JAMA: Study examines association
between weight amount and cause of death
The association between weight and causes of death can vary considerably, with obesity associated
with a significantly increased mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), underweight associated
with increased mortality from primarily non-cancer, non-CVD causes, and overweight associated with
increased mortality from diabetes and kidney disease combined, but with reduced mortality from other
non-cancer non-CVD causes of death, according to a study in the Nov. 7 issue of the Journal of the
American Medical Association (JAMA).
Preview the study.
>>Return to your general news contents
Feedback
If you have specific comments on this edition of AMA eVoice,
simply reply to this message. For more general feedback on AMA eVoice, send an
e-mail to evoice@ama-assn.org and alert the editor
of your comments and concerns. Do you have general questions about the AMA? Call the AMA Unified
Service Center at (800) 262-3211.
Thank you for your AMA membership! The AMA's strength comes from its numbers. That strength grows when our membership increases — please urge your fellow physicians and medical students to join our cause by calling (800) 262–3211 or visiting the AMA Web site.
Content provided by: Member Publications