AMA eVoice Weekly Newsletter
A national response to an international outbreak
It's been only two weeks since I wrote a column about the importance of focusing on public health. Now we are confronted with a real-life opportunity to test our partnership with our public health colleagues.
I'm talking, of course, about the swine flu outbreak in Mexico, the United States and abroad. While right now the appropriate stance is "alert" rather than "alarm," let's examine the role of practicing physicians, and our AMA, in this circumstance of a new influenza virus that seems more virulent in young adults and against which we don't have immunity.
Each of us needs to be vigilant when seeing patients with acute respiratory symptoms. Although the clinical illness caused by this swine flu virus has been mild in the U.S., it has not been mild in Mexico, as you know from news reports. In case you are confronted with a patient with possible influenza (recognizing that the "usual" seasonal influenza season is over), here are some important considerations.
Take a travel history from anyone with significant acute respiratory illness. Take appropriate precautions yourself, wearing an N95 respirator or a surgical mask/gown/gloves. Do a nasopharyngeal swab, put it in viral transport media and send to the appropriate clinical lab at your hospital. Dispose of gown, gloves and goggles in a biohazard bag. Pay strict attention to hand washing with soap/water or hand sanitizer.
Note that public health budgets are stretched, so don't do swabs for viral isolation on folks who seem to have the common cold!
The lab will do a real-time RT-PCR assay for influenza A. If the sample is A but is H1 and H3 negative, this will be considered "probably" H1N1 swine influenza and will be handled by a reference laboratory with biosafety precautions.
This is a new H1N1 swine influenza virus that has been identified. People who received flu vaccine this year are not protected. Antivirals zanamivir or oseltamivir are effective against this virus, but should not be used prophylactically except in very narrow, specific instances. See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site for details of treatment.
Each of us has an important role to play: educator, vigilant clinician and responsible public health partner. There is no need for alarm, just be cautious and remember to take the travel history. Stay tuned, as the situation is evolving daily. And if you're on your way to Mexico for a vacation, check out the State Department Web site before you go.
On an organizational level, the AMA's Science, Medicine and Public Health staff has monitored the swine flu developments since late last week. We have communicated with the CDC throughout the week and weekend; the AMA formally offered assistance to the Obama administration and to CDC Acting Director Richard Besser, MD. As of this time, conversations with the CDC indicated that the most supportive course of action would be for us to disseminate accurate and timely outbreak information to our membership and the general public.
In response to this request, we have developed a page on the AMA's Web site devoted to swine flu and the most recent developments. Included on the page are detailed CDC guidelines for clinicians on infection control, case identification, use of respirators and antiviral medications. The page will be updated with the most recent swine flu information, including outbreak case numbers and infection control information. The page can be accessed from the AMA's home page by clicking on "Swine Flu Resources for Physicians" under "Important Messages" in the bottom right-hand corner.
The AMA's Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response (CPHPDR) convened the Health Emergency Response Team to consider various strategies and options for the AMA's response to the H1N1 swine flu outbreak. A key assumption is that the response to the outbreak will require a marathon approach, since this virus has "pandemic" potential, with the possibility of producing ongoing waves of infection.
Our role now is to be a source of timely and credible health information and clinical guidance on swine flu from the CDC. Links to other authoritative Web sites and tools will be added to the page. AMA members will be notified through e-mail about the availability of the Web page. CPHPDR staff have also contacted domestic and international agencies, including the CDC, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, the World Health Organization and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and will continue to work with the AMA Federation and other federal and private sector partners to prepare for, and respond to, this public health challenge.
The AMA's strategies on disaster medicine and public health preparedness education are implemented through its National Disaster Life Support (NDLS) Program and peer-reviewed publication, Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Through the Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness journal, the AMA will release all pandemic influenza related articles for open access, to provide resources for medical and public health responders. Relevant articles in the journal pipeline also will be published ahead of print to ensure timely dissemination.
The May 4 meeting of the NDLS Educational Consortium was to have introduced a facilitated exercise on pandemic influenza, an educational session that was presented at the 2007 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates. However, the consortium meeting has been postponed because of the outbreak, as many of the attendees are a critical part of our nation's response.
As part of a new AMA CitizenReady program, the CPHPDR received a grant from the Department of Homeland Security to develop a two-hour, facilitator-led exercise and a 90-minute interactive Web-based module on pandemic influenza. This training program targets all citizens and is scheduled for release this fall.
So that's what your organization is doing. Let's hope the swine flu infections abate soon. Meanwhile, each of us can exercise clinical vigilance and recommend hand washing and common sense measures like staying home when ill.
1) "Red flags" rule compliance date pushed to Aug. 1
Largely as a result of AMA advocacy, physician practices now have until Aug. 1 to comply with the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) "red flags" rule, which requires physicians to institute policies to identify, detect and respond to potential risks of identity theft.
The rule originally was to have taken effect today, May 1, but the FTC voted April 30 to delay the compliance date for three months. The AMA will use this time to convince the FTC and Congress that physicians are not "creditors" and therefore should not be subject to the rule.
"We will continue to make the case to the FTC that they should republish the rule so that we have an opportunity to formally comment and state our objections to physician inclusion in the program," AMA Board of Trustees member Ardis Hoven, MD, said.
The AMA recently developed a resource, as well as a sample policy, to help physicians incorporate a simple identity theft prevention and detection program into their existing compliance and HIPAA and privacy policies.
Access this resource (PDF).
View the sample policy (PDF).
Access other "red flags" rule-related resources from the AMA's Practice Management Center.
2) AMA Web site provides latest info on swine flu
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that 141 human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in 19 states and several countries. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of infection and whether additional people have been infected with the virus.
The AMA has developed a Web site in order to disseminate the most recent information and to highlight important clinical guidelines for physicians and the public on swine flu infections. These guidelines, developed by the CDC, include the use of masks, respirators and antiviral medications; infection control; and case identification. Visit the CDC Web site to view the guidelines.
In the meantime, the AMA will continue to work with the CDC to monitor swine flu developments closely and post additional resources on these developments as they become available. Visit the AMA Web site or the CDC Web site for the most recent information concerning swine flu infection.
If you would like to receive free, automatic e-mail updates from the CDC as new information becomes available, visit the CDC Web site to subscribe.
3) Disaster preparedness journal responds to outbreak
In response to the swine flu outbreak, the AMA's Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness journal has published ahead of print new articles that are relevant to the issue. Access to those articles is free and available to all.
Visit the journal's Web site.
4) AMA shares ideas about private insurance market with House committee
The AMA submitted a statement for the record last week on its proposals to reform the private insurance market as part of the latest in a series of health system reform hearings by the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.
In the statement, the AMA proposes streamlined, more uniform health insurance market regulation in tandem with targeted government subsidies for coverage of high-risk patients. The AMA also states that market regulations must establish fair ground rules for the private insurance market to function properly while protecting high-risk patients and without driving up health insurance premiums for the rest of the population.
Download the AMA's statement (PDF).
5) Senate confirms Sebelius as HHS secretary
The U.S. Senate's approval of Kathleen Sebelius to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) earlier this week drew congratulations from the AMA to the former Kansas governor. "We look forward to working with her, the administration and Congress to improve the health care system for all Americans," AMA President Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD, said.
6) Ethics in Brief: medical record retention
Hundreds of medical records kept by a Massachusetts family physician who abruptly closed his practice are at risk of being destroyed, leaving patients without access to their medical information. The doctor was evicted from his office after the Massachusetts State Medical Board accused him of practicing without a license. None of the doctor's patients have been notified that their records are slated for destruction.
The situation has exposed a gap in Massachusetts state law and policy regarding the retention and destruction of medical records. While Massachusetts state law requires physicians to keep medical records for seven years after the last contact with their patients, it does not address a doctor abandoning his practice.
According to the AMA Code of Medical Ethics, physicians have an obligation to retain records that may be of value to a patient not only for future medical care but also for employment, insurance, litigation or other reasons. Patients should be notified that a physician is leaving a medical practice. When feasible, the patients of a physician who sells or leaves a medical practice, retires or dies must be afforded the opportunity to claim the records or have them sent to another physician or lawful custodian before the records are discarded. The physician must ensure that all medical records are held to standards of confidentiality.
7) Learning the advantages of electronic claims submission: just one benefit of being an AMA memberDo you wish you could reduce the time and resources your practice devotes to manual administrative functions? Would you like to expedite a health plan payer's claims processing turnaround? Then it's time to get an introduction to electronic claim systems.
Dive into the AMA members-only article "The benefits of electronic claims submission—improve practice efficiencies," one of the many resources offered by AMA's Practice Management Center. The AMA, in collaboration with the Connecticut State Medical Society, developed this educational resource to help physicians and their practice staff understand the electronic claim submission process. It features the benefits of submitting claims electronically to health plan payers, discusses the reduction of claim submission costs and errors, and offers tips on getting started.
Download this resource (PDF).
Access other practice management resources from the AMA.
Visit the AMA Web site to renew your AMA membership or to join the AMA and have access to valuable resources such as this.
8) HIPAA—it's not just about privacy
Many physicians recognize that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ensures privacy protections. However, HIPAA encompasses additional regulations, and one in particular seeks to increase efficiency through standardized use of electronic transactions.
All health insurers are required to abide by the HIPAA Transaction and Code Set rule standards. Physicians can help increase claims processing efficiency and cost savings by reporting any noncompliance with these standards. The AMA developed an online complaint form to help with this process. Visit the AMA Web site to view and complete the form.
Although the AMA plans to share aggregate complaint information with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency responsible for enforcing the new HIPAA electronic transaction and code set requirements, please be aware that completing this form does not constitute filing a complaint with CMS. If you wish to file a complaint directly with CMS, complete the HIPAA non-privacy complaint form (PDF).
In addition, the AMA may pursue compliance activities with individual plans, payers or clearinghouses where a pattern of complaint warrants. To learn more about the HIPAA electronic standard transactions, the HIPAA Transactions and Code Set rule and how this rule impacts the physician practice, AMA members can download "Understanding the HIPAA standard transactions: The HIPAA Transactions and Code Set rule" (PDF).
9) In Archives of Internal Medicine: High co-payments associated with delay in starting drug therapy in patients with chronic diseases
High co-payments are associated with delayed initiation of medication in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension, diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels, according to a report in the April 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the Journal of the American Medical Association/Archives journals.
View the report.
Visit the journal's Web site to view the April 27 issue.
Clarification
Five family medicine physicians took part in the AMA's specialty "speed dating" event held March 31. An item in the April 3 edition of eVoice did not include that information.
1) United Kingdom’s House of Commons to take up "equality" bill
On April 24 the long-awaited Equality Bill was introduced in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons. The Equality Bill aims to ensure that everyone—regardless of sexual orientation, age, race, disability or gender—has a fair chance in life, and it would promote equality and fight discrimination in all its forms.
2) Two recent youth suicides highlight need for anti-bullying programs
In the wake of two suicides in two weeks related to bullying and anti-gay bullying, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is calling on schools and educators to evaluate their anti-bullying efforts and for federal officials to take action to address bullying.
3) In the Michigan Messenger: State ban on HIV-positive inmates working in prison food service may violate civil rights
The Michigan Department of Corrections, which oversees the operations of the state’s prisons, has prevented HIV-infected prisoners from working in food service positions since at least 1999, according to the Michigan Messenger, a news outlet that is part of the Center for Independent Media, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that operates an independent online news network.
According to the Michigan Messenger, legal scholars and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights argue that the policy violates non-discrimination statutes, including the Americans With Disabilities Act. The corrections department contends that the policy is in place to protect the "safety and security" of prison facilities, despite the fact that state health officials say that HIV and AIDS can’t be transmitted through food.
1) Annual Meeting program to discuss competency, recertification and the value of experience
The AMA’s Advisory Committee on Group Practice Physicians is jointly sponsoring a continuing medical education program titled "Keeping Senior Physicians in Practice: Issues of Competency, Recertification and the Value of Experience," to be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. June 13 during the Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates.
John A. Fromson, MD, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, will help attendees understand the value that senior physicians bring to a practice, the most common age-related issues to be aware of, and practical solutions and environmental adjustments to address those issues.
The program also is sponsored by the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section and the AMA Senior Physicians Group.
1) Vote for the section's next leaders
Elections for the AMA-IMG Section's 2009-2012 governing council are ongoing through May 13. AMA-IMG members whose e-mail address the AMA has on file should have been e-mailed an encrypted election ballot. If you have not received a ballot, visit the AMA-IMG Web site and register, then cast your vote.
Contact Carolyn Carter-Ellis at (312) 464-5397 or send an e-mail if you have questions.
2) Ratify IMG Section resolutions
AMA-IMG Section members are encouraged to vote in the section's resolution ratification process as part of the section's virtual congress. The final day to vote is May 7.
Visit the AMA-IMG Web site through May 7 to view the final AMA-IMG Section resolutions. Then send an e-mail with your votes for each resolution. Include the resolution number, your full name and your address, and note whether you "approve" or "do not approve" each final resolution.
Contact J. Mori Johnson by calling (312) 464-5678 or by sending an e-mail if you have questions.
Brought to you by the AMA Section on Medical Schools
1) Candidate applications for AMA-SMS Governing Council due next week
Candidates interested in a position on the AMA-SMS Governing Council are encouraged to submit materials by May 4. Open positions include chair-elect, three members-at-large and section liaison to the AMA Council on Medical Education.
Send an e-mail for more details and an application form. Elections will be held at the June AMA-SMS meeting.
2) AMA-SMS meeting deadlines fast approaching
Registration for the next AMA-SMS meeting, to be held June 12–14 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, is due May 15. Hotel reservations are due to the Hyatt Regency Chicago by May 18.
This meeting will provide medical education colleagues an opportunity to network, help develop AMA policy and discuss issues affecting medical education. On June 12, the AMA-SMS will hold a joint educational session with the AMA Medical Student Section on mentoring medical students. The section will also hold a joint educational program with the Council on Medical Education on resident duty-hour limits. On June 13, the AMA-SMS will present a panel on interprofessional collaboration in health care and the implications for medical schools and graduate medical education.
Send an e-mail with questions.
3) JAMA commentary examines core missions of medical education
Commentary in the April 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reflects on the expectation of tripartite excellence in education, research and clinical practice. The article suggests that academic medicine needs to return to its historic roots of focusing on the long-established mission of improving the health of the public.
4) CME available through online journals
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and other AMA journals provide continuing medical education (CME) credit online. Simply read an article and complete a brief online quiz to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
JAMA subscribers and AMA members have free access to this convenient benefit.
Visit the Web site to learn more about this benefit.
1) Deadlines approaching for AMA-MSS meeting
Registration for the AMA-MSS annual assembly meeting, which will be held June 11–13 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, is due May 7. Final versions of AMA-MSS resolutions, including a resolution check list, are due May 1.
Draft resolutions on the AMA-MSS Health Policy and News listserv are now posted to the AMA-MSS Discussion Forum Web site. All AMA-MSS members are encouraged to review the resolutions and post comments to help authors improve their resolutions.
2) Apply for a position on the AMA-MSS Governing CouncilAre you interested in a national leadership position with the AMA-MSS? The section is accepting applications for the following positions on its governing council: vice chair, delegate, alternate delegate, at-large officer, speaker and vice speaker. The AMA-MSS Governing Council acts as the "board" for the section in that its members direct the programs and activities of the AMA-MSS on a national level. The deadline to apply is May 15.
3) Chapter of the Week: Indiana University School of Medicine hosts series of Cover the Uninsured events
Earlier this month, medical students from multiple campuses of the Indiana University School of Medicine organized a series of events for Cover the Uninsured Week, including a three-day lecture series on the issue of the uninsured.
Topics included current health care policy, Medicaid and other programs for the uninsured, and the role of physicians in caring for the uninsured. The week's events culminated with a health fair at a local library, where attendees were offered free screenings—for blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels—and received information about a variety of health topics, including exercise and nutrition, smoking cessation, hypertension, diabetes and skin cancer. Special activities, such as lessons in hand-washing, were offered for children.
Cover the Uninsured Week may have passed, but it's never too late for your chapter to hold an event aimed at helping to cover the uninsured and protect access to care. The AMA-MSS has a number of resources to help you plan a great event, including chapter involvement grants (CIG). Chapters are eligible for $1,000 per academic year with a maximum of $250 to $500 per event.
4) AMA Foundation announces seed grant recipientsThe AMA Foundation recently announced the 28 recipients of its 2009 Seed Grant Research Program. The program provides grants of $2,500 to medical students, residents and fellows to conduct small basic science, applied or clinical research projects. This year's award winners are doing research in cardiovascular/pulmonary diseases, HIV/AIDS, leukemia and neoplastic diseases.
"We are excited to be able to help young physician investigators with their research endeavors," AMA Foundation president Jean Howard said. "The AMA Foundation is committed to supporting the discoveries and professional development of scientists at the start of their careers."
Congratulations to the AMA medical student member seed grant recipients:
5) Savings on automobile rentals: just one benefit of being an AMA member
With medical student loans hanging over your head, you're trying to save every penny. Would you like some practical savings while you travel?
As an AMA member, you can save while on the road with special benefits from Hertz. Medical students can receive AMA-Hertz member privileges—including Hertz #1 Club Gold enrollment, low Web rates and special offers—starting at age 21. Depending on where and when you travel, you can save as much as 25 percent. Those are pennies worth keeping.
Brought to you by the AMA Minority Affairs Consortium
1) Register for next Author in the Room teleconference
The next episode of the Author in the Room teleconference series will feature Lisa Cooper, MD, speaking about her review of patient and physician factors related to hypertension treatment adherence from 1 to 2 p.m. CST May 20. Dr. Cooper, a general internist, also is a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a health services and outcomes researcher.
Sponsored by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the Author in the Room series is presented in partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
1) Free webinar offered to OMSS leaders and supporters
Physicians have an important role in patient safety. Because you are seen as leaders in improving efforts to make care safer, your role calls for a clear understanding of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 as well as patient safety organizations, or PSOs, created by the law. As a leader in your organized medical staff, you're invited to register for a free AMA webinar about the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005, which will take place at 7 p.m. CST May 5.
2) AMA-OMSS Assembly meeting fast approaching
Registration is ongoing for the 53rd annual AMA-OMSS Assembly meeting, which will be held June 11–13 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The deadline to register for the meeting is June 5.
Send resolutions to e-mail by May 1.
Send an e-mail to Kathryn Tinney if you would like to volunteer to serve on the AMA-OMSS's reference committee, committee on late resolutions or tellers committee, or if you would like to serve as an advisor during the meeting.
Visit the Web site for more information about AMA-OMSS committees.
3) Interim Meeting webcasts added to archives
The AMA-OMSS has posted a pair of 90-minute educational webcasts to its Web pages: "Physicians as Targets and How to Avoid Being One" and "Organized Medical Staffs and Disruptive Behavior." Both of these programs provide AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Accreditation statement
The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation statement
The American Medical Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
4) AMA offers guidance in developing code of conduct
The new Joint Commission leadership standard covering code of conduct, LD.03.01.01, took effect Jan. 1, 2009. The standard's Elements of Performance requires, among other things, that hospitals have a code of conduct that defines acceptable, inappropriate and disruptive behavior, and that leaders create and implement a process for managing disruptive and inappropriate behaviors.
In response to these actions, the AMA adopted policy that calls for medical staffs to develop and implement their own code of conduct in their medical staff bylaws. Under the policy, hospitals should also have a code of conduct applicable to members of the board, management and all employees.
To assist medical staffs with implementation of a code of conduct in accordance with AMA policy and consistent with the Joint Commission leadership standard, the AMA Office of the General Counsel, in conjunction with the AMA-OMSS, drafted a model code of conduct for insertion in medical staff bylaws.
In addition, AMA members can access the "Physicians' Guide to Medical Staff Organization Bylaws" (PDF), an excellent resource for medical staffs and their bylaws committees.
1) Apply now for AMA-RFS Governing Council
Are you interested in becoming a leader in the largest national organization of residents and fellows? The AMA-RFS is accepting applications for the following positions on its governing council: vice chair, speaker, vice-speaker, delegate, alternate delegate, and membership and outreach officer. These positions will be elected at the section's annual assembly meeting in June. Applications are due by May 14.
As the guiding force of the AMA-RFS, the governing council is responsible for directing the section's programs and activities, appointing ad hoc committees, setting assembly meeting agendas, and monitoring resolutions and reports during governing council meetings, which are held three times a year.
Visit the AMA-RFS Web site for more information about governing council duties and the annual assembly meeting.
2) Archives of Surgery features online reporting system to track surgical complications, tackles surgeon stress and burnout
An article in the April issue of the Archives of Surgery details a Web-based reporting system that may help clinicians track surgical complications and detect patterns of adverse events, which in turn could provide opportunities to improve the quality of care. The system was designed to track adverse and near-miss events and established an automated method to identify patterns of these events. Although reporting didn't increase, event patterns were recognized with adverse events and near misses.
The April issue also includes an article about stress and burnout among surgeons. The article notes that a number of studies exploring the potential causes of physician burnout suggest that a lack of autonomy, difficulty balancing personal and professional life, excessive administrative tasks and high patient volume are the greatest sources of stress. Although recovery from burnout is possible, prevention that promotes balance and well-being should be used by individual physicians as well as professional organizations and the work place.
3) The Model Annotated Employment Agreement: just one benefit of being an AMA member
Are you trying to land a job? Are you prepared for contract negotiations? More and more residents and fellows are transitioning into their first jobs as part of established medical groups, hospitals and other health care institutions, for which they are required to sign an employment agreement. These contracts cover more than just salaries, and you can learn what to anticipate by reading the AMA's Model Annotated Employment Agreement. This document is part of the online guide "Succeeding from Medical School to Practice" and one of many benefits provided to AMA members.
4) Learn about recovering refunds of FICA tax paid on stipends to residents
Most teaching hospitals in the United States have had pending tax refund claims that seek to recover from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) many millions of dollars in Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax paid on the stipends provided to their medical residents. Although there have been many victories over the IRS in the past two years, the IRS has refused to take any administrative action on these long-dormant refund claims—refusing to allow, disallow or settle them.
An online program offered by international law firm McDermott Will & Emery from noon to 1 p.m. EST May 6 will review strategies and next steps for teaching hospitals to recover FICA tax under these long-dormant claims.
5) Apply for position on Surgical Caucus
The AMA-RFS is accepting applications for the resident position on the Surgical Caucus Executive Committee. The Surgical Caucus, part of the American College of Surgeons, discusses issues and AMA House of Delegates resolutions relevant to the surgical field. The resident member participates in the surgical caucuses at the AMA Annual and Interim meetings and serves as a member of the Surgical Caucus Executive Committee. This is a two-year position appointed by the AMA-RFS Governing Council.
1) Two appointed to AMA-SPG Governing Council
Bohn Allen, MD, of Arlington, Texas, and Richert Quinn Jr., MD, of Greeley, Col., recently were named to the AMA-SPG Governing Council. The council consists of seven senior physicians who advise the AMA Board of Trustees on issues of interest to the senior physician community.
View the complete listing of AMA-SPG Governing Council members.
Brought to you by the AMA Women Physicians Congress
1) Giambalvo scholarship winner focusing on women in academic medicine
Nicole Borges is the winner of this year's Joan F. Giambalvo Memorial Scholarship. Borges, of Dayton, Ohio, plans to survey women physicians in academic medicine to gain perspective on why they chose their academic path.
The goal of the Joan F. Giambalvo Memorial Scholarship is to advance the progress of women in the medical profession and strengthen the ability of the AMA to identify and address the needs of women physicians and medical students.
2) Cast your vote in AMA-WPC online election
Elections for the AMA-WPC Governing Council are taking place through May 6. All female AMA members who are also members of the AMA-WPC are eligible to vote and should have received an e-mail inviting them to do so.
AMA-WPC activities are guided by the congress' eight-member governing council, which focuses on increasing the involvement of women physicians and medical students. The AMA-WPC advocates women's voice in the medical profession as well as women's health.
Send an e-mail to Michael Kutnick if you have questions.
1) Resolutions due today for AMA-YPS meeting
Young physicians interested in submitting resolutions to be considered during this year's AMA-YPS Assembly meeting, which will be held June 11–13 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, should do so by today, May 1.
E-mail Jane Ascroft to submit resolutions and to volunteer for reference, AMA House of Delegates handbook review and credentials committees.
2) One day left to apply for AMA-YPS community service awardsThe AMA-YPS invites nomination forms for its annual community service awards. Through these awards, the section strives to not only recognize excellence in community service activities carried out by young physicians but to encourage similar efforts by other doctors. Nominations are due today, May 1.
Nominees must be AMA members. Recipients will be selected by the AMA-YPS Governing Council and honored for their work during the AMA-YPS Assembly meeting June 12.
3) Register for child care at the Annual Meeting
Physicians with children attending the Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates are encouraged to register for Camp AMA. Child care is available for children ages 6 months to 12 years old and will include arts and crafts, games and activities from June 12–16 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Camp AMA is provided by Accent on Children's Arrangements Inc. and will be made available if a minimum number of children are registered by May 5.
4) Apply for AMA-YPS Governing Council positions
Candidates interested in a position on the AMA-YPS Governing Council are encouraged to submit nominations by June 1. Open positions include chair-elect, who serves a three-year term as chair-elect, chair and immediate past chair; speaker, who serves a two-year term; alternate delegate, who serves a two-year term; and member at-large, who serves a two-year term.
All terms begin at the close of the Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates. After June 1, nominations will only be accepted from the floor at the June 12 AMA-YPS Assembly meeting. Candidates whose nomination forms are received before June 1 will be posted on the AMA-YPS Web site.
5) Stay up to date on health system reform news
A new weekly electronic newsletter is updating physicians and medical students about the AMA's efforts to work with lawmakers in reforming the nation's health care system in a way that provides quality, affordable health care for all. The Health System Reform Bulletin summarizes the AMA's work on this essential topic in the public and private sector, including meetings with the Obama administration and Congress, public initiatives and key dates.
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