What's New at IAFP

The Illinois VFC program will be transitioning some VFC operations to a web-based ordering and accountability module within the Department’s I-CARE registry system. Providers will be required to enroll into I-CARE in order to order and account for vaccine use by Dec 1^st. It is required that VFC providers establish the capacity to utilize I-CARE. If you have not signed up for access to ICARE, please do so immediately by submitting the “I-CARE User Contract Agreement” found at http://www.idph.state.il.us/health/vaccine/icare_HL7provider_info.htm

E-mail the completed form to dph.ICARE@illinois.gov or fax it to I-CARE staff at 217.524.0967. Once received, I-CARE staff will address additional steps to become and I-CARE user.

ALERT FOR PARENTS: Please print and post or share this flyer about the recall of crib and playpen “tents” with any parents of babies and toddlers. The flyer was provided to IAFP by Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Click here for flyer

IAFP members are invited to participate in a Healthy Populations quality improvement initiative offered by IFMC-IL, the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for the state of Illinois. Learn more click here. NOTE: You must be a current electronic health records user, or in the process of acquiring an EHR.

New Illinois law allows schools to use Epi-Pens in emergencies without fear of liability

Are U.S. primary care physicians overpaid? Columbia researchers study in Health Affairs raises questions and a swift AAFP response

ABFM MC-FP exam moves to April in 2012. Click here for details and a schedule of test dates

Illinois' Physicians statement on Breastfeeding - This statement was developed in an effort to improve breastfeeding practices in Illinois. Read the statement Dr. Deborah Edberg's comments on statement. Read Dr. Edberg's comments

The National Coordinating Center for the Regional Genetic and Newborn Screening Services Collaboratives (NCC) has a new free brochure, Hearing Loss, Genetics and Your Child, designed both to connect families with genetics professionals, and to prepare them for a genetics appointment. Downloadable pdf formats with space for local resources. It is written at a low-literacy level and is available in both English and Spanish.

Print copies may also be ordered by contacting Matthew Tranter (mtranter@acmg.org). The minimum order for printed copies is 100 brochures for $15.00, plus shipping and handling.

IAFP Sox game a home run! Except for the final score of Twins 6 White Sox 2, the 236 IAFP Sox fans enjoyed a fantastic night under the stars at U.S. Cellular field last night. The event raised nearly $5,000 for the Family Health Foundation of Illinois. Special thanks to ProAssurance Casualty Company for hosting the pre-game social. Our thanks to our other four corporate sponsors: Acute Care, Health Directions, Intel and Phreesia. Click here for pictures

IAFP leaders spend time talking about Family Medicine needs on Capitol Hill click here for YouTube video.

Illinois medical school family medicine match rates dip slightly in 2011 – view data for Illinois allopathic schools click here.

About Take Control of Your Health - IAFP is a supporting partner of a public health education campaign called Take Control of Your Health. Led by the Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH) and CBS2-TV in Chicago, the campaign seeks to educate the community on simple but important ways they can control and improve their health. Visit the website at www.tcyh.org and share it with your patients

Check out the web site “Physicians” section to download and print any patient education handouts.

I-CARE (Illinois Immunization Registry Exhange) and your EMR can have two-way data exchange. Read update from IDPH.

IAFP releases case study on Illinois Health Connect and Your Healthcare Plus medical home programs, showing improved outcomes and cost savings. Click here PRESS RELEASE Case Statement Makes a Statement for the Medical Home click here

IAFP offers Print and Post notice for your practice. Here is an easy way to direct your patients to the new U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services web site with information for patients and consumers. Place them in your waiting room and exam rooms.

Order FREE Illinois Tobacco Quitline brochures for your practice! Click here for an order form.

Resources

Concerned about possible controlled substance abuse? Illinois has an online prescription monitoring program allowing licensed prescribers and dispensers of controlled substances to view a Prescription Information Library (PIL) for current and prospective patients only. click here for more information.

IDPH has guidelines for primary care providers for managing MRSA. http://www.idph.state.il.us/health/infect/MRSA_Provider.htm

You can find a list of other useful documents for schools, athletes and patients at http://www.idph.state.il.us/a-zlist.htm#mrsa

CDC Launches Preteen Vaccine Awareness Campaign. A new Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/preteens-adol.htm, will link you to the Campaign Gallery filled with resources for parents and providers.

AAFP has created a "resource center" for members regarding retail health clinics. (Members Only - AAFP ID required) http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/journals/fpm/retailclinics.html

AAFP offers Tobacco Cessation resources for patients online Go to www.askandact.org for resources you can use to help your patients kick the habit. Materials include posters, patient education materials, provider toolkits and information on reimbursement.

NIH offers free articles with patient education. Read more

Disaster Preparedness - AAFP has a new a new website for disaster preparedness and humanitarian opportunities.

AAFP is offering a new listserv for bioterrism and related issues. To sign up go to www.aafp.org/members/lyris and click on the bioterrism list.

Familydoctor.org - find links to patient information on health topics from A to Z.