Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
Electronic Newsletter August 2009
Ohio Chapter searching for practices to participate in asthma pilot project Are seeing more children with asthma than you once had? Do you want support in implementing new NHLBI/NAEPP guidelines within your practice? Are you interested in bringing quality improvement to your practice and receiving American Board of Pediatrics, MOC Part IV credit? The Ohio Chapter would like to invite you to participate in the Chapter Quality Network (CQN) Asthma Pilot Project. The CQN asthma pilot project is being led by the national office of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is providing the Alabama, Maine, Ohio and Oregon Chapters with tools, resources and technical support to lead a quality improvement (QI) effort among member practices. Beginning in the summer of 2009 and ending in the fall of 2010, 10 to 15 pediatric practices from the Ohio Chapter will participate in a Learning Collaborative designed to help practices implement the new NHLBI/NAEPP asthma guidelines and improve the outcomes of children with asthma. Participating practice teams will take part in a series of 4 Learning Sessions, followed by action periods where they will have the opportunity to try out changes in their setting. During the action period, practices will measure their progress toward improvement goals. Expert faculty will coach practice teams to assist them in applying key change ideas into their own offices/clinics. The Academy is applying to the ABP for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) QI project approval so that See Asthma…page 3
Tee off with the Ohio AAP Foundation On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Ohio AAP Foundation will be hosting its third annual Golf Outing at The Lakes Golf and Country Club in Westerville. The afternoon will begin with lunch at noon, and the Best Ball Scramble will tee off at 2 p.m. Once play is complete, an awards ceremony will be hosted to recognize the winning foursome, winning Hospital-based team, winning Ohio AAP Committee team, contest winners and raffle winners. Individuals can participate for $175 each, or $150 per person if registered as a foursome ($600 for the foursome). Registration fees include greens fees, golf cart, reception and prizes. Register online at www.ohioaap.org/foundation or contact Heather Hall, Assistant Executive Director, Ohio AAP Foundation at (614) 846-6258 or
[email protected] for more information.
Ohio AAP E-newsletter
August 2009
Developmental Screening Learning Collaborative accepting applications
CHIC symposium set for Sept. 25 in Cleveland
Our practice is located in the Locust Professional Building across the street from Akron Children’s Hospital. All major insurance plans are accepted. We would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have over the telephone.
The Consortium for Healthy and Immunized Communities (CHIC) would like to invite you to attend our 8th Annual Immunization Symposium, “Reflections of Change.” The statewide symposium will be held on Sept. 25 from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Windows on the River in Cleveland. Nationally recognized speakers will present on: addressing parental concerns related to immunizations; vaccine preventable disease outbreaks and investigations; evaluation of Zostavax, a different perspective on the meningitis vaccine; and state and federal immunization resources. • Dr. Lance Rodewald, Director of the Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. • Jane Seward, Deputy Director, Division Viral Diseases National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. • Dr. Ari Brown, pediatrician and author of Baby 411, Capitol Pediatric Group, Austin, Texas. • Dr. Silvania Ng, Infectious Disease Associates, Cincinnati. • Frankie Milley, Founder and Executive National Director of Meningitis Angels.
We look forward to providing care to your patients with the same dedication as always. Very sincerely yours, James A. Lehman, Jr., MD M. Devi Prasad Tantri, MD
For further information or to download a registration form, please visit http://www.chicohio.com or contact Cindy Modie at (216) 2012001 Ext. 1310.
A first of its kind learning session designed to promote screening for developmental delays like autism is again accepting applications. The Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics and Center for Health Care Quality at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center will host the Concerned About Development Learning Collaborative (CADLC), a variety of free learning activities funded through grants from the Ohio Department of Health and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Concerns about development are common, with delays affecting 1 in every 8 children in Ohio. Practices will learn how to implement a system of care that promotes early identification and referral for children with See Screening…page 3
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Ohio AAP E-newsletter
Watch your mail for the 2009 Annual Meeting brochure! The 2009 Ohio AAP Annual Meeting brochures should be arriving in your mail box soon! Take advantage of the early bird special and register before Sept. 1, 2009!!! This year’s meeting will be held Nov. 13 and 14 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio. Following the Annual Meeting Breakfast on Saturday morning, Judy Dolins, MPH, District and Chapter Relations Director, American Academy of Pediatrics, will speak on the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. If you are confused about how to evaluate your practice and need help understanding and meeting the components of MOC, this would be the person to answer all your questions. Dolins will identify the requirements for meeting the four parts of the American Board of Pediatrics’ MOC program and will describe ways in which the Chapter Alliance for Quality Improvement can assist chapters in supporting their members to engage in quality improvement work. Dolins will also describe the programs that the AAP offers to help pediatricians meet part 4 – Performance in Practice of MOC. Also on Saturday, Paula Duncan, MD, chair of the AAP’s Bright Futures Pediatric Implementation Project, will explain how to implement Bright Futures approaches and materials in community and practice settings. Dr. Duncan will relate how to partner with families in health promotion activities in both community and practice settings. For more information about the Annual Meeting, please contact Elizabeth Kelleher at (614) 846-6258.
August 2009 Screening from Page 2 with developmental concerns. Teams will also learn about the latest and most practical tools for developmental screening and how to be paid for their time and efforts. National and state experts on screening and quality improvement will offer day long workshops, webinars, conference calls, and webcasts. Project leaders will offer continuing support to sustain progress. Plus, CADLC project leaders will work with participants to foster better relationships with local early intervention agencies to optimize collaboration and communication for the benefit of patients and practices. In addition to providing better care in an efficient setting, collaborative participants will be eligible for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) through the American Board of Pediatrics. The CADLC is also applying for CME and CEU for nurses and physician for in-person and online activities. Additional details and the project application are available under the “parent resources” section of http://www.concernedaboutdevelopment.org. The first 100 practices who sign up will receive more than $450 in free screening kits, plus the satisfaction of knowing they are involved in trendsetting care that helps protect Ohio’s children. Anyone with questions should contact Dan Farkas, Project Manager, at (614) 846-6258. Asthma from Page 1 participating chapters can offer members part IV performance in practice credit for completion of the project. The Chapter Quality Network (CQN) Asthma Pilot Project is available through the generous support of the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc (MCAN), the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) and the Academy’s Friends of Children Fund. More information regarding the CQN Asthma Pilot Project is found online at www.ohioaap.org under Program Initiatives.
If you have questions about the e-newsletter, please contact Karen Kirk, at
[email protected] or call (614) 846-6258. Advertising space is now available in the e-newsletter, contact Karen for more information.
Ohio AAP E-newsletter
August 2009
State budget assessment On July 16, Gov. Ted Strickland signed House Bill 1 – one of the most challenging budget bills of its time – into law. Declining state revenues and growing Medicaid caseload estimates in a troubled national economy triggered historic cuts and unprecedented budget drama during the debate on Ohio’s 2010 and 2011 budget spending plan.
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To balance the state budget bill, legislators voted to allow video lottery terminals (VLTs) at Ohio’s seven horse tracks, estimated to generate $700-900 million over the biennium. Even with this additional revenue stream, significant cuts were made to state government programs. As a reference, the budget proposal introduced in February by Gov. Ted Strickland included $54.4 billion in general revenue fund (GRF) spending. The final budget included $50.5 billion in GRF spending. A status report of the budget issues impacting Ohio AAP includes the following: •
Funding for Ohio Reach Out and Read was eliminated ($200,000 was appropriated last biennium).
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Funding for the Help Me Grow Program in the Ohio Department of Health was maintained and increased. The Autism Diagnosis Education Pilot Program will be funded from this program.
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Children’s mental health funding through the Ohio Department of Mental Health was cut (from $9.1 million in FY09 to $7.4 million in each year.
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The immunization line in the ODH received small cuts from recommended funding levels but increased from current funding levels ($6.7 million for FY10 and FY11). The pharmacy benefit was “carved out” from the private Medicaid managed-care plans to a single program administered by the state. A reduction of Medicaid reimbursements for community providers by 3 percent. Elimination of the House-proposed inclusion of autism insurance mandate in the budget bill. The budget includes a number of “wellness” initiatives, including: • In the Governor’s new system of “evidencebased” school funding, the plan creates a standard for placing school wellness coordinators (school nurses) in schools based upon “organizational unit.” • The bill also includes a requirement that the State Board of Education to adopt rules establishing standards and requirements for obtaining a school nurse or school nurse wellness coordinator license. • HB 1 establishes the nine-member School Health Services Advisory Council to make recommendations on: (1) the content of courses of instruction required to obtain a school nurse license or a school nurse wellness coordinator license; and (2) best practices for the use of school nurses/school nurse wellness coordinators in providing health and wellness programs for students and employees of public schools.
RECRUITING Pediatricians and Family Physicians To participate in a brief Internet-based research survey examining physicians’ knowledge of and professional experiences with AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. To take the survey, cut and paste the complete address below into your browser http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx? sm=G8xPt63Y1vvUMmwUGqnWvw_3d_3d For more information, please contact: Jessie Beauvais, MA,
[email protected] Research Associate, Project Coordinator The Ohio State University
