ACOFP President

"...all osteopathic physicians must strive to reach leadership but only with virtue. There must and should not be any other way."-- Plato Varidin, DO, FACOFP

"May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions."— Joey Adams

March 12-16, 2008
ACOFP 45th Annual Convention & Exhibition
Hyatt Regency Denver
Denver, Colorado

Registration Details

By Steven F. Rubin, DO, FACOFP dist.

January 4, 2008

CMS Extends Medicare Participation Decision Period
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have announced that due to passage of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extensions Act of 2007, the Medicare participation decision period is being reopened for an additional 45 days. The previous deadline for physicians to declare whether they would be "participating" or "non-participating" physicians for 2008 was December 31, 2007. The new deadline to notify carriers of changes in participation status is February 15, 2008.

Dozens in Illinois, Texas Fall Ill From Bacteria-Tainted Syringes
Federal health officials are investigating reports of about 40 blood infections that have been linked to contaminated medical syringes, the Associated Press reports. Cases seen in Chicago were caused by Serratia marcescens and have been traced to a single batch of heparin-filled syringes that are used in the home. Infections have also been reported in Texas. There have been no deaths, and patients have responded rapidly to antibiotics. The manufacturer, Sierra Pre-Filled, has recalled the implicated lot (#070926H), which was also distributed to Colorado, Florida, and Pennsylvania. No infections have been reported in those states.

New Information from the FDA on Fentanyl Transdermal System
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an update that highlights important information on appropriate prescribing, dose selection, and the safe use of the fentanyl transdermal system (patch). The Agency continues to receive reports of death and life-threatening adverse events related to fentanyl overdose that have occurred when the fentanyl patch was used to treat pain in opioid-naive patients and when opioid-tolerant patients have applied more patches than prescribed, changed the patch too frequently, and exposed the patch to a heat source.

ACOFP’s Residency Program Directory - Revamped to be Faster and Easier to Use
The 'Guide to Selecting an Osteopathic Family Practice Residency Program', now in its second edition, helps students identify the locations, scope of training provided, salaries and benefits and contact information for more than 100 osteopathic family practice residency programs around the country. Beyond the comprehensive demographic information, it provides the rationale for pursuing osteopathic training and information on how to participate in the match process. Use the newly updated Residency Program Directory to research programs that are of interest to you. Resident Recruiter contact information is listed within each residency program profile - easy access for students looking for answers to their questions.

ACOFP Fit for Life
CNN’s Accent Health says “Choose tuna packed in water, not oil.”

Register Today for the 2008 ACOFP Convention!
This year’s convention will feature a lecture on the Battle of the Electronic Medical Records. This three-hour course will provide a comprehensive analysis of the selection process for an Electronic Medical Record for a clinical practice. A brief primer of terminology and specific features of an electronic health record will be presented. In addition, a brief presentation of a nationwide study that surveyed hundreds of medical practices will be presented. From this survey six of the top-rated Electronic Medical Records in the nation will be give 20 minutes to document a standardized patient for the audience. All presenters will be available throughout the program for individualized demonstrations.

Back to Campus
Peter A. Guiney, DO, Director, Family Practice Residency Program Peninsula Hospital Center, spoke to the student ACOFP Chapter at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine during Family Practice Week. He discussed the difference between Internal Medicine and Family Practice.

Deadlines Approaching…
National ACOFP Honors for State Societies Application Deadline January 31
ACOFP will honor the work and dedication of our outstanding ACOFP State Societies by recognizing them at an Awards Ceremony to be held at the ACOFP National Convention March 12-16, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. Share your achievements in leadership development, communications, creativity, membership recruitment and retention initiatives, educational programs, community outreach and public service. Contact Tobi Kelmer, ACOFP Mgr., State & Student Chapter Relations.

Make your opinions known! Send an email to me and ACOFP. Share your thoughts, make comments, and tell us what you have been doing in regards to osteopathic family medicine.

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