ACOFP President

"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself."— Alan Alda

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

Registration Details

By Steven F. Rubin, DO, FACOFP dist.

January 11, 2008

Voluntary Recall for Alaris Pump Modules
Cardinal Health notified its customers of a voluntary recall for all Alaris Pump modules, model 8100 (formerly known as Medley Pump module), shipped prior to September 27, 2007. The product is an infusion pump used to dispense various medications. The recall covers Alaris Pump modules that were distributed to 46 States, the District of Columbia, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and Saudi Arabia. The pump module was recalled because the unit may contain misassembled occluder springs (bent, broken, nested or missing) that occurred during manufacturing.

Voluntary Recall of Test Strips for the Contour TS Blood Glucose Meter
Bayer Diabetes Care notified health care professionals and consumers of a voluntary market recall of test strips (sensors) used exclusively with the Contour TS Blood Glucose Meter. The product was recalled because test strips from specific lots could result in blood glucose readings with a positive bias that could demonstrate 5 – 17 percent higher test results. This issue is unrelated to the Contour TS meter itself and pertains only to certain test strips used with the meter. Health care professionals, retailers, patients and other customers who use Contour TS are advised to check the lot number of the test strips in their inventory and contact Bayer Diabetes Care for information regarding the return and replacement of strips.

Warning from FDA on Bisphosphonates
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration informed health care professionals and patients of the possibility of severe and sometimes incapacitating bone, joint, and/or muscle (musculoskeletal) pain in patients taking bisphosphonates. Although severe musculoskeletal pain is included in the prescribing information for all bisphosphonates, the association between bisphosphonates and severe musculoskeletal pain may be overlooked by health care professionals, delaying diagnosis, prolonging pain and/or impairment, and necessitating the use of analgesics.

Register for the 2008 ACOFP Convention!
This year’s convention will feature a workshop on Diagnostic Ultrasound. Technology has allowed for newer, more sophisticated and easier to use imaging equipment. Family physicians may be interested in learning about these devices and the application of diagnostic ultrasound in their practices.

Sign up today for the Pre-Convention Ski Package
On Sunday, March 9 through Monday, March 10, 2008, ACOFP has arranged a Pre-Convention Ski Package for attendees. Winter Park has more than twenty-four lifts including seven high-speed express quads, one high speed six person chairlift, three triple chairlifts, seven double chairlifts, five magic carpets, and one rope tow. In addition to the many ski runs, Winter Park is a classic mountain town nestled against a fabulous background and is full of quaint boutiques, delightful cafés, and picturesque scenery.

The Right Resources for Your Needs
Visit ACOFP’s Buyer’s Guide today! ACOFP, partnered with MultiView, Inc. to provide members an online service enabling physicians to search industry wide for products and services that they need.

ACOFP Fit for Life
CNN’s Accent Health says “Park your car on the far side of the lot and get in a little extra exercise.”

Back to Campus
The University Of New England College Of Osteopathic Medicine ACOFP Student Chapter participated in the first Annual Flu shot clinic at the Biddeford, Maine Free Clinic under the supervision of two doctors and three nurses. The event occurred Halloween night, October 31 and was open to any individual with preexisting medical conditions without health insurance.

Deadlines Approaching…
Writing Award deadline January 14
The ACOFP Preventive Medicine and Medical Preparedness Committee is pleased to announce the fourth annual Namey/Burnett Preventive Medicine Writing Award competition to honor the best preventive medicine papers submitted by osteopathic family practice residents, interns and osteopathic medical students.

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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