ACOFP President

By Ronnie B. Martin, DO, FACOFP dist.

April 1, 2008

ACOFP Represented at the ACOOG Annual Meeting
I spent Friday and Saturday representing the ACOFP at the 75th Annual meeting of the American College if Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOOG) in Orlando, Florida. The Executive Director, Dr. Steve P. Buchanan, the officers of the association and all the members of the Board were warm and hospital to Sherri and me. We had the opportunity to reconnect with several professional colleagues and friends at the meeting.

Dr. Laura Dalton, who led the osteopathic obstetricians and gynecologist group this past year, was recognized for her service and it was my pleasure to bring the best wishes of all osteopathic family physicians to Dr. Patricia Arnett, the incoming president at her installation banquet. ACOOG and ACOFP share a passion for women’s health and the principles of osteopathy. We have many issues in common, and are working on collaborative efforts for CME, residency accreditation and future conventions.

Excerpts from the Wall Street Journal Report “Primary Health Care Needs Fixing Before Universal Care Can Work”
by Benjamin Brewer, MD

The demand for family physicians is expected to surge by 2020, when the nation will need 140,000 family physicians, according to the American Academy of Family Physician's 2006 Physician Workforce Report1. That's a 40% increase over the 100,000 family doctors at work in 2006.

Universal coverage looks like an empty promise. Just nationalizing health insurance by declaring Medicare for all isn't going to get the job done. Medical insurance coverage without a doctor to see is another big health problem -- not a solution.

We won't see better health outcomes or any cost savings from improvements in quality unless there are broadly trained primary care doctors available and willing to practice where they're needed.

Until we adequately fund primary care, we're not going to get the health system Americans expect.

How can anyone rationally expect to build up the nation's health on a crumbling foundation?

Family physicians could meet the needs of the uninsured, the underinsured and the baby boomers, but not without some fundamental changes in the way they are paid.

ACOFP is working through advocacy with the AOA, the AAFP, our colleges, federal and state policymakers to correct the problems that are identified in this article to advance the nation’s health, provide access to quality and cost efficient health care for all patients of the United States centered round the medical home and the family physician.  

Meet the New Officers of the Fellows
At the Fellows Business Meeting at the ACOFP Convention in Denver the members of the Executive Council of the Conclave of Fellows elected the following members:

• CHAIR, Jeffry Lindenbaum, DO FACOFP dist., Pennsylvania
• VICE CHAIR, Michael Murphy, DO, FACOFP dist. Mississippi
• SECRETARY, Larry Anderson, DO, FACOFP dist., Georgia
• Shari Fine, DO, FACOFP, New Jersey
• Dana C. Shaffer, DO FACOFP, Iowa

Additional Executive Council of Conclave of Fellows:

• Patrick Hanford, DO, FACOFP, Texas
• Carol Henwood, DO, FACOFP, Pennsylvania
• Donald Jablonski, DO, FACOFP, North Carolina
• Gregory D. James, DO, FACOFP, Florida

Get the Handouts from the 2008 Convention Today!
In solidarity with Colorado's reputation as one of the "greenest" states in the country, ACOFP has posted the handouts from its 2008 Annual Convention on the website for those of you who want copies or missed these high quality presentations. Thanks for helping us be more environmentally friendly.

ACOFP’s Fit for Life
Do you have everything you need to do your best work? If not, the Mayo Clinic has identified some steps that can help you assess the problem.  Whether your work takes place in a corporate cubicle, private office, retail store or hospital intensive care unit, having what you need to do your job reduces your stress. Also, having a comfortable work space with the right resources promotes greater productivity, safety and job satisfaction — all keys to reducing workplace stress.

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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