Burnout by Numbers
Recent surveys and studies paint a bleak landscape regarding physician burnout. AAFP Senior Vice President of Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin writes in this In The Trenches blog post that the continued shortcomings of electronic health records are the prime driver.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20200121itt-ehr.html
The 30 Year Lie: How Physician Payment Inequities Began
The discrepancies between payment levels and cost values for primary care compared to surgical procedures have been recognized for decades. AAFP Senior VP Shawn Martin examines the missteps that led us to this point in this In the Trenches post.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20200218itt-paymenthistory.html
COVID-19: The AAFP Is Working to Keep You Informed, Prepared
As COVID-19 spreads, AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin offers an update on the resources the Academy is making available and the steps it is taking to help family physicians prepare for the pandemic.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20200317itt-covidefforts.html
Being a Family Physician Requires 'Courageous' Commitment
Aroha? In this Leader Voices Blog post, Gary LeRoy, M.D., describes the courage and commitment needed to succeed in family medicine.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180103lv-aroha.html
Primary Care Needs Congress' Attention Right Now
Representatives from the AAFP and five other organizations recently met with legislators about vital primary care programs jeopardized by lack of stable funding.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180112lv-hillvisits.html
Congress' Inaction Threatens Family Medicine Training
The future of the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program -- and more than 700 residency slots -- is unclear because Congress has failed to address long-term funding.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180129lv-thcgme.html
A Right Way to Treat Opioid Addiction
Some physicians remain reluctant to prescribe buprenorphine for medication-assisted therapy. Alan Schwartzstein, M.D., refutes two common arguments against the practice.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180209lv-opioidsmat.html
Burnout Part 2: Adopting a Systems Approach to Prevention
Carl Olden, M.D., examines methods to approach physician burnout and resilience from the perspectives of the small practice, the multispecialty group and hospital medical staff.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180219lv-burnout.html
Real Action on Administrative Burden Is Long Overdue
The AAFP has been communicating with CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT about reducing administrative burden, and this week, leaders will address that critical issue on Capitol Hill.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180227lv-adminburden.html
Congress Needs to Hear From FPs -- Here's Your Chance
AAFP President-elect John Cullen, M.D., reports from Capitol Hill, where the Academy's Board of Directors recently had dozens of meetings with legislators and congressional staff.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180302lv-hillvisits.html
Make Our Voices Heard on Continuing Board Certification
AAFP President Michael Munger, M.D., provided comments at a recent hearing about continuing board certification. He urges family physicians to do the same in a survey from the American Board of Medical Specialties.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180417lv-abms.html
For Your Patients' Sake, Prepare Yourself for PrEP
Pre-exposure prophylaxis significantly lowers the odds of getting HIV from sex and injectable drug use, but Ada Stewart, M.D., writes in the Leader Voices Blog that too few physicians are prescribing it. A session at the Family Medicine Experience can help.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180510lv-prep.html
Our Patients Want -- and Need -- To Be Heard
Leonard Reeves, M.D., writes in the Leader Voices Blog that advancing technology and a growing emphasis on the business of health care are straining the patient-physician relationship.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180518lv-hearpatient.html
What a Patient Taught Me About Subtleties of Communication
Recent medical school graduate John Heafner, M.D., M.P.H., writes in the Leader Voices Blog that spending a day with one chronic pain patient taught him an important lesson about communication.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180529lv-communication.html
AAFP Board Accepts Recommendations on Continuing Certification
The AAFP Board recently approved recommendations by the Academy's task force on continuing board certification. John Cullen, M.D., writes in the Leader Voices Blog that the recommendations include providing guidance on how to evaluate alternative certifying organizations.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180508lv-boardcert.html
Delaying Visa Approvals Would Harm Medical Training, Patients
As a new training year approaches, many international medical graduates are waiting for H1-B visa approvals. The AAFP and others have been pressing the administration to expedite the process.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180619lv-visaapproval.html
AMA House of Delegates Weighs In on Health Equity
In this Leader Voices Blog post, AAFP President Michael Munger, M.D., reports from the recent annual meeting of the AMA House of Delegates, which took several actions related to health equity.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180702amahod.html
Team-based Care Needs Greater Support
Intern John Heafner, M.D., M.P.H., writes that students and residents understand the value of learning and working in a team-based model. He says payers need to follow suit.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180813lv-teamcare.html
Don't Forget Why You Chose Medicine in the First Place
Leonard Reeves, M.D., writes that remembering why you chose a career in medicine can be as important as how you go about pursuing that career.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180904lv-yourwhy.html
AAFP, Others Drive Home Opioid Message on Capitol Hill
Leaders from the AAFP and five other physician organizations converged on Capitol Hill June 18 to advocate for solutions to the nation's opioid crisis. Michael Munger, M.D., gives more details in this Leader Voices Blog post.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180622lv-opioidvisits.html
Why I'm Building a Solo Practice -- Again
More than 30 years into practice, Erica Swegler, M.D., explains in this Leader Voices Blog post why she decided to buck current employment trends and go back to her roots as a solo family physician.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180925lv-solopractice.html
FPs Are Answer to Rural Maternity Care Crisis
Many rural communities are losing access to maternity care. AAFP President John Cullen, M.D., writes in the Leader Voices Blog that his rural Alaska community offers proof that family physicians can fill that void.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20181010lv-obdeserts.html
Embrace Change and Tech to Shape Our Future
In this Leader Voices Blog post, AAFP President-elect Gary LeRoy, M.D., ponders the future of family medicine, including the Academy's new informatics technology initiative.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20181107lv-change.html
Help Patients Know Their HIV Status
An estimated 15 percent of Americans living with HIV infection are unaware of it. Ada Stewart, M.D., writes in this Leader Voices Blog post that World AIDS Day offers a reminder to help patients know their status.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20181127lv-hivstatus.html
We're Making Progress on the Issues That Matter to FPs
As his term comes to an end, Michael Munger, M.D., reflects in this Leader Voices Blog post on his year as AAFP president and ponders the challenges that remain for family medicine.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20181008lv-mungerfinale.html