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May 20
AOA Delegation at World Health Assembly
by  John CrosbyNo presence information  on 5/20/2013 6:02 PM
Category: International

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AOA President Ray E. Stowers, DO, and Trustee William Burke, DO, are in Geneva, Switzerland, today attending the World Health Assembly (WHA) as a part of the Global Health Council's delegation.  The WHA, the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization, is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board.  During the week ahead, President Stowers and Dr. Burke will observe the opening session of the Assembly, watch the keynote address from Director-General Margaret Chan, and meet with leadership of the World Health Professions Alliance.  Meanwhile, I am participating in the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine’s Convocation Ceremonies taking place today in Cherry Hill, after traveling here from Maine, where the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine celebrated its graduation ceremony this past Saturday.  ​

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May 20
Help DOs Affected by Natural Disasters
by  John CrosbyNo presence information  on 5/20/2013 6:02 PM
Category: Family

Recent tornados in Texas emphasize how devastating natural disasters can be.  The AOA’s Osteopathic Family Relief Fund (OFRF) assists DOs and osteopathic medical students whose homes and clinics were damaged in natural disasters by providing grants from $2,500 to $10,000 to help them rebuild their practices.  In addition to funding directly from the AOA, the OFRF also receives many tax-deductible donations from members of the AOA family—learn how you can contribute online. Or read a recent story published in The DO magazine about George Smith, DO, a key first-responder after the Texas explosions, whose home was wrecked by the blast.  Consider making a donation today to help your fellow DOs like Dr. Smith, and visit www.osteopathic.org/OFRF to read more testimonials from grant recipients.  If you have any questions, please contact Verna Bronersky, Secretary to the OFRF, at vbronersky@osteopathic.org or 312-202-8191.​

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May 20
Promote DOs in Your Local Media
by  John CrosbyNo presence information  on 5/20/2013 6:02 PM

Want to promote osteopathic medicine throughout the year?  Join the AOA’s Health for the Whole Family program to receive monthly health articles that you can customize and share with your patients or your local media. This month’s article, “Standing Up for Your Health,” examines the risks associated with sedentary lifestyles and desk jobs and provides tips to prevent health problems so you can live a longer, healthier life.  Laura M. Rosch, DO, an AOA board-certified internist from Winfield, Ill, contributed to the article.  If you would like to receive the monthly Health for the Whole Family articles, send your request to pr@osteopathic.org.  You can also direct your patients to the Health Conditions Library on Osteopathic.org​, where they can find trustworthy information on a variety of common health concerns.​​

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May 20
CMS Funding to Test Payment Models
by  John CrosbyNo presence information  on 5/20/2013 6:01 PM

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a funding opportunity for the second round of its Health Care Innovation Awards.  CMS will fund up to $1 billion for studies that test new payment and service delivery models aimed at delivering better care and lowering costs for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.  CMS is seeking innovations that will rapidly reduce costs for patients with Medicare and Medicaid in outpatient, hospital and other settings; improve care for populations with special needs; test improved financial and clinical models for specific types of providers, including specialists; and link clinical care delivery to preventive and population health.  Letters of intent are due by June 28 and applications are due by August 15.  Details are available at online.​​

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May 17
Ohio Symposium Commences
by  John CrosbyNo presence information  on 5/17/2013 5:04 PM
Category: Family

AOA President-elect Norman E. Vinn, DO, and I are in the “Buckeye State” today attending the Ohio Osteopathic Association’s (OOA) Ohio Osteopathic Symposium, taking place May 15-19 in Columbus. President-elect Vinn and I provided an update on recent AOA activities during today’s House of Delegates, and President-elect Vinn will address tomorrow’s business luncheon.  We also celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Advocates of the OOA at their meeting this morning and, later this weekend, Dr. Vinn will help install Robert L. Hunter, DO, as the new OOA President, taking the reins from outgoing OOA President John F. Ramey, DO.  AOA Trustees Robert S. Juhasz, DO, and William Burke, DO, and Past Presidents Gil Bucholz, DO, and George Thomas, DO, are among the more than 500 attendees.​

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May 17
Take Action to Support the Good Samaritan Act
by  John CrosbyNo presence information  on 5/17/2013 5:04 PM

A national disaster or mass casualty event can be an alarming and unifying moment for a community or nation, bringing physicians together to volunteer your services and expertise in a critical time of need.  However, a consistent floor for liability protections during a federally declared disaster period does not currently exist, putting you and other such volunteers at risk of civil liability. To establish this much needed protection, U.S. Representatives Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jim Matheson (D-Utah) have introduced the “Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2013” (HR 1733).  This legislation would provide relief from burdensome liability restrictions that could prevent physicians from acting in times of a national disaster and allow you to do what you are trained to do – provide care when someone is in need.  Support this legislation by sending a letter to your elected Representatives today!​​

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May 17
Joint Advocacy to Protect Children
by  John CrosbyNo presence information  on 5/17/2013 5:04 PM

The AOA, the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD), and the Nevada Osteopathic Medical Association wrote a joint letter to the Nevada State Assembly on May 14 to support SB 267.  The bill would prohibit a tanning establishment from allowing children under the age of 18 to use the tanning equipment and imposes fines on those who allow them to do so. The bill also requires an owner or operator of a tanning establishment to post warning signs in conspicuous locations.  In related advocacy, the AOA, the AOCD, the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association, and the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Family Physicians Society also wrote to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on May 10 in support of HB 1259, a bill that would impose similar rules.  The AOA and these affiliates support imposing appropriate safety precautions upon tanning device operators.​​

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May 17
Be the First to Know about DOs in the News
by  John CrosbyNo presence information  on 5/17/2013 5:03 PM

Did you know that DOs have been featured in the Washington Post, Glamour and PBS NewsHour? Are you aware of the Dr. Oz health segments featuring our DO spokespersons?  If you missed these media stories, now is your chance to get in the loop.  Become an insider—subscribe to Osteopathic Medicine in the News to receive the latest media coverage of DOs and osteopathic medicine. Twice a month, you’ll get a collection of recent news stories featuring DOs as expert sources on various health topics and media updates highlighting osteopathic medicine’s perspective on current health care policy issues. To subscribe, visit the Osteopathic Medicine in the News page on Osteopathic.org and enter your email address.  The AOA works hard to build national awareness of osteopathic medicine and correct inaccurate portrayals of the osteopathic medical profession.​

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May 17
PCORI Announces New Funding Opportunities
by  John CrosbyNo presence information  on 5/17/2013 5:02 PM

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced new funding opportunities this week.  PCORI will fund up to $81 million in research that corresponds to its National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda.  Applications should address the impact of the condition on the health of individuals and populations; the potential for the study to improve health care and outcomes; technical merit; patient-centeredness; and patient and stakeholder engagement.  Letters of intent are due by June 15 and applications are due by August 15.  Get full details online.

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May 16
Michigan Elects New Leaders
by  John CrosbyNo presence information  on 5/16/2013 5:49 PM
Category: Family

AOA President Ray E. Stowers, DO, President-elect Norman E. Vinn, DO, Trustee Mark A. Baker, DO, and I concluded our visit today at the Michigan Osteopathic Association’s (MOA) 114th Annual Spring Scientific Convention in Novi, with presentations this afternoon to the Advocates of the MOA. Over the last two days, the MOA held elections for its new slate of officers.  Edward J. Canfield, DO, concluded his term as MOA President, and Michael D. Weiss, DO, was sworn in to succeed him.  Myral R. Robbins, DO, was elected to the position of President-elect.  There are approximately 5,600 active DOs practicing in Michigan, 2,400 of whom are MOA members in addition to 1,668 resident members and 1,078 student members.  In other meeting news, Stanley E. Grogg, DO, represented the AOA at the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit, a collaboration of the Immunization Action Coalition, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Vaccine Program Office, held May 13-15 in Atlanta.​​

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 About this blog

 

Welcome to the AOA Daily Report Blog, the online archive of all AOA Daily Reports. This forum allows AOA and public members to comment on individual items, engage in discussion, and converse with Executive Director John B. Crosby, JD. I welcome and value your comments. Please note that I do not respond to anonymous comments.