Back-to-School:

Pediatric and Adolescent Hot Topics & School-Based Health

Maine AAP Annual Spring Educational Conference
May 5 – 6, 2012 in Bar Harbor

Day one topics include:

• New data from the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey
• Infant Abuse and Head Trauma
• Infectious Diseases and Infestations
• Sports Medicine
• Mental Health and Developmental Disorders
• ADHD

Day two topics include:

• School Nutrition and Fitness: Successful Models
• Promoting Healthy Adolescent Relationships
• Pediatric QI Projects in Maine
• Team Approach to Mental Health
• Immunization

This conference has been approved for 10.5 hours of CME credits.

Special Guest Speaker

Save the date: Fall Conference in Portland November 3rd.

Adolescent Medicine Mega Meeting!  Still time to sign-up!

Friday, May 13 – Sunday, May 15
Harborside Hotel
Bar Harbor, ME

Friday includes: Northern New England Rural Pediatrician’s Alliance meeting and discussions of the Adolescent Medical Home.

Saturday and Sunday include: Adolescent Medicine 2020 Keynote by John Duby MD, Sports Drinks, GLBTQ Issues, Minors’ Rights, Concussions, Resilience, Prescription Drug Abuse, and a special workshop track for Eating Disorders with experts from Renfrew.

For more information and to register, Click Here.

April is Autism Awareness Month

In 2008 the Academy identified a need for the development of a high-impact, national initiative focused on improved quality care of pediatric patients with asthma, including the facilitated implementation of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) 2007 asthma guidelines within medical homes.  To meet this need, the Academy has established a Comprehensive Asthma Program (CAP), initiated with the support of the Merck Childhood Asthma Network (MCAN).

The second phase of CAP—the Medical Home Chapter Champions Program on Asthma (MHCCPA)—will facilitate the dissemination of best practices and advocacy related to the implementation of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) asthma guidelines within medical homes at the AAP chapter and/or state level(s).

Click here for more.

Updates

Pathways to Excellence (PTE) Update – April 2011

The April PTE update is mostly centered on MHMC’s new web site www.getbettermaine.org.  It includes several screen shots 1) the MHMC transition from blue ribbons to the new ratings “good”, “better”, and “best” that recognize practice and hospital performance, and 20 an example of resource information for patients.  Click here for more.

Maine CDC Public Health Update

April 14, 2011

This update includes the following: New director appointed, Salmonella risk, Reducing health disparities, Natural disasters and public health, Preventing teen pregnancy, Influenza update. Click here for the full update.

Surveys

Invitation to participate in a survey for the Maine State Genetics Needs Assessment and Plan

I am writing to ask for your help in developing a statewide Maine Public Health Genetics Plan. To help inform the Plan, we are conducting a survey of Maine practitioners to assess current practices, concerns, and needs of Maine-based healthcare providers regarding genetic services and public health. You are being asked to participate in the survey because you are a healthcare provider who already addresses or soon will be addressing issues of genetic testing and genetic counseling with your patients.  The survey will provide us with information that will help us develop a Maine State Genetics Plan that incorporates useful strategies to assist healthcare providers with their patients who require genetic testing, genetic counseling or other services. The survey should take about 15 minutes of your time. If you are interested in participating in the survey, please complete the survey by clicking on this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/26VD5RQ. Please complete the survey within one month. If you have any questions about the survey or development of a state genetics plan, please call Dale Lea at 781-2098 or e-mail dale.lea@maine.gov. We greatly appreciate your consideration of our invitation to take the survey to help develop a Maine State Genetics Plan.

CDC Survey following up on 2009 H1N1 Influenza

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is conducting qualitative research and evaluation to explore pediatric provider knowledge, perceptions and practices of influenza following 2009 H1N1 Influenza.  In particular, they are interested in hearing from sub-specialists who care for children with chronic medical conditions. The primary goal of this project is to improve CDC’s ability to decrease influenza-related morbidity and mortality in CYSHCN by achieving the following objectives: 1) evaluating and improving healthcare providers’ understanding and use of guidance and recommendations for the prevention and treatment of flu in high-risk children; and 2) developing future influenza guidance to healthcare providers of high-risk children based on an analysis of survey results. http://www.orau.gov/physician-flu-survey/default.htm.

CME and Education Opportunities

Oral Health Conference

Learn how to develop integrated professional and referral relationships. Gain insights and tools for enhancing communications about oral health. Acquire knowledge and skills for creating comprehensive systems of oral health promotion and care.

Friday, May 6
Point Lookout
Northport, ME

Click here for more information and how to register.

Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition Conference

Participants will be able to Identify the principles of ethical practice that safeguards the interest of individual clients and enhance the reputation of the profession, Describe the healthy people 2020 breastfeeding goals, Explain the concepts of secondary and primary causes for low milk intake and low milk production, Describe three methods of encouraging mothers to determine balanced and reasonable goals, Explain two methods to provide reassurance and affirmation to the breastfeeding woman, and Explain the way in which dissonance facilitates or confounds persuasion as it relates to breastfeeding

Friday, May 13
Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel
Portland, ME

Click here for full agenda and registration details.

MAAP Spring Conference

Adolescent Medicine Mega Meeting!

Friday, May 13 – Sunday, May 15
Harborside Hotel
Bar Harbor, ME

Friday includes: Northern New England Rural Pediatrician’s Alliance meeting and discussions of the Adolescent Medical Home.

Saturday and Sunday include: Adolescent Medicine 2020 Keynote by John Duby MD, Sports Drinks, GLBTQ Issues, Minors’ Rights, Concussions, Resilience, Prescription Drug Abuse, and a special workshop track for Eating Disorders with experts from Renfrew.

For more information and to register, Click Here.

New Hampshire Pediatric Spring Education Meeting

May 25
Bedford, NH

Click here for a temporary agenda.

Hot Topics in Child Welfare

June 23
Wells Conference Center
University of Maine – Orono

Click here for the “save the date”

15th Annual Advances in Identification and Treatment of Childhood Behavioral Disorders

Children Exposed to their Parents Drugs from Birth and Beyond

July 18 – 19, 2011
Colby College

This year’s featured presenter will be Marie Hayes, PhD, Professor and
Allied Senior Scientist, Maine Institute for Human Genetics & Health,
Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems. Dr. Hayes will present on topics
related to high-risk infants and maternal health and wellbeing.

Other presenters and topics include:
John Salvato, MD – Epigenetics: What it is and How It Impacts Children’s
Health
John Woytwoicz, MD – The Implications of the Medical Marijuana Law and
use of THC During Pregnancy and While Parenting
Anne Uecker, PhD – Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:  Brain and Behavior from
Gestation through Adolescence
Debra McSweeney, PT, MS – Neurological Soft Signs: Implications for a
Child’s Motor Development
Pam Perry, OTR/L and Michelle Sweet, COTA/L – Demystifying and Treating
Sensory Processing Disorders
Gary Wolcott – Acquired Brain Injury

For more information or to register for this year’s conference, please
click here.

Canadian Pediatric Society Lifelong Learning in Pediatrics

Designed for pediatricians, family physicians, residents and allied health professionals, this CME course explores topics in dermatology, developmental pediatrics, infectious diseases, neonatology, and nephrology/urology.

October 21 – 23, 2011
Montebello, Quebec

For course details, please click here.

Legislation

New Video on PSR Maine’s YouTube Channel

Physicians for Social Responsibility have launched a channel on YouTube that documents some of the work and issues PSR Maine is currently engaged in. Their latest short video was shot just yesterday at Kid Safe Products Day at the Maine State House. Click here to view.

Mandatory Insurance Laws for Early Intervention

On January 1, 2011, two laws went into effect that require insurance companies to provide limited reimbursement for early intervention services.  This document summarizes these laws and provides a few examples of policy changes made by insurance companies as a result of the mandate.
This is a monthly posting of relevant pediatric news and events, including CMEs. If you have news or events you would like added to the next E-Newsletter, please contact Aubrie.

Salary and Benefits:
The selected candidate will be offered a competitive salary plus a benefits package.

Regional Information:
Midcoast pediatrics serves a regional area into an energetic population mix of nearly 90,000. Just 30 minutes north of Portland and next door to famed L.L. Bean in Freeport, Brunswick is just minutes from the rocky coastline.

Our Pediatric Hospitalist Program oversees the care of the inpatient pediatric unit, newborn nursery, and the level II NICU. Our level II NICU, which cares for prematurity of 32 weeks or greater and covers acute newborn management, can accommodate twelve patients and has mechanical ventilation capacity.

All pediatricians are actively involved in resident and medical student education.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package with a generous medical student loan repayment program.

Visit www.cmmc.org.

Not a J1 opportunity.

Schooled in Asthma

This pilot project, funded by National AAP, is supporting two pediatric practices in building school-community partnerships to address asthma management.

Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative

The Maine Chapter AAP is partnering with the Maine Center for Public Health in a learning collaborative involving 14 pediatric and family practices.

Click Here to learn about all our projects.

Join MAAP Now!

MOC Petition

Maine CDC

Legislation

CME and Education Opportunities

Grant Opportunities

Chapter News

Resident Career Night Dinner

The Maine AAP is inviting members who would like to recruit for open Pediatric positions to come to the Resident Career Night dinner on April 4th at Sea Dog in South Portland. Practices are asked to cover the cost of the meal and bring 12 copies of position descriptions, if they wish.

If interested, please email Aubrie Entwood.

“Doctor of the Day” Program

Join your colleagues who have served as the “Doctor of the Day”* at the Maine State Legislature. Established in 1997, the program is well respected and legislators are enthusiastic about it. Volunteering as the “Doctor of the Day” gives you a better sense of legislators’ perception of the medical profession, the importance of developing a relationship with your legislators, and and an opportunity to promote the medical profession among the State’s leaders. For more information Click Here [Doc 133Kb]. To register Click Here [PDF 216Kb].

MOC Petition

Dear Maine AAP Pediatricians, You may desire to sign the following petition protesting the new Maintenance of Certification process.  Multiple other chapters in the US have passed this out to their membership as well. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/aap-moc

Jon Jonathan Fanburg, MD, MPH, FAAP
President, Maine Chapter of the AAP

———- Forwarded message ———-

From: Victor Strasburger <vstrasburger@salud.unm.edu>
Date: Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Subject: Re: MOC Controversy update

Hello all! To update you:  Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Mexico have all transmitted the petition to their membership — Arizona and several other states are on the verge of doing so. Please let me know what your chapter decides to do. Again, the petition is available at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/aap-moc. I assure you it works — I just did it. Without your help, things will continue unchanged. We’ve heard from thousands of pediatricians who feel differently. An online update/recertification process would be cheaper, easier, and much more applicable to actual practice. Thanks, Vic

Vic Strasburger, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
MSC10 5590
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
E-mail: VStrasburger@salud.unm.edu
Phone:  (505) 272-0338
FAX:  (505) 272-6845

Maine CDC

Maine CDC/DHHS Public Health Update

February 3, 2011

In this update: Cardiovascular Disease, Influenza Update, Child Health System Performance, Wellness School Assessment Tool, Dietary Guidelines, Health Reforms, and other updates. Click Here [Doc 74Kb] to read more.

Legislation

Maine Moves Forward in Addressing Chemicals in Children’s Products

From Maine Medical Weekly: Maine has continued to move forward with implementation of the Safer Chemicals in Children’s Products law passed in 2008. On December 17th, the Board of Environmental Protection adopted the Department of Environmental Protection’s proposed rules designating Bisphenol A (BPA) and Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPs) as “priority chemicals”. The rules on BPA now allow the Department to ban its use in reusable food and beverage containers, require manufacturers to report on its use in toys and child care articles, and conduct an assessment of possible alternatives for uses in infant formula and baby food containers. While applauding the developments, advocacy groups had been pushing the Department to ban the use of BPA in infant formula and baby food containers without requiring an additional assessment. The Board also took a step forward on NPs, chemicals with estrogenic effects, by requiring manufacturers to report the extent that these chemical are used in children’s products. Brominated Flame Retardants are likely to be the next chemical taken up by the Board.

Click Here for more information on the law and rules.

Help Block Gov. LePage’s Assault on Maine’s Kid Safe Products Act

Governor Paul LePage is calling for an end to dozens of protections for the health of Maine people and our air, water and land. Three of his thirty-six proposed rollbacks take direct aim at Maine’s law to protect children’s health from unnecessary dangerous chemicals in everyday products.

Maine’s Kid Safe Products Act was adopted in 2008 with overwhelming bipartisan support, passing in the Senate by a vote of 35-0 and in the House by 129-9, despite relentless opposition from the national chemical industry. Not one single Maine business testified in opposition to the proposed law in 2008 or to the designation of BPA as a priority chemical under the law in 2010.

Click Here [PDF 170Kb] to read the full article.

CME and Education Opportunities

MAFP 19th Annual Family Medicine Update

Learn What You Can Do to Combat Childhood Obesity in Maine

Thursday, April 7 – Friday, April 8
Sunday River Ski Resort and Conference Center

Click Here for complete details and registration information.

Maine AAP Annual Spring Conference

Adolescent Medicine Mega Meeting!

Friday, May 13 – Sunday, May 15
Harborside Hotel
Bar Harbor, ME

Friday includes: Northern New England Rural Pediatrician’s Alliance meeting and discussions of the Adolescent Medical Home.

Saturday and Sunday include: Adolescent Medicine 2020 Keynote by John Duby MD, Sports Drinks, GLBTQ Issues, Minors’ Rights, Concussions, Resilience, Prescription Drug Abuse, and a special workshop track for Eating Disorders with experts from Renfrew.

For more information and to register, Click Here.

Grant Opportunities

2011 Neonatal Resuscitation Program – Call for Applications

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Steering Committee and the Section on Perinatal Pediatrics are pleased to announce the availability of the 2011 Neonatal Resuscitation Program Research Grant and the NRP Young Investigator Award. The awards are designed to support basic science, clinical, educational, or epidemiological research pertaining to the broad area of neonatal resuscitation. Any health care professional with an interest in neonatal resuscitation can submit a proposal for $20,000 – $50,000 through the NRP Research Grant Program. Physicians-in-training or individuals within four years of completing fellowship training are eligible to apply for up to $10,000 through the NRP Young Investigator Award. Researchers from Canadian and US institutions are invited to apply.

Potential applicants should submit an intent for application to the NRP Steering Committee by Friday, May 6, 2011. All intents will be reviewed and the committee will ask a select group to submit full proposals. Those selected to submit a full proposal will receive the formal application by Friday, June 24, 2011. Completed applications will be due on Friday, August 19, 2011.

To obtain the NRP Research Grant or NRP Young Investigator Award Program Guidelines and the Intent for Application, please contact:

American Academy of Pediatrics
Division of Life Support Programs
800/433-9016. Ext. 4798
http://www.aap.org/nrp

This is a monthly posting of relevant pediatric news and events, including CMEs. If you have news or events you would like added to the next E-Newsletter, please contact Aubrie.