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ACOG: Women with asthma should continue medications while pregnant
Women should continue to use their asthma medications during pregnancy in the lowest doses possible to manage symptoms, according to a practice bulletin recently released by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The report also recommended women with moderate or severe asthma be monitored throughout pregnancy for fetal growth restriction and signs of preterm birth. "Research consistently shows that women with well-controlled asthma can have healthy pregnancies with excellent maternal and perinatal outcomes," said ACOG Fellow Dr. Mitchell P. Dombrowski.
Study: Student dead from asthma attack triggered by second-hand smoke
A young woman in Michigan died from an acute asthma attack triggered by secondhand cigarette smoke shortly after she arrived for work at a bar, according to a report in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. The woman, whose identity is being protected for privacy reasons, was in her late teens. This may be the first reported case of an immediate death caused by secondhand smoke. According to study author Michigan State University professor Dr. Kenneth Rosenman, the woman’s asthma was poorly controlled, as evidenced by four doctor visits and two to three emergency department visits the year prior to her death. The study was funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nearly half of this season’s flu strains not covered by vaccine
In the United States, seasonal influenza is on the rise, with nearly half the strains of the virus reportedly not directly covered by this year’s vaccine. Two emergent viruses, a new strain of H3N2 virus called “Brisbane/10” and a strain of influenza B called “Yamagata” — neither of which are in the vaccine— have taken off. About 16 percent of all flu samples this season are reportedly influenza B, with 93 percent of those the “Yamagata” strain. So far, the “Brisbane/10” and “Yamagata” strains account for 48 percent of all flu samples this winter.
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 A message from Dr. Richard Gower,
Allergist Marketing Task Force Chair
I am enjoying my allergy practice and hope all of you are busy and enjoying your practices as well. The College's allergy disease awareness marketing campaign is being designed to help patients with allergic diseases know when it is appropriate to see an allergist.
The College is asking every ACAAI member to complete a brief online survey to help plan for our public education campaign to motivate more people to see an allergist.
A link to the survey will be sent by e-mail in the coming weeks asking for your feedback on your practice and current marketing activities. The survey is part of the education and branding campaign approved by the Board of Regents last fall to increase public awareness of the diseases allergists treat and the benefits of allergist care.
You will have an opportunity to play a role in this important initiative and extend the reach of the campaign into your community. To assist you, the College will provide a tool kit of materials that might include patient education brochures, public service announcements and other tools to increase the visibility of our specialty.
But before we decide which components to include in a kit, we want to learn more about your marketing and community outreach activities and how effective they are. The survey covers a variety of practice promotion tactics, ranging from newsletters to Web sites, media relations and advertising.
As you complete the survey, we’re reviewing the final results of the consumer research phase of the campaign. You will be able to read a report on those research findings, which includes quantitative and qualitative data from asthma and allergy patients across the country, in an upcoming article in ACAAI News.
We’re moving forward with the creative phase of the campaign, the development of an allergist “brand” and messages that demonstrate the benefits of allergist care. Stay tuned for more, and don’t forget to watch your email for the survey. For this campaign to be a success, we want and need your input.
Thanks in advance for your participation.
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Association
News |
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Annual Meeting Webcast now available for CME credit
The 2007 ACAAI Annual Meeting symposium, “Immunotherapy in Allergic Rhinitis: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?” is now available as a Webcast.
The Webcast, supported by an educational grant from Schering-Plough Corporation, includes audio and slides of the following presentations:
- Immunotherapy and Allergic Rhinitis: The US Experience – by Dr. Linda S. Cox
- Immunotherapy and Allergic Rhinitis: The European Experience – by Dr. Moises A. Calderon-Zapata
- The Future of Immunotherapy: Novel Approaches – by Dr. Peter Creticos
Complimentary CME credits are available for those who did not receive credit from attending the meeting.
View the new Literature Review Course vodcasts
Presentations from the popular Literature Review Course at the 2007 ACAAI Annual Meeting, are vodcast weekly.
The new vodcasts include:
- Asthma & Lower Respiratory Diseases – by Dr. James T. Li
- Update in Pediatric Allergy – by Dr. John M. Kelso
Each vodcast contains the original audio and presentation slides, and can be viewed from a computer or downloaded to a portable media player (like an iPod). Future vodcasts will feature named lectures and the symposium, “Allergic Rhinitis and the Allergist.” Previous vodcasts are archived for continued viewing.
The ACAAI vodcast program is sponsored by an unrestricted educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline.
Register for the Nationwide Asthma Screening Program by March 15
 The Nationwide Asthma Screening Program is the ACAAI’s public service campaign to help adults and children find out if their breathing problems might be symptoms of asthma. The program also gives diagnosed asthmatics a chance to find out if their disease is under control.
ACAAI-member allergists across the country volunteer to offer free asthma screenings in their communities at shopping malls, schools, health fairs and other public locations. The program, supported by AstraZeneca, has screened more than 108,000 people in the past 11 years, referring half for further diagnosis.
The deadline for registration is March 15, and allergists must submit a date and location for a screening by April 30. Screenings may be offered at any time.
For more information, visit the College member Web site or call the screening program Help Line at (312) 558-1175.
College members considering a screening program for their communities can access background information online with answers to frequently asked questions about the program, and tips about site selection and partnering with patient support groups. While visiting the Web site, allergists can download a Screening Program Coordinator Registration form for the program.
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AMA Corner |
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Welcome to the AMA Corner prepared by Dr. Alnoor A. Malick, ACAAI Delegate to the AMA House of Delegates, to keep you abreast of important AMA news and developments impacting allergy-immunology.
Doctors to unite at April 2 rally on Capitol Hill
Physicians nationwide are urged to join their colleagues on April 2 on Capitol Hill and hold their lawmakers accountable for promises regarding payments in the Medicare program. This “house call” on Congress will be part of the AMA National Advocacy Conference (NAC), to be held April 1-2 in Washington, D.C.
Prior to the rally, conference participants will hear from insiders about the upcoming presidential election and how candidates will address key AMA issues in health care and the role the AMA plays on the national stage. Conference sessions will cover issues such as health information technology mandates, physician profiling and relief from undue regulatory burdens.
Visit http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/14350.html for more information about the NAC, including registration details.
Physicians sought for Medicare payment campaign
With the constant threat of steep payment cuts in the Medicare program, the AMA seeks to interview practicing physicians who are willing to share their personal experiences with this issue. The experiences will be shared with lawmakers and the media as real-life examples to convey the urgency of stopping payment cuts to doctors and reforming the Medicare payment system. As such, we seek doctors who have familiarity with the issue and who can articulate the impact of Medicare cuts on their community. We may ask that they be available, on relatively short notice, to be interviewed and/or photographed. If you know of a physician with a particularly compelling story to tell, please send a note to conan.kisor@ama-assn.org with his or her contact information.
Physicians urged to order influenza vaccine for next season
This year’s influenza season has thus far been a smooth one, in part because of successful production, distribution and administration of the flu vaccine. But each new flu season can be unpredictable because of factors outside of physicians’ control. That’s why the AMA is working with representatives from all parts of the health care system to ensure doctors’ access to flu vaccine for seasons ahead.
In the meantime, physicians should get ready for next season. Physicians are encouraged to order supplies of influenza vaccine soon, and if possible, to order from more than one manufacturer. And with influenza still able to be spread through May, they’re encouraged to protect as many patients as possible by administering vaccinations throughout the spring. |
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Fellows-in-Training |
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Board Review Corner
Welcome to the Board Review Corner prepared by Drs. Bret R. Haymore and Dr. Jennifer W. Mbuthia, Senior and Junior Representatives of ACAAI’s fellows-in-training (FITs) to the Board of Regents. The Board Review Corner is an opportunity to help hone your Board preparedness.
To refer to a previous Board Review Corner, click the “FIT Archive” link in the left column.
Review Questions: Chapter 20 of Pediatric Allergy: Principles & Practices, edited by Donald Y.M. Leung, et al. Review questions were written by Drs. Jennifer W. Mbuthia, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and Tracy Pitt, Winnipeg Children’s Hospital.
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