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June 4, 2008 |
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Welcome to ACAAI eNews
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Calendar |
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JUNE
XXVII EAACI Congress
June 7-11, Barcelona, Spain
Tel: +46 8 459 66 00
Fax: +46 8 661 91 25
Email
Link
Asthma & Allergy Society of Virginia Annual Conference
Pending ACAAI Joint Sponsorship
June 21-22, Virginia Beach, Va.
Contact: Donald Zedalis, M.D.
Tel: 540-552-7226
Email
JULY
26th Annual Aspen Allergy Conference
Pending ACAAI Joint Sponsorship
July 22-26, Aspen, Colo.
Contact: Jill Hibbeln
Tel: 303-733-9590
Email
AUGUST
The Alabama Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology's
29th Annual Postgraduate Course
Aug. 8-10, Destin, Fla.
Contact: Richard Carson
Tel: 334-954-2577
Email
9th Annual Tennessee Society Meeting
Pending ACAAI Joint Sponsorship
Aug. 22-24, Franklin, Tenn.
Contact: Anna Brooks
Tel: 865-342-7057
Email
OCTOBER
3rd International Symposium in Italy
Co-sponsored by ACAAI
Oct. 1, Verona, Italy
Oct. 3-4, Venice, Italy
Contact: Jacqueline Roberts
Tel: 301-938-2941
Email
Northwest Allergy Forum 2008
Washington State Society of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology
Pending ACAAI Joint Sponsorship
Oct. 3-5, Seattle, Wash.
Contact: Hannah Scott
Tel: 206-341-1353
Email
ONGOING
World Allergy Organization Society Meetings
ACAAI
CME Website
Contact: Mary Campbell
Tel: 847-427-1200
Email
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Sponsored
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Top
Stories |
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FDA: Switch to HFA-propelled albuterol inhalers now
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently advised patients, caregivers, and health care professionals to switch from chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-propelled inhalers, which will be unavailable in the United States after Dec. 31, to hydrofluoroalkane (HFA)-propelled albuterol inhalers. CFC-propelled inhalers are being phased out as a result of the Clean Air Act and an international environmental treaty, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. 
In U.S., nickel prevalent in inexpensive earrings
A report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that many pairs of earrings sold for less than $50 at San Francisco stores and by area artists contained nickel. Scientists from the University of California, San Francisco, purchased 277 earrings from 34 different stores and artists in San Francisco in October 2007. Just over 30 percent tested positive for nickel. Earrings purchased from licensed local artists were most likely to include nickel (69 percent), while nearly 43 percent purchased from stores in Chinatown were positive for nickel. No correlation was seen between country where the earrings were manufactured nor exact price point and testing positive for nickel.
WHO: Ban all tobacco advertisements
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently called on governments to ban all tobacco advertising to help prevent children from becoming addicted. The UN agency accused tobacco manufacturers of using increasingly sophisticated marketing techniques to hook young people, epecially girls, in poor countries. The WHO’s petition was part of the WHO's “World No Tobacco Day.” |
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Message from Dr. Richard G. Gower, president-elect & Annual Meeting program chair
The Annual Program Committee has designed the 2008 ACAAI Annual Meeting to address allergic and immunologic diseases in a state-of-the-art scientific manner that is both contemporary and practical. The meeting, “Embracing the Challenges of Change,” will be at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Nov. 6-11. The program is designed to prepare attendees for the fascinating changes in medicine, science, and pharmacology, as well as the escalating legal, political, and socioeconomic issues that are rapidly impacting our delivery of medical care.
Special Thursday program
A special program is planned for Thursday, Nov. 6. Two medical fields having an increasing impact on our practice of allergy, asthma and immunology will be addressed.
The morning session is an innovative program, “Tracking Immunotherapy: Are We Getting Railroaded?” The SLIT express will take attendees for a ride through the pros and cons of oral immunotherapy and the trip will be guided by global experts with extensive experience in this treatment modality. They will discuss the merits of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) and (SCIT), prepare you to avoid a wreck in your practice, distinguish those “rolling” or “in transit,” and advise how to board the train or wait for a better model.
In the afternoon, dermatology experts will present clinically relevant information to prepare you for the increasing number and variety of dermatology cases seen in allergy practices. The dermatologists will teach attendees how to recognize and manage common and difficult cases. Dermatitis from medical devices, implants and other causes will be discussed, as well as the treatment of recalcitrant atopic dermatitis and urticaria in children.
General Sessions
Friday will showcase the very popular Annual Literature Review Course organized by Dr. Mark T. O’Hollaren and his committee.
The opening ceremony on Saturday morning will be followed by an overview of the expanding horizons in the practice of allergy and the importance of three recently updated practice parameters to quality practice: diagnostic testing, drug allergy, and immunotherapy. A plenary regarding the role of clinical immunology in allergy practice is followed by
“The Great Asthma Raft Debate” which will focus on barriers to asthma care. You can decide which speaker makes the best case for the biggest obstacle to asthma care.
Plenary Session topics also include evaluation of special populations with symptoms masquerading as asthma; barriers between allergy and dermatology; asthma, aspirin and NSAID intolerance; and controversies in food allergy, including food allergy epidemic, food patch testing, and treatment options.
You don’t want to miss the Tuesday program on health care reform, which will explore the impact of changes in the current system and proposed single-payer systems. This session will include a presentation by our expert in Washington, D.C., ACAAI Past President Daniel Ein, about how the 2008 elections will impact our allergy practices. Moderators will be former College President, Dr. Bobby Lanier, and Speaker of the House of Delegates, Dr. Kevin McGrath.
Of particular interest to the practicing allergist is the Tuesday afternoon program on neuroimmunology, where experts will discuss the interaction of factors such as stress, immunity and inflammatory disease.
Dr. Sami L. Bahna and his committee have planned a comprehensive array of symposia to prepare you for rapidly accelerating advances in methods of diagnosis and treatment.
Other educational programs
Other popular educational programs held in conjunction with the meeting include:
- Workshops designed by Dr. Todd A. Mahr and his team
- “Meet the Professor Breakfasts” planned by Dr. Bradley E. Chipps’ committee
- An exhibit hall where more than 100 exhibiting companies will provide information about commercially available products and services relevant to allergy and immunology
- Abstract Sessions and Poster Presentations organized by Dr. John J. Oppenheimer’s committee
- Social events, including the Fundraiser Dinner, FIT Bowl and Women in Allergy Luncheon
- Special courses are designed to meet the needs of Advanced Practice Healthcare Providers, Office Administrators, Allied Health Professionals and the Association of Asthma Educators
Join your colleagues in the vibrant and beautiful city of Seattle for a state-of-the-art, dynamic scientific program built on 65 years of experience. Save the date for the ACAAI Annual Meeting, Nov. 6-11.
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Association
News |
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The College, Academy and Joint Council back Bill H.R. 5445
During his recent ACAAI Board of Regent visit to Capitol Hill, ACAAI Treasurer Dr. Stanley Fineman met with Congressman Tom Price (R-Ga.), also a physician. They discussed Bill H.R. 5445, which Rep. Price introduced to increase Medicare payments for physician services through Dec. 31, 2009, as follows:
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July 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008, it would provide an update of 1 percent and
- In 2009, the update would be 1.8 percent.
The ACAAI, AAAAI and JCAAI have all signed onto the bill. It currently has 38 co-sponsors and is pending consideration before the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committee, where no action has been scheduled.
“It is good to have legislators who understand how much physicians rely on the Medicare fee schedule,” said Dr. Fineman. “Preserving a reasonable compensation is important to all physicians and ultimately the health care of our patients. If this doesn't get passed there will be a significant fee reduction on July 1.”
 Let Google promote your Medem practice Web site
On May 19, Google announced the launch of Google Health, a new online service that allows users to store, organize and manage their personal health information, and search for a physician online.
The launch of Google Health is particularly good news for physicians with Medem practice Web sites. Medem’s iHealth services are now closely integrated with Google Health, and these Web sites are featured within Google’s new “Find a Doctor” nationwide physician search tool.
Medem – a health care IT company founded by leading medical societies, including the American Medical Association (AMA) and the ACAAI – now offers the following benefits to all physicians:
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Practices are exposed to millions of users through Google Health and search.
- Medem provides a direct data feed to Google, which includes links to the practice’s Web site hosted at Medem.
- Practices that offer secure patient e-mail and other iHealth services improve their search ranking at Google.
- Integration with Google Health and search is included as part of each physician’s paid annual subscription to Medem; there are no additional fees.
- Physicians who are ACAAI members receive a discount on their Medem service fees.
Each practice Web site that offers the iHealth service to patients will be tagged as “Google Health Enabled” in Google’s new “Find A Doctor” service. This designation indicates that the practice offers online services to patients who are integrated with Google Health. This compelling message for consumers quickly differentiates iHealth-enabled physicians from those who do not offer online service.
In addition, each physician’s listing on Google will include details from his or her Medem-hosted practice Web site. For physicians who have a Medem Web site and use iHealth services, the Google relationship and integration will improve marketing and patient communication for their practices.
Members in the spotlight
The College recognizes Drs. William E. Berger, ACAAI past president, Mission Viejo, Calif., and P.K. Vedanthan, Fort Collins, Colo., for their achievements:
Dr. William Berger publishes new book, Living with Asthma
Asthma affects about one or two teens out of 10, and is the most common reason teens miss school in this country. Dr. Berger provides a straightforward guide offering authoritative information on coping and living with the disease in his recently published book, Living with Asthma. The book is one of the new Teen’s Guides series published by Checkmark Books that provides a wealth of information about a variety of illnesses and diseases that often affect readers in grades 6 through 12.
Ideal for teens living with asthma or whose family members or friends are coping with it, Living with Asthma offers everything readers need to know to understand the nature of the disease and its consequences for day-to-day life. It features dramatized, real-life examples that allow readers to fully grasp the impact asthma can have on everyday living. Appendixes contain useful information such as organizations, support groups, online resources, and further reading.
Dr. Berger is the author of Allergies and Asthma for Dummies and Asthma for Dummies.
P.K. Vedanthan receives faculty award
Dr. P.K. Vedanthan received the International Clinical Faculty Service Award for his academic and teaching activities from the University of Colorado Department of Medicine at its 32nd annual awards banquet in Denver.
He is founder and chairman of International Asthma Services (IAS), a registered charitable organization devoted to patient and physician education. IAS is active in several parts of the globe, especially in India. In 2006, IAS partnered with Christian Medical College (CMC),Vellore, Tamilnadu, in offering the Diploma in Allergy & Asthma (DAA), a formal training program in the field of allergy, asthma & immunology for the first time in India.
Dr. P.K. and Mrs. Kamala Vedanthan
Have you written a new book? Have you won a prestigious award? Are you doing something that ACAAI members would find interesting? Submit notable achievements and read about those of your peers in ACAAI eNews.
Annual Meeting Webcast available for CME credit
The 2007 ACAAI Annual Meeting symposium titled “Immunotherapy in Allergic Rhinitis: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?” is 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 U.S. 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. |
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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 affecting allergy-immunology.
Candidates answer health care reform questions
A key objective of the AMA’s “Voice for the Uninsured” campaign has been to bring national attention to the issue of the uninsured. The AMA is pleased that each of the three leading presidential candidates has made health care a top priority in their respective campaigns. In response to a set of 10 questions posed to the candidates about their heath care reform proposals, the AMA received responses from the campaigns of Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Barack Obama. The AMA encourages members to review these questions and answers as they evaluate the proposals and platforms of presidential candidates.
Trying to help patients quit smoking?
Beware of tobacco industry-sponsored materials
The AMA is warning physicians that tobacco companies, as part of recent efforts to improve their reputations, are actively promoting Web sites to attract smokers ostensibly to help them quit smoking. Although these tobacco company sites may provide links to legitimate smoking cessation resources and government reports, they also seek to reinforce smoker’s decisions to continue their smoking.
The AMA has policy stating that when physicians and health organizations provide information or materials about tobacco to patients and consumers, such information and materials should come from credible and trustworthy sources with expertise in tobacco control, including the following:
Online video focuses on complementary and alternative treatment by patients
Patient use of complementary and alternative treatment has increased rapidly in recent years. Patients most often use this type of therapy to manage chronic conditions, mental health conditions and acute infections, but many choose not to disclose such use to their physicians. To help physicians better understand the different types of unconventional remedies and reasons why patients may choose to use them, the AMA has released a new online program, “Use of complementary and alternative therapy by patients,” as part of the Educating Physicians on Controversies and Challenges in Health series.
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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 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 28 of Pediatric Allergy: Principles & Practices, edited by Donald Y.M. Leung, et al. Review questions were written by Dr. Jennifer W. Mbuthia, Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
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