In This Issue
President's Perspective
Legislative Update
Issues & Commentary
Meet Your 2016 President-Elect Candidates!
Info on KAAP 2016 Elections
KS Breastfeeding Friendly Practice Designation
KPF Update!
Spring CME Meeting Info
Developmental Coordination Disorder & Sensory Processing Issues in Children



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  February 2015
President's Perspective

By Robert Wittler, MD, FAAP
Wittler

As a Kansas Chapter AAP member I hope you vote in the election for your new President-Elect beginning March 15 and voting ends on March 31.  We have two excellent candidates (Dr. Gilmer and Dr. Clark) for the position and I'm sure most of you are aware that the KAAP President-Elect becomes the KAAP President at the end of the two-year term.   Please read the biographies for Drs. Clark and Gilmer in this newsletter, and most of all, please vote.
 
I want to congratulate Dr. Dennis Cooley on being appointed the Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Access to Care of the Committee on Federal Government Affairs.  Many of you personally know Dr. Cooley and would not be surprised by this appointment.  Dr. Cooley has always been a strong advocate for children and is no stranger to the Kansas legislature.  Dr. Cooley, through this newsletter, keeps us up to date on important statewide legislative issues that affect children and pediatricians.
 
I also want to remind everyone to register for and attend the KAAP 2016 Spring CME meeting April 21 and 22.  We are excited and honored that Dr. Sandra Hassink will be speaking at the meeting in the evening on April 21 and the morning of April 22.  Dr. Hassink is the immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics so it is a real honor to have her attending our chapter CME meeting.  You can learn more about Dr. Hassink at http://www.kansasaap.org/wordpress/news/sandra-hassink-md-ms-faap/.

Legislative Update
   
Legislative Update #1 2016

By Dennis Cooley, MD, FAAP,
Legislative Coordinator
 
Greetings from the Chapter and welcome to this year's first Legislative Update. As in previous years, I will try to keep you abreast of activities in the capital and the Chapter's legislative efforts. One of the major changes this year is the Chapter's new Public Policy Committee. The purpose of the group is to monitor and evaluate legislative issues and make recommendations to the Board of Directors. The group will act on these issues per the BOD's decisions.  Members of the group include: Laura Blasi, Kristie Clark, Kathleen Farrell, Dena Hubbard, Vidya Sharma, Pam Shaw, Ryan Smith, and Kathleen Weatherstone. The group has been meeting at least monthly since November.
 
Background
I feel that some background might be important to start this year's Updates. The 2016 session began January 11. Ninety-seven Republicans and twenty-eight Democrats make up the House which is led by Speaker Ray Merrick of Stilwell. On the Senate side thirty-two Republicans and eight Democrats are led by President of the Senate, Susan Wagle of Wichita. Republican Governor Sam Brownback was re-elected in a close race in 2014. To say that the Republicans control the state is quite an understatement. In the past, the Republican party in Kansas could be divided into moderate and conservative camps. However, the conservatives are very much in control now with few moderates left in the legislature. One of the big factors for this session is that it is an election year for all of the legislators. Because of this there is a desire to get done with business rapidly and close the session early, allowing members to hit the campaign trail. There is also, at least in some quarters, a belief that the conservative hold may be weakened in this coming election. There certainly is displeasure in the state with the current group of legislators, especially in regards to state finances. So legislators may be feeling the need to campaign hard for re-election. But something called the state budget could put a damper on those planning on an early exit. The State's revenues continue to be below estimates despite the fact these estimates have been lowered on numerous occasions over the last few years. Kansas is running behind for 2016 and is projected to be $190 million short for the 2017 budget according to KHI News service. The governor and the legislature have performed a number of transfers from state departments to try and close gaps in the State General Fund, but at this point the bottom of the financial spiral doesn't appear in sight. Further cuts to state services and further transfers of money are likely.
 
Medicaid Expansion
The state continues to refuse Medicaid expansion despite what I feel is a growing support. Recently, there have been forums looking at expansion of the Medicaid program through innovative approaches such as the one done in Indiana. These have attracted support from many conservative Kansans and influential past legislators. The Governor, however, is steadfast in his refusal to expand the program and it is highly unlikely anything we be done this session. I feel that eventually the state will expand Medicaid. The election this year will be pivotal on how soon this expansion will occur.

 
Issues & Commentary

Social Media's Role in Poverty Education

 By T. Ryan Smith, MD, FAAP

Farris Timimi, Medical Director at the Center for Social Media at the Mayo Clinic, addressed our faculty retreat at KU last spring and implored providers to enter the social media fray. Misleading, and sometimes false, information is disseminated on Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter to the greater public.  Providers are perhaps the most potent counter to ensure that critical care like vaccinations are routinely employed.

I left this lecture convinced that I was soon to become the most prominent tweetiatrician in the Kansas City metro. I opened a Twitter account and quickly posted my first tweet. Two months passed before my next post.  My limited but growing experience with social media has provided me a few lessons:
  1. Find your medium- Some will feel most comfortable shooting a short video on YouTube while others feel compelled to project their thoughts in 144 characters on Twitter. A blog can be a means for larger commentaries on issues.
  2. Understand that your patients and community pay attention - My 132 twitter followers represents a running joke between me and some of my more social media savvy friends who boast thousands of followers, but a number of my followers including patients have told me how informative my tweets have been.
  3. Lean on trusted resources- A large number of my tweets originate from content disbursed by some of my favorite sources including AAP, Kaiser Family Foundation, Too Small To Fail, and AAP president, Dr. Benard Dreyer.
Dr. Dreyer has deftly used Twitter to draw attention to child poverty, an issue of particular importance to myself as a practicing pediatrician and former social worker. One in five children suffer food insecurity while many studies suggest growing income inequality is disproportionately affecting children. The approaching presidential election promises polarizing rhetoric, but remember that the public tends to listen to pediatricians on issues affecting child health.  

T. Ryan Smith, MD- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Kansas, follow on twitter at @timoyoro.

Meet Your 2016 President-Elect Candidates!
 
Kristie Clark, MD, FAAP
"As a Mother of two boys and an urban-trained Pediatrician who works in a rural area and volunteers internationally, I believe that I will serve the Kansas Chapter of the AAP well and provide unique perspective on carrying out the AAP's mission to achieve optimal health for all children. "
 
Kristie Clark, MD, FAAP graduated Alpha Omega Alpha from Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta and completed residency in Pediatrics at Dallas Children's Medical Center of UT Southwestern.  Her husband, a Family Medicine Physician, and two sons moved to Kansas to be closer to the family farm.  Dr. Clark practices rural medicine in Jetmore, working in the clinic, emergency department and hospital; she also serves as the Hodgeman County Health Officer.  Dr. Clark precepts WSU Physician Assistant students and she is adjunct faculty for KU School of Medicine.  Dr. Clark is active in the TAP-TAM book program and wrote breastfeeding blogs for Baby Buffer.  Both Dr. Clark and her husband are involved with a Medical Mission in Honduras where they also began an agroforestry reforestation project.  When not working, Kristie enjoys bicycling with her dogs, traveling, reading and Yoga.

Lisa Gilmer, MD, FAAP
"As a lifelong Kansas resident and mother to sixteen year old twins, I feel deeply connected to the families of the state and believe that all Kansas children deserve outstanding pediatric care."

Lisa Gilmer, MD, FAAP graduated from the University of Kansas where she also completed her residency and chief residency.  Training the next generation of pediatricians has been the focus of Dr. Gilmer's 16 year professional career on faculty at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.  Dr. Gilmer has held leadership positions in both undergraduate and graduate medical education and currently serves as the Pediatric Residency Director in Kansas City.  Dr. Gilmer's clinical practice includes outpatient clinic in both urban and suburban clinics as well as nursery care. Her two years serving on the KAAP Board of Directors have expanded her understanding of local, regional and statewide challenges encountered by Kansas pediatricians.  The KAAP is in a unique position to advocate on behalf of all children and to represent the diverse providers who care for them and Dr. Gilmer would be honored to lead this organization. Lisa's time outside of work is spent supporting her teenagers' busy high school schedules and cheering for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Information on KAAP 2016 Elections

Above are the two candidates for KAAP President-Elect.  KAAP bylaws permit Candidates for the office of President-Elect to be nominated by petition.  Petitions must bear the signatures of at least five percent of the vote-eligible fellows from the Chapter and be certified by the Nominating Committee.  Petitions must be received by the KAAP office by March 1.
 
Online election ballots will be distributed to KAAP voting members on March 15, 2016 with a deadline to vote by March 31, 2016.  The newly elected President-Elect will serve a 2-year term starting July 1, 2016.  At the end of their term, they will advance to the office of KAAP President (7/1/2018 - 7/1/2020).

Kansas Breastfeeding Friendly Practice Designation


KAAP, in collaboration with the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, has created the Kansas Breastfeeding Friendly Practice Designation that can be earned by physician practices in Kansas. Medical providers who care for mothers and babies are in a position to offer support and encouragement that can lead to successful breastfeeding. Created to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates at six months of age and beyond in Kansas, this initiative will help practices create policy and environmental changes that will support breastfeeding mothers.

Participating practices can earn up to a 5 star designation, one star for each of the Breastfeeding Friendly Practice criteria:
  • A breastfeeding friendly office environment
  • Education for both staff and parents
  • Policies and procedures that promote breastfeeding
  • Community connections and breastfeeding resources
  • On-site individualized breastfeeding support
A physician trainer will give an on-site training - FREE CME and lunch included for the practice - based on the Breastfeeding Friendly Practice criteria to each participating practice. Practices will receive a tool kit including a window cling, poster, parent handouts, and electronic resources on a portable drive.

Contact Mel Hudelson at mel.hudelson@kansasaap.org or 913-940-8965 for more information and to register.
 
 KPF Update
  
TAP-TAM Logo
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Kansas Pediatric Foundation Year End Appeal!  The appeal brought in over $44,000 that will be used to support important child health initiatives including Turn a Page. Touch a Mind.® (TAP-TAM).

TAP-TAM continues to grow across the state and currently has 84 active sites with almost 450 medical providers trained to hand out books. We expect to distribute over 125,000 books to Kansas kids in 2016! Many TAP-TAM sites have reached out to their local library and are collaborating on programs that promote early literacy, which is making a big impact for young children preparing for school.

KPF is continuing to grow the Kansas KidLink Endowment that will provide funding to support the Kansas KidLink mental health provider database and website into the future.

If you would like to learn more about the Kansas Pediatric Foundation and how you can support these important initiatives, visit www.kansaspediatricfoundation.org or contact Mel Hudelson at mel.hudelson@kansasaap.org.

Join Us at the Spring CME Meeting in Kansas City!
KAAP 2016 Spring CME Meeting
"Health Across a Lifespan"

March 21-22, 2016
Hampton Inn & Suites
Country Club Plaza

You don't want to miss the Spring Meeting with several expert speakers including AAP Immediate Past President Sandra Hassink, MD, MS, FAAP! 

Developmental Coordination Disorder and Sensory Processing Issues in Children

Submitted by Pathways.org

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a common diagnosis for children with motor skill and sensory processing difficulties in the absence of other conditions and learning issues. This disorder affects 5-6 percent of school-aged children and is more commonly diagnosed in boys.
 
Children with DCD have trouble with both fine and gross motor movements. Very often, parents may describe their child having these motor difficulties:
  • Clumsiness-child frequently bumps into other objects or people, trips, and drops things
  • Difficulty walking, standing or balancing
  • Problems playing sports or riding a bicycle
  • Difficulty with daily living activities-getting dressed, feeding themselves, tying shoes
  • Poor posture
  • Messy handwriting
  • Difficulty learning and applying new motor skills
 
Sometimes, there is a sensory component to the disorder. Children with sensory processing/integration differences can have trouble integrating all the information received from their senses to produce coordinated motor movements and perform everyday activities. If a child is over reactive to sensory information, they are more sensitive to sensory stimuli than their typically developing peers. Warning signs for over reactive children may include:
  • Avoids sensory environments with loud noises and too many bright colors
  • Seems fearful or very distracted
  • Avoids being touched or engaging in activities with lots of tactile input
 

Breastfeeding Seminar
Beyond Baby Friendly, Thinking Out of the Box

Thursday, March 3, 2016
6:00-7:30pm
Cessna Room, 
Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, KS
 
Jane Morton, MD, FAAP, FABM will be giving a physician's seminar focusing on hands-on management practices in the prevention of breastfeeding problems with simple, but critical steps from the first day, no matter what the challenges may be. 

Dr. Morton is an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford Medical Center. Registration is free and includes CME and refreshments. 

RSVP by February 26th to Brenda Bandy at bandy@kansas.net