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IAFP News Bites
June 3, 2020
For the next several weeks we will be sending out IAFP News Bites every Wednesday. 

The weekly e-news will increase our ability to provide you COVID-19 updates in one central location.
AAFP (Virtual) Week of Action 
Happening this Week
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AAFP has replaced their annual Family Medicine Advocacy Summit with their first-ever remote "Week of Action,"  to advocate for family medicine in Congress. How family medicine responds to the COVID-19 pandemic will shape primary care and our health care system for years to come, and it's crucial that Congress get it right by supporting you, your practice, and your patients. 

We encourage you to take as many actions as you can to raise family medicine's voice. Click HERE  for more information and action steps you can take.
State Mandated CME Survey  
The IAFP is planning for state-mandated CME webinars. The webinar topics will be on End-of-Life and Pain Management. They will be 2-2.5 hours in length. Please provide feedback to help us better plan by taking the survey below.

IAFP Call for Resolutions  
Resolutions are the official means by which you as a member have input into the governance and political process of the American Academy of Family Physicians. If you have a topic you are interested in addressing then we encourage you to submit a resolution for consideration by the IAFP Board of Directors. IAFP can help guide you through the process of writing your resolution. Click HERE f or resources and more information. Resolutions are due June 30th. 
AAFP to Hold Weekly  Town Hall 
on COVID-19 on Wednesdays
AAFP will be holding a weekly town hall  every Wednesday night from 7:00- 8:00 pm to provide updates on COVID-19. CME is available for participating. 

Congress has been working to stimulate the economy and support the health care system as it responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the June 3 Virtual Town Hall, Rep. Phil Roe, MD, (R-Tenn.) and Rep. Ami Bera, MD, (D-Calif.) join AAFP President Gary LeRoy, MD, and Senior VP Julie Wood, MD, MPH, to discuss recent federal legislative trends impacting primary care practices.

You can join the Town Hall HERE
2020 IAFP Membership Directory 
The 2020 IAFP Membership Directory is available HERE. 
This resource is for our members only and is not to be shared. 
AAFP National Student and Resident Conference Going Virtual
In light of COVID-19 and with respect to the health and safety of all involved, National Conference is going virtual. The AAFP is committed to investing in the students and residents that represent the future of family medicine. Thanks to innovative technology, this can't-miss event will continue to offer attendees educational workshops, inspiring main stage sessions, access to family medicine residency programs, and more. Learn more and register HERE.
Registration Open for 
IAFP Annual Conference in November
Registration  is now open for the IAFP Annual Conference to be held November 12-14, 2020 at Prairie Meadows Event Center. 

The program, speaker information and registration can be found HERE
COVID-19 Resources
With the global spread of COVID-19,  IAFP wishes to provide members with the most accurate information as the Coronavirus situation evolves and wishes to direct members to these trusted resources: 

coronavirus.iowa.gov The state of Iowa has released an updated dashboard that will be updated daily to include comprehensive tracking of COVID-19 in Iowa.
 
  CDC's Coronavirus Center for Healthcare Professionals:  Updated daily. Direct access to interim guidance on key issues, extensive health resources, etc.

  AAFP's Coronavirus Center: As more is being learned about the coronavirus infection, the AAFP has a team that is monitoring the situation on a daily basis and posting all relevant updates on its  dedicated COVID-19 resource . There is a lot of evolving, and sometimes inaccurate, information about the situation, so members can be confident that this page contains the most recent information they need that is aligned with the CDC and focused squarely on family medicine.

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH:  Provides a variety of resources for physicians, patients and the public.

We are also continually  adding links to resources and information to our IAFP COVID-19 website  that we think will benefit our members. 

Iowa's Newborn Screening Program- SMA Pilot
One of the most important tests a newborn infant will have performed is the newborn screen. With one small blood sample over 50 conditions can be detected and this number is growing. Most of these life-altering and life-threatening conditions are completely undetectable at birth without the newborn screen.

One such condition is spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMA is an inherited autosomal recessive condition that results in progressive loss of the anterior horn cells (lower motor neurons) in the brainstem and spinal cord. Loss of these motor neurons leads to progressive skeletal muscle weakness. If babies with infantile onset SMA are not treated early in the disease, worsening weakness can quickly lead to failure to thrive and progressive respiratory muscle weakness. Without treatment, the infantile form of SMA typically leads to death in the first two years of life. Untreated later-onset forms of SMA lead to physical disability due to progressive muscle weakness. The incidence of SMA is estimated to be 1 in 6,000 to 1 in 10,000 live births in the United States.

Starting in July of 2020 the state of Iowa will begin a pilot to screen for SMA. The current collection practice for newborn screening won't change. During the pilot phase, the results of SMA screening will not appear on the newborn screening report. However, program staff will be notifying the PCP of any abnormal results and will provide recommendations for next steps.

Dr. Katherine Mathews, Medical Consultant for the Iowa SMA Newborn Screening Program is encouraged by this advancement, "I am looking forward to having Iowa join the other states offering newborn screening for SMA. We are so happy to have specific medications for SMA and know that earlier treatment leads to better outcomes for children with this disorder. Newborn screening has the potential for dramatic impact on the lives of affected babies." To see a presentation by Dr. Mathews discussing SMA, please go to this link: https://youtu.be/ACRlAn2Ha7M

Iowa's Newborn Screening Program is an evolving system which greatly impacts the lives of infants born in our state. With continued efforts all newborns born in the state of Iowa will have the opportunity to live their lives to their full potential.
 
For more information
Toll free at 1-866-890-5965

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Iowa Academy of Family Physicians | 515-283-9370 | m [email protected] | w ww.iaafp.org
Pam Williams, Executive Vice President, [email protected]
Katie Cox, Deputy  Executive Vice President , [email protected]
Kelly Scallon, Director of Education and Advocacy, [email protected]
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