November 2011

2011-2012 Child & Adolescent Obesity Provider Toolkit Now Available!
The 2011-2012 Child & Adolescent Obesity Provider Toolkit is now available. The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation convened an expert panel of physicians and other health care providers to update the clinical components and guidelines in this toolkit and added new resources addressing culturally competent care, multicultural communications and stronger patient education materials. The toolkit also addresses the link between clinical prevention and community advocacy, offering health care providers the opportunity to become one of the Foundation’s Advocacy Champions and update on billing and coding procedures.

The toolkit is made possible by the generous support of the California Department of Public Health and Department of Health Care Services, Office of Multicultural Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health,  State Partnership Grant Program (Grant No. STTMP051006-01-00).

Click here to access the Child & Adolescent Obesity Provider Toolkit. For more information, please contact cmaf@thecmafoundation.org or 916.779.6620.

Champions for Health
Please join us on Friday, November 4, 2011 from 8am - 5pm in Sacramento, CA for a dynamic, one-day training to learn the skills necessary to become a Champion for Health.

The goal of the Champions for Health Summit is to train and inspire attendees to achieve practice excellence and become more effective spokespersons, community health advocates, and community leaders

For information or to register click here.

August 2011

CME CREDITS WILL BE AVAILABLE!

• $50 for physicians and members of a community-based organization
• $25 for medical students*
• $150 for other attendees
  
  * Limited scholarships are available for Medical Students for registration, travel & hotel on a first-come, first served basis.  Please contact Anna Gutierrez for more information at 916.779.6627 or agutierrez@thecmafoundation.org
  

For registration information, to be added to our NEPO Summit Updates Email list, or for more information on how to become a Supporter or have an Exhibit Table at the Summit, please go to the NEPO website Summit page: http://www.ethnicphysicians.org/summit/summitindex.asp

For more information, please contact Anna Gutierrez at 916-779-6627 or via email at agutierrez@thecmafoundation.org.

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Provider Reference Guide, 2nd Edition 2011

The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation’s Diabetes Quality Improvement Project is pleased to announce the improved and updated 2nd edition of the Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Provider Reference Guide (PRG), 2011. This reference guidewas developed with the goal of bringing healthcare providers in a variety of practice settings current clinical guidelines, evidenced based best practices and patient self management resources, to assess, manage and address diabetes as cardiovascular disease complication. The guide was coordinated by the California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation with the help of 29 physicians and healthcare professionals who contributed to the update of thecontent.

Click here to view the Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Provider Reference Guide

Note: The PRG is a large PDF and may take upwards of 30 seconds to appear on your screen. Please be patient.

July 2011

Tdap Mandate Public Service Announcements
The CMA Foundation’s Cervical Cancer/HPV Project has partnered with the CMA to create television and radio PSAs to increase awareness about the Tdap Vaccine School Mandate.  The :30 second English public service announcement can be viewed at: http://cal.md/psa-tdap and the Spanish version is located at: http://www.youtube.com/user/CMAPhysicians.

May 2011

2011-2012 Tdap (pertussis) school mandate patient education materials now available on the Cervical Cancer/HPV Project webpage.

Click here to view/download the materials. Information about how to order FREE copies of the materials is also provided

April 2011

CMA Foundation is Now Accepting Nominations for the 2011 Leadership Awards

The CMA Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2011 Leadership Awards, which celebrate the efforts of individuals or organizations that make a difference in the health of Californians. The Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Leadership Award, the Ethnic Physician Leadership Award, and the Adarsh S. Mahal, M.D., Access to Health Care and Disparities Award recognize the compassion and commitment of California's health care professionals. The deadline to submit nominations is June 23. Nomination information and packets for each award can be accessed by visiting the Leadership Awards page of the Foundation's website. For more information about the 2011 Leadership Awards, please contact Carol A. Lee, Esq. at (916) 779-6622 or clee@thecmafoundation.org.

Highlights from Los Angeles Roundtable Discussions On Cervical Cancer Prevention in Latina Communities Now Available

The Foundation’s Cervical Cancer/HPV Project hosted a roundtable discussion with health care professionals about cervical cancer prevention in Latina communities on March 16th. The meeting focused on discussing and identifying barriers that health care professionals are experiencing when trying to promote cervical cancer prevention in their practices. A follow-up discussion to the December 9, 2010 meeting was held on Thursday, March 24th.  This meeting brought together representatives from public health and community-based organizations throughout Los Angeles County as well as ethnic media representatives.Attendees discussed the articles published in January to acknowledge Cervical Health Awareness Month as well as potential story ideas for Latino ethnic media.  Visit the California Cervical Cancer-Free Campaign page to access minutes from both meetings.

March 2011

Diabetes Quality Improvement Project Hosts Its First Webinar

The Foundation's  Diabetes Quality Improvement Project held its first CME webinar on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease on March 25th. 108 physicians, nurses and other health care providers registered for this program, with 25% of registrations coming from outside of California.  This one-hour, no-cost program was led by Gordon Fung, MD, MPH, PhD, FACC, FAHA, FACP, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the UCSF School of Medicine and Director of the Asian Heart and Vascular Center.  The goal of the program was to help participants understand the strong linkage between diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and learn how to reduce a patients’ risk of cardiovascular complications through lifestyle change and medication use. Visit the Diabetes Quality Improvement Project's Clinical Education page to download a PDF copy of the webinar slides and to access the audio recording of the webinar.

Recursos Para Pacintes en Español / Patient Resources in Spanish Now Available!

Cervical Cancer and HPV Patient Resources in Spanish include A Women's Guide to Understanding HPV and Cervical Cancer (Guia de la mujer para comprender el VPH y el Cancer Cervical), HPV and Men ( VPH y Los Hombres), and Resources for Parents of Preteens and Teens (Recursos Para Los Padres de los Preadolescentes y Adolescentes). Click here to view available patient resources in Spanish.

February 2011

Mark Your Calendars: Cervical Cancer/HPV Project's Upcoming Meetings on Cervical Cancer Prevention in Latina Communities

The CMA Foundation’s Cervical Cancer/HPV Project will be holding a roundtable discussion meeting with health care professionals on March 16 and bring together representatives from public health, community-based organizations and ethnic media representatives on March 24 to identify ways to increase cervical cancer prevention efforts focusing on Latina communities in Los Angeles county. Click here to view more information in the Cervical Cancer/HPV Project's Calendar of Events page.

Register Today for the Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Education Program Webinar

The CMA Foundation’s Diabetes Quality Improvement Project presents Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease – a clinical education webinar led by Gordon L. Fung, MD, MPH, PhD, FACC, FAHA, FACP, Clinical Professor of Medicine UCSF School of Medicine and Director, Asian Heart & Vascular Center.   The webinar is valuable to primary care physicians, cardiologists, endocrinologists, and other healthcare providers caring for patients with type 2 diabetes. The webinar will be held Friday, March 25, 7:30 a.m.  Click here for more information.

California Cervical Cancer- Free Campaign Garners Media Attention

The Cervical Cancer/HPV Project's News Articles section features the latest media clips highlighting personal stories of survivors and some of the factors preventing the Latina community from becoming more informed about cervical cancer prevention. Click here to view the latest media clips.

January 2011

Los Angeles County Roundtable Discussion Meeting Focus on the Need to Promote Cervical Cancer Prevention to the Latina Community

Latinas in California have the highest cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates. Los Angeles County specifically has the highest cervical cancer mortality rates for Latinas in the state. The CMA Foundation’s Cervical Cancer/HPV Project conducted a roundtable discussion meeting on December 9, 2010 as part of the California Cervical Cancer-Free Campaign. Click here to access video highlights and minutes from the meeting.

CMA Foundation Now Accepting Applications for the Carlo Joseph Geraldi Medical Student Scholarship

The Carlo Joseph Geraldi Medical Student Scholarship funds will be used to assist medical students attending a California medical school (either MD or DO), who are in financial need and desire to be a primary care physician (This includes pediatricians, internists, family practice, and OB-GYN).  The intent is to defray tuition for the scholarship recipient(s). Click here for more information.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month

Did you know that January is Cervical Health Awareness Month?  The CMA Foundation’s Cervical Cancer/HPV Project is conducting a brief survey of California health care providers on their current practices and challenges related to HPV vaccination.  The data will be used to create better clinical resources for HPV vaccination.  This survey takes only 15 minutes to complete and all responses will be kept confidential.  At the end of the survey, there is an opportunity to enter a raffle for a chance to win one of two $100 VISA gift cards.  If you are a primary care provider or a women’s health care provider, please click the link below to take the survey: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22BBSKGJN9K. For more information, please contact Sara Cook, MPH, CHES, Cervical Cancer/HPV Project Director at (916)779-6628 or e-mail  scook@thecmafoundation.org.

CMA Foundation Releases New Practice-Based Resources for Diabetes Care

The Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Provider Reference Guide (PRG), 2009-2010 was developed with the support and expertise of 33 physicians and health care leaders from a variety of physician associations, medical groups, health plans and other organizations dedicated to the prevention and management of diabetes and its complications.  This comprehensive set of clinical guidelines is now available in a user-friendly, web-based format.  To access the Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Provider Reference Guide, visit, http://www.thecmafoundation.org/publications/index.aspx  or by clicking HERE.  The Diabetes Quality Improvement Project is currently recruiting physicians to help update the content for the PRG’s next edition.  Please contact the CMA Foundation if you are interested in participating in the PRG update.

In collaboration with the UCSF Neuropathy Center, the CMA Foundation also completed a patient education handout for patients who have Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) called Diabetes and Your Nerves.  DPN is the most common polyneuropathy in the United States and worldwide and contributes to incidences of lower limb amputation due to patients’ loss of sensation and associated infections.  The handout aims to educate patients so that they can recognize symptoms of DPN and other forms of neuropathy, seek professional help, and take action to prevent further nerve damage. The Diabetes and Your Nerves handout is available in both English and Spanish and can be accessed from the Multicultural Diabetes Education Materials Database available at http://www.thecmafoundation.org/PEM/application/Default.aspx, or by clicking HERE.

For more information about the new practice-based resources for diabetes care, please contact Senely Navarrete, MPH, Diabetes Quality Improvement Project Director at (916) 779-6638 or email snavarrete@thecmafoundation.org. 

NEPO Health Information Technology Resource Center

The purpose of NEPO Health Information Technology (HIT) Resource Center is to provide NEPO physicians with the tools and resource information needed when considering whether or not to implement an electronic health record (EHR) system. Visit http://www.ethnicphysicians.org/projects/HealthIT/Index.aspx for more information.

December 2010

CMA Foundation Holds Roundtable Discussion in Los Angeles On Cervical Cancer Prevention in Latina Communities

Latinas in California have the highest cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates and Los Angeles county specifically has the highest cervical cancer mortality rates for Latinas in the State. Last December 9th, the Foundation's Cervical Cancer/HPV Project conducted a roundtable discussion about cervical cancer prevention at the Los Angeles County – Department of Public Health.  The meeting brought together over 40 key partners in Los Angeles, health care providers and representatives from Latino ethnic media outlets to discuss the need to promote cervical cancer prevention to the Latina community.  The group discussed ongoing efforts around cervical cancer prevention in LA County, identified programmatic and policy-related gaps and also discussed story ideas that ethnic media can release in January in recognition of Cervical Health Awareness Month. The roundtable discussion meeting is one of the major activities of the California Cervical Cancer-Free Campaign. The goal of the campaign is to increase screening and vaccination so that every woman has the chance to be protected from cervical cancer. The CMA Foundation serves as the lead, coordinating agency for the California campaign and works with clnicians serving a large segment of patients from diverse communities, patient groups and community organizations. For more information about the campaign, please contact Sara Cook, Cervical Cancer and HPV Project Director, CMA Foundation, at scook@thecmafoundation.org.  For more information about the Foundation’s Cervical Cancer and HPV Project, visit www.thecmafoundation.org/projects/hpv.

September 2010

CMA Foundation’s Carol A. Lee, Esq. Receives Hispanic Health Leadership Award

Carol A. Lee, Esq., CMA Foundation’s President and CEO, was named one of the recipients of the 2010 Hispanic Health Leadership Award. The award was presented by the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) during their Resident Leadership Program Reception held on August 23rd at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento.  Ms. Lee received the award for her active role in improving health care issues for the Hispanic community.  NHMA President & CEO, Elena Rios, MD, MSPH stated, “Carol received the award for her vision and leadership in developing the Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO), a unique network whose goal is to advance the leadership of minority physician associations in California and to ultimately decrease health disparities in the state.”

Mark Diaz, MD, Chairman of the National Hispanic Health Foundation and Laura Hardcastle, Chief of the California Office of Multicultural Health were also presented with the 2010 Hispanic Health Leadership Award.

August 2010

Obesity Prevention Project Monograph Now Available!

The CMA Foundation’s Obesity Prevention Project, “Inspiring Change in our Communities: Physician Champions Making a Difference” Monograph is now available.  This monograph provides a snapshot of the innovative programs implemented by Physician Champions throughout California.  The work of each of these physicians is aimed at serving their communities, particularly low income and underserved communities, in a variety of settings.

Each of these physicians was inspired by a patient, an incident, or a movement.  Some have dedicated months and years while others could only spare a few hours; and each has changed behavior to break the cycle of childhood obesity by empowering patients to take control of their health.

The monograph is made possible by the generous support of the Network for a Healthy California and Kaiser Permanente. 

Click here to access the Inspiring Change in our Communities: Physician Champions Making a Difference Monograph. For more information, please contact cmaf@thecmafoundation.org or 916.779.6620.

July 2010

Pertussis Outbreak in California

During the first five months of 2010, there have been at least 584 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in California, resulting in the deaths of five infants.  In comparison, over the past decade, there has been an average of three infant deaths per year due to pertussis in California.

Infants with pertussis may become seriously ill and be hospitalized with complications (including pneumonia and brain damage).

In order to protect very young infants, all age groups should be vaccinated appropriately against pertussis. Most children receive five doses of pertussis vaccine (DTaP) before kindergarten but are susceptible again by middle school age.  Carrier parents and caregivers may spread the disease through coughing and sneezing.

The California Department of Public Health, very concerned that 2010 will be a peak year for pertussis, is planning to prepare new educational materials for healthcare providers.

For information about pertussis (clinical symptoms, modes of transmission, clinical guidance, and pertussis prevention), please see the California Department of Public Health website at:
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Pertussis.aspx. Resources for pertussis prevention as posted on the California Immunization Coalition’s website: http://immunizeca.org/index.pacq

CMA Foundation Continues to Fight Childhood Obesity in Partnership with the Network for a Healthy California and RecreationRx Program

The CMA Foundation Obesity Prevention Project is working to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and their families. The Obesity Prevention Project continues to carry out its purpose by working with the Network for a Healthy California to disseminate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) information, 5-2-1-0 messaging and by working with the RecreationRx Program. Click here to download flyers from the Educational Resources section of the Obesity Prevention Project website.

AWARE Project Cited as Best Practice

The California Department of Health Care Services released its 2009 HEDIS Aggregate Report for the Medi-Cal Managed Care Program in July 2010. Please see: (http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/dataandstats/reports/Pages/MMCDQualPerfMsrRpts.aspx#hedis)

CMA Foundation’s AWARE Project was cited under the “Best Practices” (page 34) within the section on appropriate treatment for children with upper respiratory infection, as follows:

“Five plans operating in 13 counties participated in a small-group collaborative [SGC] QIP aimed at increasing appropriate treatment for children with a URI…The SGC plans worked in coordination with the California Medical Association’s [Foundation’s] Alliance Working for Antibiotic Resistance (AWARE) and developed the Antibiotic Awareness Provider Toolkit, which they mailed to providers.”

For more information about the AWARE Project, please go to www.aware.md, or contact Sandra S. Navarro, PhD, MPH, AWARE Project Director, at snavarro@thecmafoundation.org.

June 2010

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Provider Reference Guide Now Available!

The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation’s Advancing Practice Excellence in Diabetes Program is aware that many physicians feel overwhelmed and frustrated by the daunting task of addressing diabetes with their patients given the physical, emotional, social and environmental factors associated with this disease.  Health care providers hear a variety of messages about the prevention, treatment and management of diabetes that make it increasingly difficult to determine the best plan of action to take with patients.

In an effort to address these issues and improve patient care and outcomes, the Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Provider Reference Guide was developed in cooperation with expert panels of physicians and other health care providers to determine the most effective ways to prevent, assess and treat diabetes and related cardiovascular disease.

Click here to access the Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Provider Reference Guide

Help Make the 2010 President's Reception and Awards Dinner a Success!

Mark your calendar for the CMA Foundation's Annual President's Reception and Awards Dinner to be held on Sunday, October 3, 2010 in Sacramento, California. Proceeds from the event will help support the Foundation's mission to improve community health. Please click here to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

April 2010

CMA Foundation Announces Increased Funding For Medical Student-Run Clinics

Thanks to funding from The Doctors Company Foundation, the CMA Foundation is pleased to announce that grants up to $2,000 are available to medical student-run clinics. The funding for the medical student-run clinics is also supported by Hoops for Health, a medical student-run fundraiser.  Please click here to download a flyer.  Examples of medical student-run clinic grants funded in 2009 include:

University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine
The Screen Now and Prevent Program (SNAPP) is Keck’s first and only student-run free health clinic. SNAPP opened on January 10, 2007 and will continue to operate on the second Tuesday of every month. The clinic currently offers screenings for common conditions, education about lifestyle changes and free prescription pharmaceuticals. SNAPP is run at St. Camillus Church, across the street from Los Angeles County Hospital. For the many medical students who volunteer for SNAPP, this experience in the privilege and responsibility of patient care will help craft a new generation of socially conscious and compassionate doctors.

Loma Linda University, School of Medicine
With a strategic partnership with Social Action Community Health System (a group founded by medical students 35 years ago), the students at LLU reopened a student-run clinic in the Norton neighborhood in Southern California. The one-year anniversary of the clinic opening was marked by an expansion in services, from once monthly to two evening clinics per month, with double the number of staff. The clinic’s bilingual services reflect the cultural heterogeneity of the area’s population. This clinic provides young medical professionals with pragmatic understanding of patients’ realities. It develops skills for delivering efficient and economically feasible medical interventions, a facet of medical training which is often overlooked in other settings.

The CMA Foundation continues to offer Medical Student Community Leadership Grants to support health-related educational, advocacy, community service, and other outreach programs that enhance the well-being of California communities.  These grants average $250 to $1,000. Please click here to access Medical Student Community Leadership Grant application materials.  For more information, please contact Sandra Navarro, PhD, MPH at snavarro@thecmafoundation.org or (916) 779-6637.

March 2010

Nominate an Outstanding Colleague for the CMA Foundation Leadership Awards by June 30, 2010

The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2010 Leadership Awards which celebrate the efforts of individuals or organizations that make a difference in the health of Californians.  Nominations are being accepted for the following prestigious awards:

The Adarsh S. Mahal, MD Access to Health Care and Disparities Award
The Ethnic Physician Leadership Award
The Robert D. Sparks, MD Leadership Achievement Award

February 2010

AWARE Supports CDC's Recommendations Regarding Pneumococcal Vaccination

Influenza predisposes individuals to developing bacterial community-acquired pneumonia. The Alliance Working for Antibiotic Resistance Education (AWARE), a project of the California Medical Association Foundation, supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations regarding pneumococcal vaccination.  Pneumococcal infections have been identified as an important complication in severe and fatal cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus infection.  For more information, please visit the CDC Health Alert Network Info Service message . 

January 2010

CMA Foundation to Launch California Cervical Cancer Free Campaign

The CMA Foundation is launching the California Cervical Cancer Free Campaign to raise awareness about cervical cancer and develop approaches to reduce the rate of this disease in California which kills more than 4,000 women nationwide.   Each year, about 1,400 California women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 400 die from this disease.

The CMA Foundation will serve as the lead, coordinating agency for the California campaign and work with clinicians serving a large segment of patients from diverse communities, patient groups and community organizations.   “With proven prevention methods, including the new HPV vaccine, regular screenings, and stronger public awareness, we have a tremendous opportunity to do even more to curb the devastating effects of cervical cancer,” said Carol Lee, Esq., president and CEO of the CMA Foundation. Please click here for more information.

December 2009

Make a Difference this Holiday Season!
Support the work of the CMA Foundation

The CMA Foundation is the foundation for California's physicians. Everything we do is aimed at helping physicians improve the health of their patients and their communities. Your continued support of the CMA Foundation will enable us to continue making a difference in the health of all Californians. Please visit the Ways of Giving section of our web site to donate now!

Physicians Inspiring Change in Our Communities
Coming soon: Obesity Prevention Project Monograph

In early 2010, the CMA Foundation’s Obesity Prevention Project will be distributing Inspiring Change in our Communities: Physician Champions Making a Difference.  This monograph provides a snapshot of the innovative programs implemented by Physician Champions throughout California.  Each of these physicians was inspired by a patient, an incident, or a movement.  Some have dedicated months and years while others could only spare a few hours; and each has changed behavior to break the cycle of childhood obesity by empowering patients to take control of their health.

San Bernardino County Medical Society, the SBCMS Alliance and the Inland Wellness Information Network’s Healthy Lifestyle Award is one of the programs highlighted in the monograph.  “When you believe in something and it comes from your heart, you become passionate about it,” said Clifford Walters, MD, EMBA, Past President of the San Bernardino County Medical Society.  “Change then happens.”

The monograph is made possible by the generous support of the Network for a Healthy California and Kaiser Permanente.  To obtain a copy of the monograph or for more information about the Physicians for Healthy Communities Initiative, please contact Alisa Matthews, Obesity Prevention Project Director at amatthews@thecmafoundation.org or contact (916) 779-6620. 

November 2009

CMA Foundation and Network of Ethnic Physician Organization (NEPO) Highlighted in San Francisco Medicine

Articles written by presenters from the Network of Ethnic Physician Organization’s (NEPO) 2009 Ethnic Physician Leadership Summit were published in the “Diversity in Medicine” November issue of San Francisco Medicine, the official magazine of the San Francisco Medical Society.  Click here to view a copy of the "Diversity in Medicine" issue.