USA Today's House calls for the homeless: Street docs find no quick fix profiles Street Medicine Detroit – a program involving about 100 Wayne State medical students who visit patients in the homeless shelters, parks and underpasses where they live. Also featured in the article is ACU Member Jim Withers. Withers, a pioneer in taking health care to the streets to reach the chronically homeless, began his nightly excursions to meet the homeless on their own turf in 1992. He calls his approach … [Read more...]
Michelle Lamb, Pharm.D., CDE, BCACP
December 10, 2012 by
Clinical pharmacist Michelle Lamb, Pharm.D., CDE, BCACP, takes pride in being part of a transdisciplinary health care team. She combines high tech (health IT is an important tool in enhancing patient care) with and high touch, delivering information tailored to the patient’s culture and literacy level. … [Read more...]
New Threat to 340B Pharmacy Benefits Program
December 7, 2012 by
by Michelle Lamb, Pharm.D., CDE, BCACP, an ACU member who serves on the ACU Advocacy Committee. Newly introduced legislation could threaten patient access to sterile injectables under the guise of addressing drug shortage issues. ACU members should learn more and voice their concerns to Congress. On November 29th, 2012, Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), MD, introduced the Patient Access to Drugs in Shortage Act (HR 6611). It would: Exempt generic injectable products … [Read more...]
Order Your 2013 Health Promotion Calendar
December 4, 2012 by
Additional copies of the ACU 2013 health promotion wall calendar sent to all members are available for purchase. The calendar is suitable for use in exam rooms, offices and waiting rooms. The calendar theme is Be a Partner in Your Health. Using simple messages in English and Spanish, the calendar reminds patients that patient-centered health care involves a partnership in which they play an active role. The calendar messages are: Set health goals together / Formen metas de salud … [Read more...]
Asthma Award Call for Applications
December 4, 2012 by
Are you a leader in asthma management? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is currently accepting applications for the 2013 National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management. If you are a health plan, health care provider, or a community in action that has demonstrated success in managing environmental asthma triggers as part of your comprehensive asthma management program, apply to receive recognition for your important work. Spread the Word! – New this year, EPA is seeking … [Read more...]
New Smartphone App on Tobacco Cessation
November 15, 2012 by
ACU has launched a new smartphone app that helps clinicians talk to patients about tobacco use. The app includes a six brief questions that clinicians can ask patients to measure their nicotine dependence. Release of the app coincides with the annual Great American Smokeout, a day when Americans are encouraged to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. The ACU Low Health Literacy Nicotine Addition Test scores the patient's responses to the six questions and … [Read more...]
Audio Story Bank Launches
October 16, 2012 by
Listen to ACU members tell their personal stories – including why they chose to practice with the underserved, their success and challenges, and lessons learned. The ACU Audio Story Bank includes short (5 minutes or less) edited interviews with our members who explain what health care for the underserved means to them. Members featured in the story bank include nurse practitioners Kate Wilson of Virginia, and Nereida Savoy, of Florida, and physician Chris Echterling of Pennsylvania. ACU … [Read more...]
Early Membership Renewal Incentive
October 1, 2012 by
It is membership renewal time – most ACU memberships expire at the end of 2012. Since no one wants to receive (or send) renewal reminders over the holidays, we are offering an incentive for those who renew early. Don't worry -- since ACU membership is based on a calendar year, we won’t cut short your benefits if you renew before your membership expires. Here are 13 more reasons -- a baker's dozen -- to renew your membership now: Networking - a directory of ACU members in your community … [Read more...]
Medicaid: A Matter of Life or Death
October 1, 2012 by
Medicaid coverage “can make the difference between life and death,” Dr. Janelle Goetchus, Chief Medical Officer of Unity Health Care, told policymakers at a Senate briefing on Medicaid September 28. “We cannot afford any more cuts or I will need to go back to ‘begging’ for care,” she said. Dr. Goetchus represented front line clinicians at the briefing, organized by The Partnership for Medicaid, a non-partisan coalition in which ACU is an active member. The members of the Partnership are … [Read more...]
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