https://immattersacp.org/archives/2021/07/latest-updates-on-acps-priorities-initiatives.htm

Latest updates on ACP's priorities, initiatives

ACP Spotlight offers readers a look at ACP's current top priorities and initiatives, as well as highlights from our e-newsletter, ACP Internist Weekly.


ACP members to participate in project on equity and leadership for women

The following members have been selected to represent ACP in the second iteration of the Women's Wellness through Equity and Leadership (WEL) project.

  • Dacia Boyce, MD, ACP Member (Heilsbronn, Bavaria, Germany)
  • Noelia C. Del Castillo, MD, ACP Member (San Quintín, Mexico)
  • Tiffany I. Leung, MD, MPH, FACP (Maastricht, Netherlands)
  • Tiundra L. Love, DO, ACP Member (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
  • Miranda F. Mitchell, MD, ACP Member (Baton Rouge, La.)

The WEL project is funded by The Physicians Foundation and is a collaborative effort among 10 leading U.S. medical associations: ACP, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, American Medical Women's Association, American Psychiatric Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, and National Medical Association. More information on ACP's programs and policies to further develop female physician leaders can be found online.

ACP recommends caution on patient-reported outcome-based performance measures

A new paper from ACP acknowledges the potential for patient-reported outcome-based performance measures to assess and improve patient-centered care but recommends they be used with caution.

Image by BrianAJackson
Image by BrianAJackson

Data are needed demonstrating that such measures improve quality of care and are an effective tool to accurately compare physician performance and, as a result, can be used for accountability purposes, the paper said. Patient-reported outcome-based performance measures should not be used to measure individual physician performance without evidence of an association between the patient-reported outcome measure and the care provided by the physician, the paper stated. Such measures should not be widely adopted until they are rigorously developed and physicians can seamlessly integrate patient-reported data collection into practice.

The paper, by the ACP Performance Measurement Committee, was published May 11 by Annals of Internal Medicine.

ACP offers resources on information sharing

Rules included in the 21st Century Cures Act now require that patients must have access to their electronic health information as soon as it is available. ACP is providing resources and information on the new rules, including multiple FAQs and updates on ACP advocacy efforts. In addition, ACP's Practice Advisor™ has a new free module to help practices understand and implement the information-sharing rules while earning CME and MOC credit.

CME-accredited podcast series promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion

ACP is partnering with The DEI Shift, a podcast hosted by internists that focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in medicine. Promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion is a strategic priority for ACP, and partnering with The DEI Shift reflects ACP's commitment to confronting and eliminating racism, racial disparities, discrimination, bias, and inequities in health and health care. ACP members can claim CME credits and MOC points for each episode by logging into ACP's Online Learning Center. The DEI Shift podcast (@TheDEIShift) is available on iTunes, Buzzsprout, and other podcast platforms.

ICYMI: Highlights from ACP Internist Weekly

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowers recommended age to begin colorectal cancer screening. The Task Force now recommends that screening begin at age 45 rather than age 50. Selective screening is still recommended for those ages 76 to 85 years. The new recommendation applies to adults 45 years or older who do not have signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer and who are at average risk. It was published by JAMA on May 18 and summarized in the May 25 ACP Internist Weekly.

SPRINT issues final report finding fewer cardiovascular events with intensive blood pressure control. Patients treated to a systolic blood pressure target less than 120 mm Hg instead of less than 140 mm Hg had lower rates of cardiovascular events but more incidence of some adverse events, according to new follow-up data. The study results were published May 20 by the New England Journal of Medicine and summarized in the May 25 ACP Internist Weekly.

ACP Internist Weekly is an e-newsletter published every Tuesday and available online. Subscribe online.