Private physicians, unlike others, are innovators and entrepreneurs who are called to responsibly push the envelope on behalf of patients. Private physicians are far less concerned by what is reimbursed by insurance than by what is best for patients. Private physicians are looked to as the likely candidates to set new health care trends in motion.

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The AAPP’s growth in 2010 has pushed the organization to the point at which it needs to expand its reach and accessibility to members to ensure that every member in every state is well served.

To enable this, we are enlisting a delegate from each state. If you’re interested in serving as your state delegate, please let us know.

Here’s what the job entails…

As your state delegate, you are in charge of ensuring that the AAPP members in your state are heard and well served by the Academy. What do they need from the AAPP? What are they happy or unhappy with? What do they need to learn in order to be more successful?

Second, you will be the champion for the AAPP in your state charged with growing its membership and outreach. Carry the message of private medicine to the residents in your state, and connect with the private physicians who are not yet AAPP members and invite their participation.

In exchange for your efforts, you will have a voice in the direction of the Academy and its expanding offerings to members. You will be designated as a state delegate on your profile in the AAPP directory, and you may attend all AAPP events at no cost for as long as you serve in this capacity.

If you are interested in serving as your state delegate, please contact Shelly Banyay at 877.746.7301 or sbanyay@aapp.org.

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For months, members have been clamoring for an online forum to communicate with one another, ask questions, and voice opinions. Because its functionality and controls are rich, and our group is growing, we have decided to use the American Academy of Private Physicians group on LinkedIn.com as our member forum.

If you don’t yet have a LinkedIn account, please establish one (it’s free). It will create visibility for you and your practice in this enormous online community, and it will enable you to join the AAPP group.

This group is for members only, and dialogue will be closely monitored to ensure that the group is not misused. If you have questions about how to join, please contact Shelly Banyay at 877.746.7301 or sbanyay@aapp.org.

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For those who can stay, we are planning additional learning opportunities for Sunday the 30^th, including an ultrasound training workshop conducted by SonoSite.

Watch for more information on this kick-off event in the next few weeks. As was the case last year, space in this facility is limited, so please reserve your spot as soon as you can either online at aapp.org or by contacting Shelly Banyay at 877.746.7301 or sbanyay@aapp.org.

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Kristine Burke, M.D., Inc. Since:  Oct 2009  Insurance:  Yes –  PPO/Medicare   Current Patient Panel:  350    House Calls:  No    Pricing:  Several Options    www.burkefamilymed.com   Kristine Burke, M.D. is an AAPP member who started her transition into private medicine in October of 2009.  Dr. Burke converted from a practice of roughly 4,000 patients to an estimated 350. In the beginning Kristine felt as though she was squeezed and limited by the traditional practice structure – she felt as though her day was driven by volume and schedule as opposed to patients.  (Sound familiar?  Read on…) Dr. Burke was looking for an alternative solution, a balance – she wanted more time with patients!  She attended her first AAPP conference in May 2009, where she found the connections and guidance to help with her transition. Dr. Burke is a family physician with a specialty in sports medicine; within her practice, she also has a percentage of patients that are her scholarship patients.  She currently does not have any employer relationships.  Of course, we also needed to know… “What’s the coolest gadget in your office?”  She shared that she loves her tablet pc, which has handwriting recognition. (http://www.motioncomputing.com/) When we asked what Kristine’s biggest challenge was, she had an answer that we hear quite often: “membership enrollment in our economy.” Now that she has grown her practice, she feels that her biggest satisfaction is “knowing at the end of the day my patients are happy and well cared for” –  now that’s a happy AAPP doctor!

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By Karen Bailis Saef, Ph.D.

Is there anything more frustrating than having a patient who is able to make an impact on the outcome of their problem and they refuse to engage with the changes necessary?  You, as his physician, have provided him with the best that technology, laboratory and diagnostics have to offer and taken time to explain what is going on.  Yet, the patient seems unwilling to begin to make changes that can improve outcome.  Then there is the patient who says that they will try, but on follow-up, there is no improvement.  Oh, what to do next?

Cardiac psychologists have been assisting physicians and their patients with similar challenges for over a decade.  The application of psychological principles to health issues is not new, but each situation presents unique challenges.  The same principles apply to obesity, hypertension, diabetes, colitis, pain management, headaches and other diagnostic categories...