Annual Session 2006 Minutes in Brief

The Texas Academy of Family Physicians’ Board of Directors met on Saturday, July 22, 2006 and Sunday, July 23, 2006, to hear reports and recommendations from TAFP’s committees, commissions and sections. Below are the highlights of the meeting. For a complete copy of the minutes, contact Kathy McCarthy at (512) 329-8666, ext. 14 or at kmccarthy@tafp.org.

TAFP Foundation Board of Trustees

The Foundation Board of Trustees elected a new president, Dale Moquist, M.D. They also voted to begin fundraising for a Glen Johnson, M.D., Medical Student Scholarship to benefit African American medical students in Texas and to fund the following research projects: “Prostate Cancer Screening and Informed Decision Making,” “Are Physi-cians and Patients Using the Same Obesity Scales?,” “Effects of Weekly Fasting on Blood Lipid Levels” and “Attitudes About Use of Opioids in Management of Chronic Pain.”

Executive Committee

In anticipation of the retirement of longtime TAFP Executive Director Jim White in December 2007, the Board approved a recommendation to name Tom Banning the Deputy Executive Director and begin preparing him to assume the position of Executive Director.

Finance Committee

The Board approved the proposed fiscal year 2007 operating budget. They also approved a recommended capital budget including computer equipment, a digital camera and air conditioning unit replacements.

Nominating Committee

The Board approved a recommendation to support four TAFP members in their pursuit of AAFP Commission appointments: Leonides Cigarroa, Jr., M.D., for the Commission on Science; Lloyd Van Winkle, M.D., for the Commission on Health of the Public; Alison Dobbie, M.D., for the Commission on Education; and Hugh Wilson, M.D., for the Commission on Continuing Professional Development.

Commission on Academic Affairs

The Commission on Academic Affairs addressed the difficulty in obtaining a medical license in Texas for international medical graduates. They made several recommendations to gather information to help residency program directors navigate this tough issue.

Commission on Annual Session and CME

The Board approved a recommendation to not hold a meeting in conjunction with TMA’s TexMed in 2007 due to the decrease in attendance and revenue in 2006. The Commission reported that TAFP has been re-accredited through ACCME with a four-year accreditation and a commendation for needs assessment.

Commission on Health Care Services and Managed Care

The Board approved a recommendation to create a task force to address private sector concerns. A motion that TAFP advocate for standard contract legislation was also approved. The legislation would clearly define elements contained in a managed care contract to make it easier for small and solo practice physicians to contract with managed care organizations. The Board also approved a recommendation that TAFP provide CME on causes and prevention of medical errors.

Commission on Legislative and Public Affairs

The Commission had no requests or recommendations but had a lively meeting with a presentation from the Patients First Coalition and a visit from Sen. Bob Deuell, M.D. There were also reports from Lloyd Van Winkle, M.D., on the Texas Health Institute’s Long Term Care for Aging Project, Roland Goertz, M.D., chair of the AAFP Commission on Legislation and Governmental Affairs and Doug Curran, M.D., on TMA’s Council on Legislation.

Commission on Membership and Member Services

The Board approved a recommendation to adjust the funding for TAFP’s official representatives and scholarship recipients to AAFP’s National Conference of Special Constituencies. The Board accepted a petition to form a new local chapter composed of members in the Webb, Zapata and Jim Hogg Counties. The new chapter will be called the Seven Flags Chapter. The Board also approved a proposal from GMAC Mortgage to establish a relationship to provide discounted services to TAFP members.

Commission on Public Health, Clinical Affairs and Research

The Board approved a recommendation to have TAFP examine issues of maldistribution of the influenza vaccine and encourage providers of influenza vaccine to follow CDC recommendations regarding preferential distribution of vaccine to high-risk populations when a shortage exists. They also approved a recommendation to work in conjunction with TMA and other specialty societies to support efforts to reduce unintended pregnancy in Texas.

Task Force on Chapter Revitalization

The Task Force submitted their final report to the Board. They asked that chapter revitalization activities be continued through the Section on Leadership Development. The Board approved their recommendation that an opportunity be created at Annual Session for “regional networking.”

Task Force on Procedural Skills

The Task Force submitted their final report to the Board and asked that the Commission on Annual Session and CME continue to include procedures workshops in CME activities. The Task Force asked TAFP to continue to help reduce malpractice rates for family physicians doing procedures.

Call for Proposed Bylaws Amendments

Any TAFP member wishing to submit a proposed amendment to the TAFP bylaws must submit it to Kathy McCarthy at TAFP headquarters by Dec. 15, 2006. The TAFP bylaws can be viewed by going to www.tafp.org/Members_Corner/bylaws.pdf.

Amendments can be e-mailed to kmccarthy@tafp.org or faxed to (512) 329-8237. Members submitting a proposed amendment must include a statement giving the rationale for the amendment.

The TAFP Bylaws Committee will review the amendments at the 2007 TAFP Interim Session meeting on March 3, 2007. The Chair of the Bylaws Committee will present the proposed amendments, with the recommendations of the Bylaws Committee, to the Board of Directors at this conference. If the Board of Directors approves the amendment, it will go before the TAFP members in attendance at the TAFP Annual Business Meeting in July, 2007, to be voted on.