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 releases its Annual Report of the Executive Vice President
The Annual Report highlights the College's efforts over the past year on behalf of our internal medicine community. ACP made significant progress on reinforcing the value of internal medicine and advocating for changes to increase physician payment and reduce administrative burdens.
New ethics case studies examine resuscitation approaches, business practices
Two new ethics case studies are available from ACP for CME/MOC credit.
The first case study examines the ethical implications of “slow” or “show” codes in cases where physicians anticipate unsuccessful resuscitation but families want “everything done.” This case study highlights the importance of communicating with patients and their families about what is in their best interest, as well as the necessity of advance care planning.
The second case study examines ethics, professionalism, physician employment, and health care business practices and explores the ethical obligation of the physician to put patient welfare over self-interest while navigating the realities of business practices.
Both case studies were developed by ACP's Ethics, Professionalism, and Human Rights Committee and the Center for Ethics and Professionalism.
ACP advocates for public health infrastructure, better preparation for emergencies
In a position paper published in Annals of Internal Medicine on July 18, ACP called for modernizing public health infrastructure, advocating for new policies on establishing federal public health leadership, protecting public health workers, reversing workforce shortages, and integrating primary care and public health. The paper also calls for increased efforts to combat health-related dis- and misinformation, especially through social media platforms. The paper recommends the development of a national public health data system that could share real-time information among public health departments, physicians, hospitals, laboratories, and others. Finally, ACP encourages collaboration between public health and primary care.
In a second position paper published by Annals of Internal Medicine on July 25, ACP called for a federal pandemic preparedness plan that is adequately funded and prioritizes health equity. In the paper, the College describes what needs to be done to ensure the U.S. is in a strong position to mitigate the consequences of future public health emergencies. The paper is accompanied by an editorial from Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, who reviews the American public health response to COVID-19 and highlights key successes that can be improved upon for the future. See the Washington Perspective for more on both papers.
Early Bird registration opens for Internal Medicine Meeting 2024
The premier meeting for internal medicine will take place in Boston from April 18 to 20, 2024, featuring three days of comprehensive education. Standard registration includes three-day access to the meeting, plus 30 additional days of access to session recordings so attendees can continue to learn and earn CME and MOC credit after the event. Premium registration provides 12 months of access to the session recordings after the meeting plus bonus educational content for additional CME and MOC credit.
ACP members who register during the Early Bird period, through Jan. 31, 2024, will save $90 on top of their membership savings.
ICYMI: Highlights from ACP Internist Weekly
SGLT-2 inhibitors reduced gout flares in patients with diabetes, gout. A cohort analysis found that new users of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors had about half the risk of an ED visit or hospitalization for a gout flare as matched patients taking dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors. The study also found that SGLT-2 inhibitor use was associated with a reduction in myocardial infarction. Risk for genital infection was higher in those who started SGLT-2 inhibitors, but no difference was seen in risk for osteoarthritis. The study was published July 25 by Annals of Internal Medicine and summarized in the July 25 ACP Internist Weekly.
Long-term doxycycline may reduce exacerbations for some COPD patients. A U.K. randomized trial found that 12 months of doxycycline did not improve chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations overall versus placebo but may have reduced rates in patients with severe disease or lower blood eosinophil counts. The researchers called for future studies to confirm whether doxycycline affects exacerbations in patients prospectively identified as having blood eosinophil counts below 300 cells/μL. The results were published by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine on July 14 and summarized in the July 25 ACP Internist Weekly.
