In This Issue:
 New Session Brings Breath of Fresh Air for Smoke-free Advocacy
Coalition Sets Sights on Healthy Michigan Kids
Mission: Lifeline Taking Shape in Michigan
IC3 – It’s (your) Practice. Made Perfect ™
You're Invited - Reception at ACC.09
Peripheral Coding Seminar on April 23
Save the Date-Chapter Conference
Michigan Chapter Recognized
New Session Brings Breath of Fresh Air for Smoke-free Advocacy
Although smoke-free air advocates were disheartened at the end of 2008 when Michigan’s legislature failed to pass smoke-free workplace legislation, we are encouraged by support in the new legislative session on both sides of the aisle:
Governor Jennifer Granholm included a call to action on smoke-free legislation in her State of the State address, calling on Michigan to join 34 other states that have banned smoking in public places.
Many new lawmakers have introduced smoke-free legislation including Rep. Paul Scott (R-Grand Blanc) and Rep. Dian Slavens (D-Canton).
A new bipartisan and bicameral Smoke-free Air Caucus was created to ask lawmakers to sign a pledge to work on smoke-free air legislation. The Caucus is led by longtime advocate Sen. Ray Basham (D-Taylor) and includes Rep. Joan Bauer (D-Lansing), Sen. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Twp.) and Rep. Paul Scott (R-Grand Blanc).
The Michigan Chapter supports HB 4341 introduced by Rep. Joan Bauer (D-Lansing). HB 4341 would make all workplaces in Michigan smoke-free including bars and restaurants. It has been referred to the House Regulatory Reform Committee.
Please click here to send an email to the members of the House Regulatory Reform Committee to ask that they hold a hearing and vote on HB 4341. The link will take you to a template message that you can send ‘as is’ or personalize as you wish.
Make no mistake…your calls and emails do make a difference. Legislators have noted the unusual number of contacts they have had on this issue. Let’s make sure that smoke-free contacts outnumber the tobacco lobby’s.
Coalition Sets Sights on Healthy Michigan Kids
|  | The Capitol Rotunda was filled with legislators and citizens who support the Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan policy priorities.
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The Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan coalition launched a campaign for healthy weight in children at the Capitol on Feb. 25. The Michigan Chapter joined with more than 100 organizations in support of the policy priorities listed below. Your hospital or practice (or any relevant organization to which you belong) can support this effort by signing a resolution of support. Volunteers are also needed to serve on action teams that are working to make the priorities a reality. To learn more about the Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan effort, contact the Chapter office (517-663-6622/alice@accmi.org).
Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan Policy Priorities
Physical and Health Education Requirements: Adopt guidelines that address the frequency of class, length of class, class size, participation guidelines, and course guidelines for all public school children in grades K-8.
Coordinated School Health Council Requirements: Adopt guidelines that address the need for public school districts to create and maintain Coordinated School Health Councils which have specific goals, strategies, benchmarks, and required reports due yearly, designed to improve student and staff physical, mental, and social health and wellness.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Surveillance: Add height, weight, and BMI capabilities to the Michigan Care Improvement Registry.
Medicaid Coverage of Childhood Obesity: Establish programs to enhance coverage and provide education for pediatric obesity.
Complete Streets and Safe Routes to School: Establish transportation funding and programming guidelines to elevate the pedestrian and bicycle facility eligibility and awards. Adopt incentives and legislation to apply Complete Streets/Safe Routes to School/Context Sensitive Solutions including safety of pedestrians and bicyclists when building, reconstructing or rehabilitating public infrastructure.
Access to Fresh, Healthy Food at Food Retailers in Underserved Areas: Adopt tax incentives that encourage food retailer expansions and developments that include fresh healthy foods in underserved areas.
Mission: Lifeline Taking Shape in Michigan
Michigan is making progress toward the Mission: Lifeline goal of improving systems of care for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Goals for 2009 include an assessment of the current status of state STEMI Systems of Care and coordination of at least one meeting of STEMI receiving and/or referral hospitals.
Many valuable resources and tools are posted on the national Mission Lifeline website, www.americanheart.org/missionlifeline and Michigan’s Mission Lifeline website, www.americanheart.org/missionlifelinemichigan.
If you have questions or would like to volunteer to work on Mission: Lifeline, contact
Sarah Poole, AHA Director of State Health Alliances for Michigan, 616-482-1508/sarah.poole@heart.org or co-chairs Eric Bates, MD (ebates@umich.edu) & Stuart Winston, DO (sawinston@michiganheart.com).
IC3 – It’s (your) Practice. Made Perfect ™
All cardiology practices are invited to enroll in IC3, the newest NCDR component that is designed to improve the quality of cardiovascular care and its delivery in the ambulatory setting. IC3 practices will:
Improve office visits and coordination of care for patients.
Have ready access to metrics based on ACC/AHA clinical practice guidelines recommendations.
Be prepared to demonstrate performance.
Receive guidance in using health information technology to meet future performance expectations.
There is no cost to participate and no data submission is required. Participants are simply asked to agree and implement these principles:
Endorse the goals of the program.
Create an environment where all staff involved in the care of patients are familiar with the ACC/AHA clinical practice guidelines.
Access resources available on the IC3 Program website, including ACC/AHA guidelines, educational offerings, and other materials and tools that support efforts to adhere to clinical practice guidelines and best practices.
Engage in the IC3 Program quality improvement community where opportunities exist to share quality improvement successes, barriers, experiences, tools, and/or resources with other offices.
Explore the possibility of implementing data collection to help guide quality improvement and reporting efforts.
Allow ACCF to use the practice’s name in its public list of participating practices and in any promotional materials related to the IC3 Program. The ACCF will not identify individual practices or physicians when it publishes information on practice measures, unless expressly permitted by the practice.
More information and a link for enrollment is at www.ncdr.com. For assistance with meshing your EMR with IC3, call the Chapter office (517-663-6622).
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Join us for the All-Chapter Reception followed by a celebration of ACC’s 60th Anniversary.
Sunday, March 29
International Ballroom
Peabody Hotel
Orlando
Reception:
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Food, drinks, conversation
Anniversary Celebration:
7:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Entertainment including live band and magicians
Understanding the Peripheral Coding Process for Cardiology
A day-long seminar for physicians and staff.
Presented by McVey Associates, Inc.
Co-sponsored by Michigan Chapter ACC
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Embassy Suites Hotel
Southfield
Click here for a brochure and registration form. or call 800-227-7888.
21st Annual Conference
Michigan Chapter ACC
October 16-18, 2009
Amway Grand Plaza
Grand Rapids
The Michigan Chapter’s annual conference is known for its scientific excellence. The 21st annual gathering will be no exception with keynote presenter ACC Vice President Ralph Brindis, MD, FACC, more Friday afternoon breakout sessions on varied topics of special interest, and an expanded research competition for fellows.
Grand Rapids, however, may be an unknown entity for many Chapter members. Did you know that…
The historic Amway Grand Plaza has nine dining establishments including The 1913 Room, Michigan’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant.
From the Amway, it’s a short walk to The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, the brand new Grand Rapids Art Museum, and The Public Museum of Grand Rapids.
A downtown skywalk leads to a lively collection of restaurants, live band bars, discos, and live comedy shows at the B.O.B.
…and there’s much more to see and do. Learn more at www.visitgrandrapids.org.
Watch future newsletters for program and registration details.
Chapter President Hank Rosman, MD and Executive Secretary, Alice Betz received a Chapter Recognition Award at the ACC Leadership Forum in January.
Chapter Recognition Awards are given to chapters that meet criteria set by the Board of Governors Steering Committee. This is the third year of the Chapter Recognition Awards and the third award for the Michigan Chapter.
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