Practice Archives

The Importance of Screening Patients for Military Service

Screening for military service —or the Ask the Question (ATQ) Campaign—is a movement that the Minnesota Firearm Safety and Suicide Prevention Coalition (of which the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians is a part of) and Veteran-supporting organizations are encouraging, in order to identify Veterans and their family members in non-VA health care settings.

In this guest blog post, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs (VA) Suicide Prevention, Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator Andrea Perry, RN, shares more about the importance of screening primary care patients for military service.

May 17, 2024

Physician Mental Health: Change in Reporting Requirements

MAFP Immediate Past President Alex Vosooney, MD, writes about the work to reform mental health reporting requirements for physicians and highlights resources from the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation to support physicians in working with medical board and credentialing committees to create positive change and reduce barriers to seeking mental health care.

February 8, 2024

ORGANIZING & ADVOCATING: BANDING TOGETHER FOR CHANGE

In fall 2023, hundreds of Minnesota physicians (many of whom are family doctors) voted to be represented by a union, Doctors Council SEIU Local 10MD. It is believed to be the largest group of unionized private-sector physicians in the country.

Minnesota Academy of Family Physician (MAFP) member Amanda Norris, DO, shares about her role in organizing and advocacy around the unionization process, how personal relationships make a difference and why it’s important for physicians to be advocates for themselves as well as their patients.

January 24, 2024

An Equity Lens Tool for Family Physicians

The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) Health Equity Committee has adapted an equity decision-making tool—a set of questions to use in intentionally evaluating policies, decisions and processes for equity—for use by MAFP staff, leadership, volunteers and members.

January 13, 2024

IMPROVED INHALED MEDICATION DEPOSITION THROUGH THE USE OF VALVED-HOLDING CHAMBERS

Jill Heins-Nesvold, MS, of the American Lung Association, shares how valved-holding chambers can improve inhaled medication delivery to the lungs and answers frequently asked questions on valved-holding chamber use, prescription, insurance coverage and patient education.

December 29, 2023

Pharmacists: The Underrated Change Agents for Your Clinical Practice

“Physicians working in collaboration with pharmacists operating at the top of their training can extend and enhance the services a clinic offers by being the change agent in team-based care that reduces costs and helps your community of patients achieve better health.”

September 29, 2023

Vaccinate to Protect Against Respiratory Infections

Vaccines are an important public health tool, and family physicians play an important role in getting patients vaccinated against preventable illnesses.

The Minnesota Department of Health provides a summary of vaccines recommended to reduce respiratory illnesses in the fall 2023/winter 2024 season.

September 14, 2023

Physicians Needed: Research on Safe Firearm Storage Counseling

The Minnesota Medical Association and University of Minnesota are seeking physician participation in a research study on safe firearm storage counseling.

August 15, 2023

COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING & THE ROLE OF FAMILY MEDICINE

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, American College of Gastroenterology and American Cancer Society are among the groups with updated recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer, lowering the age to begin screening to age 45.

We asked James Hougas III, MD, FAAFP, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, to share his thoughts on the updated recommendations on colorectal cancer screening and about his experience as a family physician who performs colonoscopies in practice.

May 19, 2023

Safe Water from the Kitchen Faucet: A Family Physician’s Role

Casey Johnshoy, University of Minnesota medical student, surveyed family physicians across Minnesota to assess how water quality awareness through health risk communication between well users and their primary care physician can be improved. Findings indicate a need for continuing education on well water safety for doctors and their patients.

May 10, 2023

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