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 President's Perspective
By Lisa Gilmer, MD, FAAP
It's our job to ask.
The list of things we could discuss at well child visits exceeds the precious few minutes we have so we tailor our anticipatory guidance based on the child's developmental level, the family's situation as well as the health of the community where our patients live, learn and play. To do this we ask questions. Lots of them. We ask questions not to judge but out of a genuine concern about the safety of children. Asking questions shifts an otherwise one-way transfer of information to a dialogue unique to each family and evidence shows these conversations do make a difference.
Take safe sleep. We ask families how they put their infants to sleep. Because we don't know which infants will be sleeping in cribs or in Rock- 'N-Plays we ask questions and provide counseling on product recalls. Since the 1992 back to sleep recommendations, the rates of SIDS have dropped by more than 40%. In 2017 there were 3600 sudden unexpected infant deaths. Children sleep so we provide guidance on doing so safely.
Take child passenger safety. We ask families how they restrain their infants and children in vehicles. Because we don't know which families drive single row trucks we ask questions and provide counseling on disconnecting passenger side air bags. From 1999 to 2013, the use of child restraints increased from 15% to 91%. In 2016 35% of the 723
children ages 12 and younger who died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes
weren't buckled up. Children ride in vehicles so we provide guidance on doing so safety.
Take firearm safety. Because one in three children live in a home with a firearm we ask families about the presence and storage of firearms in the home. Because we don't know which adolescents are depressed we ask questions and provide counseling on household firearms as a suicide risk for teens. In 2017 there were 466 firearm deaths in Kansas. Children live in homes with guns so we provide guidance on doing so safely.
Or can we?
The potential for Kansas to join states like Florida, where the Firearm Owners' Privacy Act was passed in 2011, is real. Kansas House Bill 2415 would prohibit healthcare providers from inquiring about a patient's firearm ownership. This bill raises the concern that pediatricians won't be able to ask about firearms in the home even when a child's health and safety is involved. These laws aren't simple and they have been challenged in the courts.1 This legislative session, HB 2415 was sent to the Committee on Health and Human Services and did not have a hearing scheduled.
Just like safe sleep and child passenger safety, addressing firearms safety is part of routine anticipatory guidance for children of all ages. It's our job to ask.
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My Experience at the AAP's Legislative Conference
By
Carissa Stanton, MD, FAAP
It is difficult to put in words my experience at the AAP's Legislative Conference. The experience was similar to going to a concert or meeting an author, and then appreciating the music or the book even more. Now that I have seen advocacy in action, I appreciate its importance even more!
I was inspired by the power that pediatricians have to make a difference for children. The AAP is the most effective healthcare organization at advocating and influencing policy! This is due to the combination of the organization's ability to prioritize with effective messages, and the passion of 60,000 pediatricians coming together to be the voice for children! Recent advocacy victories include securing CHIP funding, defeating efforts to repeal Affordable Care Act, and passing the Family First Prevention Services Act.
Despite these recent steps forward, we still have more that needs to be done. A major theme they taught us at the conference is advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint. I learned a lot about some of the major issues facing American children.
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Executive Director Update
Ten years ago, in May 2009 we were finishing up the school year for my second grader, kindergartener and a preschooler. I was ready to jump back into the workforce and do more with my days than play Power Rangers, Hot Wheels, and work on ninja moves. I felt like I won the lottery when I was offered the position of Project Coordinator for the Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (KAAP) and the Kansas Pediatric Foundation (KPF) working from home. There were 22 Turn a Page. Touch a Mind® (TAP-TAM) sites and the goal was to grow the program across the state.
It's hard to believe that I have been working for KAAP for 10 years, and maybe even harder to believe that my oldest is graduating from high school this month. There are now 124 TAP-TAM sites that have given out over one million books to Kansas kids. I am so proud be a part of this program and the impact it has made in the last decade. KPF has grown to include the Kansas KidLink Mental Health Endowment and the Kansas Kids Fund. You will be hearing more about the grants funded by the Kansas Kids Fund this year, and I'm sure you will be as impressed as I was to hear about the projects that KAAP members are working on to improve the health of children in their communities.
I have loved working with KAAP members across the state. I truly don't think that there is a better group to work with than pediatricians, and I am always energized by your passion for your work. We will continue to have opportunities for members to be involved in advocacy, educational opportunities and projects. I encourage you to be actively involved in KAAP if you are not already and get to know your colleagues throughout Kansas.
Finally, I am thankful for the KAAP staff I have worked with over the last 10 years. Every single one of them does this work because they believe in the mission of this great organization. Thank you for the opportunity to work for you and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish over the next 10 years!
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Pediatric Payment Corner
By Jennifer Mellick, MD, FAAP
This summer the Kansas AAP Pediatric Council is planning a meeting with representatives of the main payors in Kansas. We are looking to establish a collaboration between the insurance companies and providers of children's health care in Kansas. The goal is establish a long term relationship so we have an avenue to discuss payment issues and concerns by Kansas physicians, but also to make sure we are providing the most up to date care and screenings for pediatric population health. We are hoping this develops into several meetings yearly to discuss topics important to children's health.
If you have any issues you feel could be addressed at these types of meetings, please reach out to the Kansas Chapter and let us know. Your KAAP is at work for you. If your practice has a systemic payment problem or other concerns regarding payment or insurance coverage, contact the KAAP pediatric council at
[email protected].
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By Dena K. Hubbard MD, FAAP
Legislative Coordinator
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We are very excited to announce the grantees for the first Kansas Kids Fund - Pediatricians in Action grant! Dr. Rebecca Reddy will be using grant funds to have a foster care volunteer fair in Wichita, Dr. Todd Peters will work with his local school district and health department to offer vaccinations in schools in Winfield, and Dr. Susan Ratliff will use grant funding to create a program to fight obesity in Overland Park. We can't wait to hear more about their projects over the next year.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Kansas Kids Fund so that we can support these innovative and important projects!
In 2018,
Turn a Page. Touch a Mind.® (TAP-TAM) gave out 130,000 books at well-check appointments to children aged 6 months to 5 years of age at 125 sites throughout the state of Kansas. The books were given out by 625 participating TAP-TAM medical providers to assess the development of the patient and allow the providers to discuss age appropriate behavior. TAP-TAM books also help providers to encourage parent-child interaction and discuss the importance of reading books together at an early age.
For more information on supporting the Kansas Kids Fund, contact Shanna Peters at
[email protected]
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Get Involved in KAAP
KAAP is accepting applications for an open spot on the Board of Directors for a term of July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020. Please click the button below to download the form and return to
[email protected]
before June 1, 2019.
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The KAAP CME meeting, Progress in Pediatrics (PIP) - Fall 2019 will be held October 10-11 in Wichita. Save the dates! Registration will be open soon.
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Kansas Deaf-Blind Project Seeking Chapter Champions
The
KS Deaf-Blind Project (KSDB Project) is seeking partnership with the medical community to help with child find and awareness. Deafblindness is the lowest low incidence disability population. The nation has about 10,000 children with combined hearing and vision loss birth to 21 years of age. On the KS Registry, there are about 150 children and young adults; mostly located in the NE part of the state. A partnership will help them with the identification of young children and reach more families so services can be provided as early as possible. For more information, read the description below or contact
Marites Altuna at
[email protected].
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Would You Like to Receive Legislative Action Alerts?
There's a lot happening on the state and national level. If you would like to continue receiving Action Alerts from KAAP, please select the button below to opt in. You will be directed to our site to submit your preferred email address.
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Wear Orange Weekend Starts June 7
Click the button below to find events near you and to create your own "wear orange" image to share on social media.
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The Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition has provided an
algorithm
and quick reference guide to assist physicians when providing guidance to breastfeeding mom.
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Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care:
A Mini-Fellowship Program for Medical Professionals
September 13-15, 2019 (Friday-Sunday) in Hays, KS
Available for 34 participants
Training will offer CME credits
The training will focus on proper assessment, diagnosis and medication management for children's mental health conditions including anxiety, depression and ADHD. Following the training, all participants will be asked to attend case-based, 1-hour long conference calls two times/month for six months. A REACH pediatric faculty member and psychiatry faculty member will lead each call.
More information to follow including training registration. For questions, contact
[email protected].
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Quick Links
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About Us
Officers
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Staff |
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Lisa Gilmer, MD, FAAP
President
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Mel Hudelson
Executive Director
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Kristie Clark, MD, FAAP
President-Elect
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Shanna Peters
Associate Director
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Jon Janz, MD, FAAP
Treasurer
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Martha Atkinson
Staff Accountant
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Jennifer Mellick, MD, FAAP
Past President
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Amy Trollinger
Marketing Communications Manager
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Chris Steege
Special Project Manager
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