On April 5, the WAFP Board of Directors—made up of your colleagues from across the state—met to hold their second board meeting of the year. Your Board of Directors have asked to update you on some of the decisions and actions they made on your behalf.

There was healthy discussion about increased challenges our members are facing in their patient rooms. As you are well-aware, despite the strong evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of vaccines, there’s a reported rise in patients refusing to vaccinate themselves and/or their children. There is a barrage of confusing misinformation, creating fear and mistrust. The board is charging a small group of members to work on a formal WAFP statement, identify resources for members to use and educational offerings that may include CME. 

Read more about the discussion in our President’s message found in the April edition of Your Academy in Action.

Meanwhile, if you are interested in serving on this workgroup, please contact Brandon.

How will this benefit you?

The offerings provided to you, an integral part of your patients’ health, will help you combat misinformation and build a stronger relationship of trust that you personally hold with each and every patient.

We will produce and provide you with education you need to provide clear, concise, evidence-based information in a way that your patients will understand in an environment that they feel safe to freely ask questions and make good healthcare decisions.

We will engage with communities, including community leaders, other stakeholder groups and colleagues to be a full support system to listen to patients and provide information in a way that builds trust.

We will collect and share resources to stand up to the spread of misinformation that include stories and examples of vaccinated patients who are going strong.

WAFP leaders recognize the importance of ensuring there’s protections in place to ensure you can freely provide personalized, quality, low-cost care for your patients. Having a strong presence in Madison with the state’s legislators is the #1 way to influence decisions that are in the best interest of your specialty and the patients you’re providing care for. In this political climate, it’s more important than ever to make our collective voices heard at our State Capitol. An effective way to do this is to open the door for you to join other WAFP members from across the state to learn about the latest policy issues facing Wisconsin’s medical community and meet with your legislators. This annual event is important in showing Wisconsin policy makers how much the physician community cares about protecting their patients and their profession.

Doctor Day, scheduled this year on June 3, is a multi-specialty event bringing together Physicians and Medical Students from nearly 20 different physician organizations annually. WAFP is a major contributor to the agenda and coordination of this special day and the Board of Directors see it as an impactful way to show the strength and leadership of Family Medicine. The event features networking, educational sessions and legislative visits. Learn first-hand how you can make a difference in the legislative process. Watch for more information, including the full agenda coming soon. In the meantime, you can visit widoctorday.org to register.

How will this benefit you?

By advocating for your specialty's interests, advocacy education and meeting with your legislators can help address concerns about reimbursement rates, regulatory burdens, healthcare funding, and access to care. One of our initiatives, investing in primary care, is a priority and its success is crucial. Advocacy day benefits you and all Family Physicians in our state. It’s an especially important part of the process to ensure there’s a voice.

By effectively engaging in lobbying activities, we play a vital role and enhance the messages our professional lobbying team provides on your behalf every day in the halls of the Capitol.

Now that we have reestablished our partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin to provide you, our valued members, high value education annual in Milwaukee, the demand for additional CME has gone up. The Board of Directors has asked WAFP staff to convene an Education Committee to develop new educational programming in the later part of the year that includes vaccine hesitancy and other timely topics relevant to your practice in Wisconsin.

WAFP wants to continue to be your trusted source of education and support your needs.

Anyone interested in more information about this work or to volunteer is asked to contact the WAFP office.

How will this benefit you?

Another conference, and other education developed specifically for Family Medicine will support you in keeping up your clinical expertise. You will be able to take advantage of members only pricing to get the best value for your money. Our education curriculum will be developed by family physicians for family physicians, providing the most relevant, evidence-based sessions that will provide you information you can incorporate into your practice day one.

For more information or if you have any questions, call WAFP staff directly at (262) 512-0606 or email Brandon.