MISSISSIPPI ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS
Newsletter - December 10, 2021
MAFP Leaders Plan Strategic Direction 2022-2024
MAFP past presidents gathered and wore their famed green jackets last weekend.
Family physician Dr. Jason Dees led the group's strategic planning session.
To help the MAFP develop future goals and ensure our focus is on the efforts in meeting them, the Academy met December 3-4 for a Strategic Planning Retreat in Vicksburg, discussing the plan for the next three years. The 30 people present included Board members, former presidents, Foundation Board officers, and staff. New Albany family physician Dr. Jason Dees facilitated the retreat, which the Academy holds every 3 years.
 
The group retreated to Vicksburg, home of MAFP President Dr. Carlos Latorre, and the Vicksburg Convention Center hosted the planning session and a Board meeting. The historic Anchuca Bed and Breakfast was the site of Friday night's dinner, attended by state legislators, Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, and Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs, in addition to MAFP leadership.
 
The work product of the planning session will be voted on at April's Board meeting. In addition to discussing specific goals, the group proposed changes to the Academy's mission and vision, as follows:
  • MAFP Mission: Improve the health of all people in Mississippi by supporting family medicine physicians.
  • MAFP Vision: A family physician for every Mississippian
Local state legislators were invited to a recent Academy dinner in Vicksburg. Enjoying the dinner are, from left, Nalini Latorre, Ali Hopson, MAFP President Dr. Carlos Latorre and Sen. Briggs Hopson.
Dr. Anthony Carter, MAFP President-Elect Dr. Paul Pavlov, Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs and Theresa Pavlov at a recent Academy event in Vicksburg.
Get Rewarded for Paying Your Dues!
Thank you for choosing to be a member of the MAFP. We will continue to advocate for you and keep family medicine strong in Mississippi. Please know we value your membership.

We thank those who have already paid their MAFP dues as of Dec. 2, 2021 and encourage others to join before December 15. If you join before the December 15 deadline, your name will be entered into a drawing for the following prizes:
  • Free registration to a MAFP meeting of your choice
  • MAFP swag bag with sweatshirt, t-shirt, goodies, etc.
  • MAFP Family Medicine Strong watercolor print
  • Gift Cards

The American Academy originally mailed out dues invoices to members on October 13. Dues are due December 31, so take the time to pay as soon as possible. If you didn't receive your invoice in the mail, and you want it e-mailed to you, contact Kristen Kern at MAFP.
The world has changed, so the AAFP has updated its Member Census with 12 multiple-choice questions more relevant to today's family medicine practice. Please take 5 minutes to tell us about your experiences as a family physician. Your insight helps the AAFP develop the resources and support you need to continue providing the best patient care possible. Click here to take the 5-minute survey.
Think of MAFPF For Year-End Giving
Please consider giving to the MAFP Foundation as part of your year-end giving! Your contribution goes to scholarships, outreach programs, and programs to increase awareness of family physicians statewide. We need your support. Donate today!
Before the end of the year, earn up to 20 hours Prescribed CME on 'Practice Enhancement'
Take advantage now of a set of practice enhancement courses that can help you earn up to 20 hours of prescribed CME credit before the end of the year. The curriculum was designed by family physician Dr. E.G. "Nick" Ulmer, whom many MAFP members have seen speak at MAFP events on coding and practice enhancement. The MAFP Board of Directors has approved this curriculum to be marketed to the Academy membership. Click below for more details.

The 20 hours of CME can be accessed from now until Dec. 31. The sessions have been chosen to not only promote quality in care delivery, but also to assist in the economic side of practice enhancement. The modules (purchase all modules for $400; or individually for $50) include:
  • Basic Evaluation and Management Guidelines for the Office Setting: 2021 Update
  • Practical Applications to the 2021 Office Evaluation and Management Guidelines
  • Transition Care Management: Hospital to Home, Home to Office, and Office to Home Primary Care
  • Performing the Medicare Wellness Visits in Primary Care
  • Understanding the Preventive Services in Medicare
  • Care Management: Patient Engagement and Quality Gap Closure
  • Documentation and Coding of Dermatology Procedures in Primary Care
  • The Behavioral Health Tsunami: COVID’s “Second Wave”
  • The 2021 Basic Evaluation and Management Guidelines for the Hospital Setting
  • The Two Midnight Rule and Medical Necessity in the Hospital Setting
  • Compliant Time-based Coding and Documentation in the Hospital Setting
  • The Expanding Role of the Physician Advisor in the Hospital Space
  • Advance Care Planning: Helping Our Patients Transition
  • Understanding the Basics of the Business of Medicine
  • Burnout 101: Addressing the Issue with Strategies for Success
  • Today’s Physician: Stakeholder and Leader for Sustainable Change
  • Population Health: Understanding Quality, Incentives, and Value
  • A Strategic Path to Coding and Billing Compliance in Primary Care
  • Clinical Documentation Improvement: Capturing Risk Across the Healthcare Space
  • Compliant Use of the Advance Practice Professionals (APPs) in Primary Care
Former Family Physician of the Year Dr. Wood Passes Away

Eugene Wood, MD, of Jackson, MAFP's Family Physician of the Year 1989, MAFP President 1985-86, and an AAFP Delegate for 10 years, passed away Wednesday in Jackson at the age of 87.

Dr. Wood earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and continued his education at UM School of Medicine, finishing in 1959. After an internship at UMMC he practiced family medicine in Jackson, serving as chief of staff at Hinds General Hospital. He retired from full-time practice in 2008.
New MAFP Members for November 2021
New members joining in November 2021:

ACTIVE:
Leah Burch Rock, MD, Petal
Laura Ashley Sanford, DO, Gulfport
Mitchell Adam Sanford, DO, D'Iberville
Tim Sanford, DO, Gulfport
Tracy Sanford, DO, Gulfport

STUDENT:
Gary Tyler Butts