AAPM&R Connection E-Newsletter

Thanks for renewing your membership! We’re glad you’re in our community, helping us move physiatry forward. Don’t forget that your membership includes 1 complimentary self-assessment, and all practice improvement projects are available at no cost. Take advantage of these and all of your member benefits.

Well-trained volunteer leaders are key to the future success of the field of physiatry and your Academy. The AAPM&R Leadership Program, established in 2013, identifies and develops a limited number of early-career physiatrists, to prepare them to engage in Academy volunteerism and assume future leadership positions.

We're now accepting applications for our 2017-2019 Academy Leadership Program class—learn more and apply by March 31, 2017.

Now is the time to submit your clinical and basic scientific research findings to be considered for inclusion in the 2017 AAPM&R Annual Assembly, October 12-15 in Denver, CO. Abstracts are due January 9. Learn more.

We still need abstract reviewers! Help choose which abstracts will be included at this year’s Annual Assembly. Learn more.

The Academy's Board of Governors has created the new AAPM&R Graduate Medical Education (GME) Committee to provide the strategic guidance and infrastructure to address GME issues and concerns that are critical to the future advancement of the specialty. Learn more about serving on this committee and send us your application.

We have new practice preparedness resources on mē^® that help you run, transition, and diversify your practice. How to Diversify Your Practice will help you:

• Define physician peer review medical standards and workplace disability assessment for reviewers.
• Identify various types of medicolegal work.
• Describe career opportunities with health plans.
  

Preview the video below for a summary of the activity.

Access 3 new case-based learning modules covering upper limb spasticity, lower limb spasticity, and dystonia on mē^®. The modules are available in a bundle and can also be purchased separately. Learners who complete all 3 activities can earn up to 3.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Physicians must successfully participate in PQRS in 2016 to avoid up to an 8-10% penalty in 2018. February 24, 2017 is the last day that 2016 claims will be processed to be counted for PQRS reporting to determine the 2018 payment adjustment. February 28, 2017 is the last day to submit 2016 clinical quality measures (CQMs) for dual participation in PQRS and the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program and for qualified clinical data registries (QCDRs) and EHRs to submit 2016 data. Learn more.

The EHR Incentive Programs attestation system is open now until February 28, 2017. Providers must attest by the attestation deadline to avoid a 2018 payment adjustment. To help providers prepare for the 2016 EHR Incentive Programs attestation period, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released 2 attestation worksheets for eligible professionals and eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals. Learn more.

The United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) and Bone and Joint Canada are dedicated to increasing research of musculoskeletal diseases and have developed a grant mentoring program to provide early-career investigators an opportunity to work with experienced researchers to assist them in securing funding and other survival skills required for pursuing an academic career.

The spring workshop will be held April 7-9, 2017 in Chicago, IL. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2017. Learn more and apply for this program.

• William S. Pease, MD, has been selected as President of the Board of Directors for the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). Congratulations, Dr. Pease! Read more.

Do you have a newsworthy story to share with your peers? Send us an email at: pressinquiries@aapmr.org.