Society News

As a leader in education for pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, staying ahead of trends in its professional fields and across educational delivery, in general, is critical to remaining relevant and to best serve the membership. The leadership of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) developed a multifaceted program this year entitled, “CHEST Inspiration,” a series of programmatic initiatives aimed at stimulating and encouraging innovation within the association and recognizing individuals with great ideas that streamline current processes or disrupt ways of traditional thinking about everyday problems.

The CHEST Board of Regents recently completed one of the first components of the CHEST Inspiration program – the 2019 CHEST Environmental Scan. This article describes the development of the 2019 CHEST Environmental Scan and its fit with the other components of CHEST Inspiration program.

Environmental scanning is a formal process for tracking trends and occurrences in an organization’s internal and external environment that bear on its success--currently and in the future. The environmental scanning process examines both quantitative and qualitative factors and identifies a set of key environmental indicators believed to have the most important impact on the organization’s work.

The 2019 CHEST Environmental Scan is a synthesis of work that took place in January 2019 at the CHEST Environmental Summit, a special joint session of the Board of Regents (BOR) and the CHEST Foundation Board of Trustees (BOT). In that session attendees attempted to free themselves from the usual concentrated focus on the College and Foundation missions, goals, and strategies, recognizing that a possible (even likely) unintended consequence of a narrow focus is losing sight of the outside world and the forces there that—like it or not—influence and could even disrupt the programs and strategies of CHEST and the CHEST Foundation.

To facilitate the process, CHEST engaged a market research and consulting agency with expertise in environmental scans and a client base of nonprofit organizations and associations. The consultant conducted secondary research organized around six drivers of change selected by CHEST leadership:

• Health Care

• Economy and Workforce

• Technology

• Education, Content Delivery, and Career Advancement

• Social, Political, Regulatory, and the Environment

• Philanthropy

The leadership had the opportunity to review the consultant’s research findings prior to the Environmental Summit. Then, in the in-person BOT/BOR summit meeting, the consultant’s research findings were discussed and debated and were addressed with the following questions:

• How will this trend impact members? How will it change their work environment and what they need to know?

• How will this trend impact CHEST? What are the challenges and opportunities?

• What responses or actions should CHEST take?

• Does this insight require changes to our strategic plan?

The consultant synthesized the debates and discussions and prepared a draft document that shaped this year’s document.

The 2019 CHEST Environmental Scan, which will be undated periodically, will be used to:

• Inform members about external developments and put each in perspective

• Help leadership and staff determine future directions and program opportunities

• Keep the 5-year strategic plan fresh and relevant

The environmental scan will be published in six monthly installments in CHEST Physician, with each installment addressing one of the drivers of change. Most of the content is confirming rather than revolutionary in nature. Each installment will be accompanied comments from one of four leading physician experts who will put the content into perspective.

The two other components of the CHEST Inspiration program are to engage a group of experts from outside the field of medicine and health care who are innovative and successful in their own professions. This focus group of professionals from outside of our association will be held in conjunction with the June Board of Regents meeting. An additional component to stimulate innovative thinking and celebrate great ideas will be a new competitive event at the annual meeting. Dubbed “CHEST FISH Bowl (Furthering Innovation and Science for Health),” this event will launch this month, with contestants submitting video applications that feature their great idea, and winners in selected categories to be selected at CHEST 2019 in New Orleans. CHEST Physician will be your source for information about all the CHEST Inspiration programs through a new series of articles called “CHEST Inspiration: Pacing the Future.”

As a leader in education for pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, staying ahead of trends in its professional fields and across educational delivery, in general, is critical to remaining relevant and to best serve the membership. The leadership of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) developed a multifaceted program this year entitled, “CHEST Inspiration,” a series of programmatic initiatives aimed at stimulating and encouraging innovation within the association and recognizing individuals with great ideas that streamline current processes or disrupt ways of traditional thinking about everyday problems.

The CHEST Board of Regents recently completed one of the first components of the CHEST Inspiration program – the 2019 CHEST Environmental Scan. This article describes the development of the 2019 CHEST Environmental Scan and its fit with the other components of CHEST Inspiration program.

Environmental scanning is a formal process for tracking trends and occurrences in an organization’s internal and external environment that bear on its success--currently and in the future. The environmental scanning process examines both quantitative and qualitative factors and identifies a set of key environmental indicators believed to have the most important impact on the organization’s work.

The 2019 CHEST Environmental Scan is a synthesis of work that took place in January 2019 at the CHEST Environmental Summit, a special joint session of the Board of Regents (BOR) and the CHEST Foundation Board of Trustees (BOT). In that session attendees attempted to free themselves from the usual concentrated focus on the College and Foundation missions, goals, and strategies, recognizing that a possible (even likely) unintended consequence of a narrow focus is losing sight of the outside world and the forces there that—like it or not—influence and could even disrupt the programs and strategies of CHEST and the CHEST Foundation.

To facilitate the process, CHEST engaged a market research and consulting agency with expertise in environmental scans and a client base of nonprofit organizations and associations. The consultant conducted secondary research organized around six drivers of change selected by CHEST leadership:

• Health Care

• Economy and Workforce

• Technology

• Education, Content Delivery, and Career Advancement

• Social, Political, Regulatory, and the Environment

• Philanthropy

The leadership had the opportunity to review the consultant’s research findings prior to the Environmental Summit. Then, in the in-person BOT/BOR summit meeting, the consultant’s research findings were discussed and debated and were addressed with the following questions:

• How will this trend impact members? How will it change their work environment and what they need to know?

• How will this trend impact CHEST? What are the challenges and opportunities?

• What responses or actions should CHEST take?

• Does this insight require changes to our strategic plan?

The consultant synthesized the debates and discussions and prepared a draft document that shaped this year’s document.

The 2019 CHEST Environmental Scan, which will be undated periodically, will be used to:

• Inform members about external developments and put each in perspective

• Help leadership and staff determine future directions and program opportunities

• Keep the 5-year strategic plan fresh and relevant

The environmental scan will be published in six monthly installments in CHEST Physician, with each installment addressing one of the drivers of change. Most of the content is confirming rather than revolutionary in nature. Each installment will be accompanied comments from one of four leading physician experts who will put the content into perspective.

The two other components of the CHEST Inspiration program are to engage a group of experts from outside the field of medicine and health care who are innovative and successful in their own professions. This focus group of professionals from outside of our association will be held in conjunction with the June Board of Regents meeting. An additional component to stimulate innovative thinking and celebrate great ideas will be a new competitive event at the annual meeting. Dubbed “CHEST FISH Bowl (Furthering Innovation and Science for Health),” this event will launch this month, with contestants submitting video applications that feature their great idea, and winners in selected categories to be selected at CHEST 2019 in New Orleans. CHEST Physician will be your source for information about all the CHEST Inspiration programs through a new series of articles called “CHEST Inspiration: Pacing the Future.”

As a leader in education for pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, staying ahead of trends in its professional fields and across educational delivery, in general, is critical to remaining relevant and to best serve the membership. The leadership of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) developed a multifaceted program this year entitled, “CHEST Inspiration,” a series of programmatic initiatives aimed at stimulating and encouraging innovation within the association and recognizing individuals with great ideas that streamline current processes or disrupt ways of traditional thinking about everyday problems.

The CHEST Board of Regents recently completed one of the first components of the CHEST Inspiration program – the 2019 CHEST Environmental Scan. This article describes the development of the 2019 CHEST Environmental Scan and its fit with the other components of CHEST Inspiration program.

Environmental scanning is a formal process for tracking trends and occurrences in an organization’s internal and external environment that bear on its success--currently and in the future. The environmental scanning process examines both quantitative and qualitative factors and identifies a set of key environmental indicators believed to have the most important impact on the organization’s work.

The 2019 CHEST Environmental Scan is a synthesis of work that took place in January 2019 at the CHEST Environmental Summit, a special joint session of the Board of Regents (BOR) and the CHEST Foundation Board of Trustees (BOT). In that session attendees attempted to free themselves from the usual concentrated focus on the College and Foundation missions, goals, and strategies, recognizing that a possible (even likely) unintended consequence of a narrow focus is losing sight of the outside world and the forces there that—like it or not—influence and could even disrupt the programs and strategies of CHEST and the CHEST Foundation.

To facilitate the process, CHEST engaged a market research and consulting agency with expertise in environmental scans and a client base of nonprofit organizations and associations. The consultant conducted secondary research organized around six drivers of change selected by CHEST leadership:

• Health Care

• Economy and Workforce

• Technology

• Education, Content Delivery, and Career Advancement

• Social, Political, Regulatory, and the Environment

• Philanthropy

The leadership had the opportunity to review the consultant’s research findings prior to the Environmental Summit. Then, in the in-person BOT/BOR summit meeting, the consultant’s research findings were discussed and debated and were addressed with the following questions:

• How will this trend impact members? How will it change their work environment and what they need to know?

• How will this trend impact CHEST? What are the challenges and opportunities?

• What responses or actions should CHEST take?

• Does this insight require changes to our strategic plan?

The consultant synthesized the debates and discussions and prepared a draft document that shaped this year’s document.

The 2019 CHEST Environmental Scan, which will be undated periodically, will be used to:

• Inform members about external developments and put each in perspective

• Help leadership and staff determine future directions and program opportunities

• Keep the 5-year strategic plan fresh and relevant

The environmental scan will be published in six monthly installments in CHEST Physician, with each installment addressing one of the drivers of change. Most of the content is confirming rather than revolutionary in nature. Each installment will be accompanied comments from one of four leading physician experts who will put the content into perspective.

The two other components of the CHEST Inspiration program are to engage a group of experts from outside the field of medicine and health care who are innovative and successful in their own professions. This focus group of professionals from outside of our association will be held in conjunction with the June Board of Regents meeting. An additional component to stimulate innovative thinking and celebrate great ideas will be a new competitive event at the annual meeting. Dubbed “CHEST FISH Bowl (Furthering Innovation and Science for Health),” this event will launch this month, with contestants submitting video applications that feature their great idea, and winners in selected categories to be selected at CHEST 2019 in New Orleans. CHEST Physician will be your source for information about all the CHEST Inspiration programs through a new series of articles called “CHEST Inspiration: Pacing the Future.”

In its inaugural year, the Excellence in Community service award will be presented this Friday at VAM during the ‘Vascular Spectacular’ Gala. This year’s winners are Drs. Richard Lynn, Carlo Dall’Olmo and Joseph Anain. These members have all exhibited outstanding leadership within their community as practicing vascular surgeons and are recognized for their sustained contributions to patients and their communities. Read more about the Excellence in Community Service award here.

In its inaugural year, the Excellence in Community service award will be presented this Friday at VAM during the ‘Vascular Spectacular’ Gala. This year’s winners are Drs. Richard Lynn, Carlo Dall’Olmo and Joseph Anain. These members have all exhibited outstanding leadership within their community as practicing vascular surgeons and are recognized for their sustained contributions to patients and their communities. Read more about the Excellence in Community Service award here.

In its inaugural year, the Excellence in Community service award will be presented this Friday at VAM during the ‘Vascular Spectacular’ Gala. This year’s winners are Drs. Richard Lynn, Carlo Dall’Olmo and Joseph Anain. These members have all exhibited outstanding leadership within their community as practicing vascular surgeons and are recognized for their sustained contributions to patients and their communities. Read more about the Excellence in Community Service award here.

Join others in placing bids on items available in the ‘Vascular Spectacular’ gala’s silent auction. Items include, but are not limited to, artwork, fine wines, travel experiences and sports memorabilia. Bidding will be open until this Friday, June 14, so be sure to bid early and often. The Gala will take place at the Vascular Annual Meeting and all proceeds benefit the work of the SVS Foundation. Sign up to participate here.

Join others in placing bids on items available in the ‘Vascular Spectacular’ gala’s silent auction. Items include, but are not limited to, artwork, fine wines, travel experiences and sports memorabilia. Bidding will be open until this Friday, June 14, so be sure to bid early and often. The Gala will take place at the Vascular Annual Meeting and all proceeds benefit the work of the SVS Foundation. Sign up to participate here.

Join others in placing bids on items available in the ‘Vascular Spectacular’ gala’s silent auction. Items include, but are not limited to, artwork, fine wines, travel experiences and sports memorabilia. Bidding will be open until this Friday, June 14, so be sure to bid early and often. The Gala will take place at the Vascular Annual Meeting and all proceeds benefit the work of the SVS Foundation. Sign up to participate here.

On May 31, new global guidelines on the best ways to treat Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia were co-published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery and the European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. This comes after four years of collaboration between vascular experts from around the world. According to the SVS’ own Dr. Conte, a co-editor, the group created a unique practice guideline that reflects the spectrum of the diseases and the approaches seen worldwide. Read the guidelines in the JVS here.

On May 31, new global guidelines on the best ways to treat Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia were co-published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery and the European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. This comes after four years of collaboration between vascular experts from around the world. According to the SVS’ own Dr. Conte, a co-editor, the group created a unique practice guideline that reflects the spectrum of the diseases and the approaches seen worldwide. Read the guidelines in the JVS here.

On May 31, new global guidelines on the best ways to treat Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia were co-published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery and the European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. This comes after four years of collaboration between vascular experts from around the world. According to the SVS’ own Dr. Conte, a co-editor, the group created a unique practice guideline that reflects the spectrum of the diseases and the approaches seen worldwide. Read the guidelines in the JVS here.

Are you in need of a new headshot for your website or institution’s site? Good news for you! Attendees can get a professional head shot taken from 10am to 2pm on Thursday and Friday at the Vascular Annual Meeting. Stop by the SVS Member Booth, #331, in the Exhibit Hall to take advantage of the opportunity! SVS reserves the right to use the photos, but you may use them however you’d like. Still need to register for the meeting? Do so today.

Are you in need of a new headshot for your website or institution’s site? Good news for you! Attendees can get a professional head shot taken from 10am to 2pm on Thursday and Friday at the Vascular Annual Meeting. Stop by the SVS Member Booth, #331, in the Exhibit Hall to take advantage of the opportunity! SVS reserves the right to use the photos, but you may use them however you’d like. Still need to register for the meeting? Do so today.

Are you in need of a new headshot for your website or institution’s site? Good news for you! Attendees can get a professional head shot taken from 10am to 2pm on Thursday and Friday at the Vascular Annual Meeting. Stop by the SVS Member Booth, #331, in the Exhibit Hall to take advantage of the opportunity! SVS reserves the right to use the photos, but you may use them however you’d like. Still need to register for the meeting? Do so today.

Many fabulous prizes are now available for bidding. The Society for Vascular Surgery has compiled nearly 70 packages for items graciously donated for the silent auction portion of the ‘Vascular Spectacular’ gala. The event takes place at the Vascular Annual Meeting on Friday, June 14, in National Harbor, MD. Everyone, including non-attendees, may participate in the silent auction until it closes during the gala itself. Sign up to participate in the auction here.

Many fabulous prizes are now available for bidding. The Society for Vascular Surgery has compiled nearly 70 packages for items graciously donated for the silent auction portion of the ‘Vascular Spectacular’ gala. The event takes place at the Vascular Annual Meeting on Friday, June 14, in National Harbor, MD. Everyone, including non-attendees, may participate in the silent auction until it closes during the gala itself. Sign up to participate in the auction here.

Many fabulous prizes are now available for bidding. The Society for Vascular Surgery has compiled nearly 70 packages for items graciously donated for the silent auction portion of the ‘Vascular Spectacular’ gala. The event takes place at the Vascular Annual Meeting on Friday, June 14, in National Harbor, MD. Everyone, including non-attendees, may participate in the silent auction until it closes during the gala itself. Sign up to participate in the auction here.

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org/discussions) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses.

In case you missed it, here are the most popular clinical discussions shared in the forum recently:
 

1. Perianal fistula found in UC patient (http://ow.ly/S8bJ30okWuO)

A 20-year-old male patient with no previous medical history was seen and treated last year for pancolitis. His physician solicits drug therapy preferences from the GI community, given the age of the patient and a newly discovered perianal fistula.

2. IBD patient with risk of cancer (http://ow.ly/KoGz30oHdjG)

A 62-year-old female patient with a long history of Crohn’s disease developed acute hepatitis. She had a colectomy in 2011 where a one-stage ileo rectal anastomosis was performed instead of a J-pouch. She was in remission under surveillance and mesalamine, until recently. She also has primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and multifocal dysplasia, a combination that raised concern among the GI community about the patient’s risk of cancer.

3. Significant daily pain in Crohn’s patient (http://ow.ly/FHUI30oHdI8)

A recent colonoscopy for a 39-year-old man with Crohn’s disease revealed active disease in the ileum and sigmoid colon with narrowing at the recto-sigmoid colon. The MRE revealed active inflammation at the ileo-colonic anastomosis and of the sigmoid and descending colon, with no noted fistulas. His physician solicits advice in the forum on next steps for the patient, who was experiencing significant pain daily, despite being on a low residue diet and consistent drug therapy.

Other popular clinical discussions:

• WATS imaging in Barrett’s esophagus (http://ow.ly/PrJ330oHdCN)

Members share their opinions and experiences with Wide-Area Transepithelial Sampling (WATS) in Barrett’s esophagus (BE) after mention of recent data demonstrating its promising potential for surveillance in BE patients, despite not yet being approved by the FDA.



• Positive FIT with negative colonoscopy (http://ow.ly/zSxC30oHcZM)

A physician solicits advice on next steps in managing average-risk patients with a positive FIT and negative colonoscopy screening, and asks colleagues if their actions would change after discovering a patient also had non-bleeding hemorrhoids on exam.

More clinical cases and discussions are at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.


 

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org/discussions) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses.

In case you missed it, here are the most popular clinical discussions shared in the forum recently:
 

1. Perianal fistula found in UC patient (http://ow.ly/S8bJ30okWuO)

A 20-year-old male patient with no previous medical history was seen and treated last year for pancolitis. His physician solicits drug therapy preferences from the GI community, given the age of the patient and a newly discovered perianal fistula.

2. IBD patient with risk of cancer (http://ow.ly/KoGz30oHdjG)

A 62-year-old female patient with a long history of Crohn’s disease developed acute hepatitis. She had a colectomy in 2011 where a one-stage ileo rectal anastomosis was performed instead of a J-pouch. She was in remission under surveillance and mesalamine, until recently. She also has primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and multifocal dysplasia, a combination that raised concern among the GI community about the patient’s risk of cancer.

3. Significant daily pain in Crohn’s patient (http://ow.ly/FHUI30oHdI8)

A recent colonoscopy for a 39-year-old man with Crohn’s disease revealed active disease in the ileum and sigmoid colon with narrowing at the recto-sigmoid colon. The MRE revealed active inflammation at the ileo-colonic anastomosis and of the sigmoid and descending colon, with no noted fistulas. His physician solicits advice in the forum on next steps for the patient, who was experiencing significant pain daily, despite being on a low residue diet and consistent drug therapy.

Other popular clinical discussions:

• WATS imaging in Barrett’s esophagus (http://ow.ly/PrJ330oHdCN)

Members share their opinions and experiences with Wide-Area Transepithelial Sampling (WATS) in Barrett’s esophagus (BE) after mention of recent data demonstrating its promising potential for surveillance in BE patients, despite not yet being approved by the FDA.



• Positive FIT with negative colonoscopy (http://ow.ly/zSxC30oHcZM)

A physician solicits advice on next steps in managing average-risk patients with a positive FIT and negative colonoscopy screening, and asks colleagues if their actions would change after discovering a patient also had non-bleeding hemorrhoids on exam.

More clinical cases and discussions are at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.


 

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org/discussions) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses.

In case you missed it, here are the most popular clinical discussions shared in the forum recently:
 

1. Perianal fistula found in UC patient (http://ow.ly/S8bJ30okWuO)

A 20-year-old male patient with no previous medical history was seen and treated last year for pancolitis. His physician solicits drug therapy preferences from the GI community, given the age of the patient and a newly discovered perianal fistula.

2. IBD patient with risk of cancer (http://ow.ly/KoGz30oHdjG)

A 62-year-old female patient with a long history of Crohn’s disease developed acute hepatitis. She had a colectomy in 2011 where a one-stage ileo rectal anastomosis was performed instead of a J-pouch. She was in remission under surveillance and mesalamine, until recently. She also has primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and multifocal dysplasia, a combination that raised concern among the GI community about the patient’s risk of cancer.

3. Significant daily pain in Crohn’s patient (http://ow.ly/FHUI30oHdI8)

A recent colonoscopy for a 39-year-old man with Crohn’s disease revealed active disease in the ileum and sigmoid colon with narrowing at the recto-sigmoid colon. The MRE revealed active inflammation at the ileo-colonic anastomosis and of the sigmoid and descending colon, with no noted fistulas. His physician solicits advice in the forum on next steps for the patient, who was experiencing significant pain daily, despite being on a low residue diet and consistent drug therapy.

Other popular clinical discussions:

• WATS imaging in Barrett’s esophagus (http://ow.ly/PrJ330oHdCN)

Members share their opinions and experiences with Wide-Area Transepithelial Sampling (WATS) in Barrett’s esophagus (BE) after mention of recent data demonstrating its promising potential for surveillance in BE patients, despite not yet being approved by the FDA.



• Positive FIT with negative colonoscopy (http://ow.ly/zSxC30oHcZM)

A physician solicits advice on next steps in managing average-risk patients with a positive FIT and negative colonoscopy screening, and asks colleagues if their actions would change after discovering a patient also had non-bleeding hemorrhoids on exam.

More clinical cases and discussions are at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.


 

Recognition is increasing among GI practitioners about the influence of nutrition and diet on patient outcomes. From irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac, mast cell activation syndrome, and other maladies, what patients consume plays a role in how well they combat these diseases. Increasingly, clinicians are working with allied health professionals including allergists, nutritionists, and dietitians to forge partnerships to promote sound gut health. In response to this growing trend, the 2019 James W. Freston Conference – Food at the Intersection of Gut Health and Disease, Aug. 9-10, 2019, in Chicago, will examine how nutrition management therapies can combat GI disorders and how diet supports improvement across the care continuum.

Since 2008, Freston has focused on single-issue topics where experts gather to address practitioner challenges and solutions as well as gastroenterological science. Following this year’s Freston, attendees will leave with a deep understanding about:

• How to recognize and differentiate food-induced GI disorders.

• Diets that promote sound gut health care.

• How nutrient-gene interactions may alter gastrointestinal conditions.

• How nutrition can help patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), IBS, IBD, FGIDs and mast cell activation syndrome.

• Implementing nutrition management therapies.

Join like-minded practitioners and industry counterparts in Freston’s intimate environment designed to foster learning, networking, and engagement. Registration is open and early bird rates are in effect through June 5. Learn more by visiting freston.gastro.org

[email protected]

Recognition is increasing among GI practitioners about the influence of nutrition and diet on patient outcomes. From irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac, mast cell activation syndrome, and other maladies, what patients consume plays a role in how well they combat these diseases. Increasingly, clinicians are working with allied health professionals including allergists, nutritionists, and dietitians to forge partnerships to promote sound gut health. In response to this growing trend, the 2019 James W. Freston Conference – Food at the Intersection of Gut Health and Disease, Aug. 9-10, 2019, in Chicago, will examine how nutrition management therapies can combat GI disorders and how diet supports improvement across the care continuum.

Since 2008, Freston has focused on single-issue topics where experts gather to address practitioner challenges and solutions as well as gastroenterological science. Following this year’s Freston, attendees will leave with a deep understanding about:

• How to recognize and differentiate food-induced GI disorders.

• Diets that promote sound gut health care.

• How nutrient-gene interactions may alter gastrointestinal conditions.

• How nutrition can help patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), IBS, IBD, FGIDs and mast cell activation syndrome.

• Implementing nutrition management therapies.

Join like-minded practitioners and industry counterparts in Freston’s intimate environment designed to foster learning, networking, and engagement. Registration is open and early bird rates are in effect through June 5. Learn more by visiting freston.gastro.org

[email protected]

Recognition is increasing among GI practitioners about the influence of nutrition and diet on patient outcomes. From irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac, mast cell activation syndrome, and other maladies, what patients consume plays a role in how well they combat these diseases. Increasingly, clinicians are working with allied health professionals including allergists, nutritionists, and dietitians to forge partnerships to promote sound gut health. In response to this growing trend, the 2019 James W. Freston Conference – Food at the Intersection of Gut Health and Disease, Aug. 9-10, 2019, in Chicago, will examine how nutrition management therapies can combat GI disorders and how diet supports improvement across the care continuum.

Since 2008, Freston has focused on single-issue topics where experts gather to address practitioner challenges and solutions as well as gastroenterological science. Following this year’s Freston, attendees will leave with a deep understanding about:

• How to recognize and differentiate food-induced GI disorders.

• Diets that promote sound gut health care.

• How nutrient-gene interactions may alter gastrointestinal conditions.

• How nutrition can help patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), IBS, IBD, FGIDs and mast cell activation syndrome.

• Implementing nutrition management therapies.

Join like-minded practitioners and industry counterparts in Freston’s intimate environment designed to foster learning, networking, and engagement. Registration is open and early bird rates are in effect through June 5. Learn more by visiting freston.gastro.org

[email protected]

On April 12, FDA issued a safety communication releasing new information on the duodenoscope contamination rate from postmarket surveillance studies and medical device reports. While the outlook has improved significantly since this issue first arose in 2015, we are not yet at our goal of zero device-associated infections.

AGA encourages all members to stay vigilant when it comes to duodenoscope reprocessing and strictly adhere to the manufacturer’s reprocessing and maintenance instructions.

In the safety communication, FDA reports:

• In the past 6 months, three people died and 45 people developed infections from contaminated endoscopes.

• Results from sampling studies show up to 5.4% of all properly collected samples tested positive for “high concern” organisms. “High concern” bacteria are more often associated with disease, such as E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus.

• Additionally, up to 3.6% of properly collected samples tested positive for low to moderate concern organisms; while these organisms don’t usually lead to dangerous infections, they are indicative of a reprocessing failure.

Jeff Shuren, MD, director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health at FDA, also issued a communication on continued efforts to assess duodenoscope contamination risk. Dr. Shuren puts this new data into perspective:

“While the current contamination rates we’re seeing in the postmarket studies show the need for improvement, I want to emphasize that an individual patient’s risk of acquiring infection from an inadequately reprocessed medical device remains relatively low given the large number of such devices in use.”

The AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology (CGIT) continuously monitors this issue and engages with industry and FDA on efforts that will help us reach our goal of zero device-transmitted infections to our patients.

“We continually meet with industry partners, just as recently as last week at the AGA Tech Summit, to understand how they are innovating to reduce the risk of potential infection. We are also in close communication with FDA and other key stakeholders. We all have a role in preventing device-transmitted infections, and we don’t take our role lightly,” added V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, AGAF, FACG, FASGE, chair of the AGA CGIT.
 

[email protected]

On April 12, FDA issued a safety communication releasing new information on the duodenoscope contamination rate from postmarket surveillance studies and medical device reports. While the outlook has improved significantly since this issue first arose in 2015, we are not yet at our goal of zero device-associated infections.

AGA encourages all members to stay vigilant when it comes to duodenoscope reprocessing and strictly adhere to the manufacturer’s reprocessing and maintenance instructions.

In the safety communication, FDA reports:

• In the past 6 months, three people died and 45 people developed infections from contaminated endoscopes.

• Results from sampling studies show up to 5.4% of all properly collected samples tested positive for “high concern” organisms. “High concern” bacteria are more often associated with disease, such as E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus.

• Additionally, up to 3.6% of properly collected samples tested positive for low to moderate concern organisms; while these organisms don’t usually lead to dangerous infections, they are indicative of a reprocessing failure.

Jeff Shuren, MD, director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health at FDA, also issued a communication on continued efforts to assess duodenoscope contamination risk. Dr. Shuren puts this new data into perspective:

“While the current contamination rates we’re seeing in the postmarket studies show the need for improvement, I want to emphasize that an individual patient’s risk of acquiring infection from an inadequately reprocessed medical device remains relatively low given the large number of such devices in use.”

The AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology (CGIT) continuously monitors this issue and engages with industry and FDA on efforts that will help us reach our goal of zero device-transmitted infections to our patients.

“We continually meet with industry partners, just as recently as last week at the AGA Tech Summit, to understand how they are innovating to reduce the risk of potential infection. We are also in close communication with FDA and other key stakeholders. We all have a role in preventing device-transmitted infections, and we don’t take our role lightly,” added V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, AGAF, FACG, FASGE, chair of the AGA CGIT.
 

[email protected]

On April 12, FDA issued a safety communication releasing new information on the duodenoscope contamination rate from postmarket surveillance studies and medical device reports. While the outlook has improved significantly since this issue first arose in 2015, we are not yet at our goal of zero device-associated infections.

AGA encourages all members to stay vigilant when it comes to duodenoscope reprocessing and strictly adhere to the manufacturer’s reprocessing and maintenance instructions.

In the safety communication, FDA reports:

• In the past 6 months, three people died and 45 people developed infections from contaminated endoscopes.

• Results from sampling studies show up to 5.4% of all properly collected samples tested positive for “high concern” organisms. “High concern” bacteria are more often associated with disease, such as E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus.

• Additionally, up to 3.6% of properly collected samples tested positive for low to moderate concern organisms; while these organisms don’t usually lead to dangerous infections, they are indicative of a reprocessing failure.

Jeff Shuren, MD, director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health at FDA, also issued a communication on continued efforts to assess duodenoscope contamination risk. Dr. Shuren puts this new data into perspective:

“While the current contamination rates we’re seeing in the postmarket studies show the need for improvement, I want to emphasize that an individual patient’s risk of acquiring infection from an inadequately reprocessed medical device remains relatively low given the large number of such devices in use.”

The AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology (CGIT) continuously monitors this issue and engages with industry and FDA on efforts that will help us reach our goal of zero device-transmitted infections to our patients.

“We continually meet with industry partners, just as recently as last week at the AGA Tech Summit, to understand how they are innovating to reduce the risk of potential infection. We are also in close communication with FDA and other key stakeholders. We all have a role in preventing device-transmitted infections, and we don’t take our role lightly,” added V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, AGAF, FACG, FASGE, chair of the AGA CGIT.
 

[email protected]

Rep. Ruiz was a virtually unknown candidate and defeated then incumbent Mary Bono, R-CA, for the seat that represents Coachella Valley and Palm Springs. Rep. Ruiz is the son of migrant farmers from Mexico who went on to medical school and became the first Latino to receive three graduate degrees from Harvard — a medical degree, a masters of public policy, and a masters of public health. Rep. Ruiz is an emergency physician by training and AGA got to know him early in his congressional career and provided support for his initiatives that aligned with our policy priorities and support through AGA PAC.

When Rep. Ruiz was elected to Congress, the Democrats were in the minority in the House and as a freshman member in the minority, did not yield a lot of power and influence. However, AGA continued to work with Rep. Ruiz in garnering his support for repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) that was created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — it was charged with making budgetary decisions for the Medicare program that would have disproportionately impacted physicians. Rep. Ruiz was willing to work with Republicans to support legislation to repeal IPAB; Congress eventually repealed it in the last Congress.

AGA also worked with Rep. Ruiz in support of increasing access to colorectal cancer screening especially for underrepresented minorities and he has been a strong supporter of the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act that would fix the current Medicare screening colonoscopy coinsurance problem that disproportionately impacts poorer Medicare beneficiaries who lack supplemental coverage.

Recently, AGA has been working closely with Rep. Ruiz as he champions an issue that impacts GI patients with inflammatory bowel disease and their ability to access the treatment that their doctor recommends. Rep. Ruiz has introduced H.R. 2279, the Safe Step Act, legislation that would provide a clear, transparent, and easily accessible appeals process for physicians and their patients when subject to step therapy protocols. Step therapy, also known as “fail first,” requires patients to try and fail one or more medications before the insurer will provide coverage for the therapy that their doctor thinks is the best to manage their condition. The Safe Step Act would not eliminate step therapy but would provide some common sense guardrails for patients and reasonable exceptions for patients who would be harmed if subjected to such a policy.

Because of AGA PAC’s and other physician organizations’ PAC support for Rep. Ruiz, he was able to secure a seat on the highly coveted Energy and Commerce Committee and its Health Subcommittee. The Committee has jurisdiction over all public health programs such as NIH, CDC, FDA, and Medicare Part B which is all physician services. Given Rep. Ruiz’s background and the committee position he holds, he is well-suited to continue to help champion AGA’s policy priorities and those of all organized medicine.

Over the years, Rep. Ruiz has spoken to AGA members at our annual Advocacy Day on the importance of physicians being involved politically and also in advocacy. He has also met with AGA Government Affairs Committee member Gaurav Singhvi, MD, in the district on issues important to the gastroenterology community and our patients.

AGA looks forward to working with Rep. Ruiz to continue to ensure that patients have access to specialty care, that the administrative burdens that physicians face like prior authorization are reduced, we continue to invest in research, and that we continue to train the next generation of GIs.

[email protected]

Rep. Ruiz was a virtually unknown candidate and defeated then incumbent Mary Bono, R-CA, for the seat that represents Coachella Valley and Palm Springs. Rep. Ruiz is the son of migrant farmers from Mexico who went on to medical school and became the first Latino to receive three graduate degrees from Harvard — a medical degree, a masters of public policy, and a masters of public health. Rep. Ruiz is an emergency physician by training and AGA got to know him early in his congressional career and provided support for his initiatives that aligned with our policy priorities and support through AGA PAC.

When Rep. Ruiz was elected to Congress, the Democrats were in the minority in the House and as a freshman member in the minority, did not yield a lot of power and influence. However, AGA continued to work with Rep. Ruiz in garnering his support for repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) that was created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — it was charged with making budgetary decisions for the Medicare program that would have disproportionately impacted physicians. Rep. Ruiz was willing to work with Republicans to support legislation to repeal IPAB; Congress eventually repealed it in the last Congress.

AGA also worked with Rep. Ruiz in support of increasing access to colorectal cancer screening especially for underrepresented minorities and he has been a strong supporter of the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act that would fix the current Medicare screening colonoscopy coinsurance problem that disproportionately impacts poorer Medicare beneficiaries who lack supplemental coverage.

Recently, AGA has been working closely with Rep. Ruiz as he champions an issue that impacts GI patients with inflammatory bowel disease and their ability to access the treatment that their doctor recommends. Rep. Ruiz has introduced H.R. 2279, the Safe Step Act, legislation that would provide a clear, transparent, and easily accessible appeals process for physicians and their patients when subject to step therapy protocols. Step therapy, also known as “fail first,” requires patients to try and fail one or more medications before the insurer will provide coverage for the therapy that their doctor thinks is the best to manage their condition. The Safe Step Act would not eliminate step therapy but would provide some common sense guardrails for patients and reasonable exceptions for patients who would be harmed if subjected to such a policy.

Because of AGA PAC’s and other physician organizations’ PAC support for Rep. Ruiz, he was able to secure a seat on the highly coveted Energy and Commerce Committee and its Health Subcommittee. The Committee has jurisdiction over all public health programs such as NIH, CDC, FDA, and Medicare Part B which is all physician services. Given Rep. Ruiz’s background and the committee position he holds, he is well-suited to continue to help champion AGA’s policy priorities and those of all organized medicine.

Over the years, Rep. Ruiz has spoken to AGA members at our annual Advocacy Day on the importance of physicians being involved politically and also in advocacy. He has also met with AGA Government Affairs Committee member Gaurav Singhvi, MD, in the district on issues important to the gastroenterology community and our patients.

AGA looks forward to working with Rep. Ruiz to continue to ensure that patients have access to specialty care, that the administrative burdens that physicians face like prior authorization are reduced, we continue to invest in research, and that we continue to train the next generation of GIs.

[email protected]

Rep. Ruiz was a virtually unknown candidate and defeated then incumbent Mary Bono, R-CA, for the seat that represents Coachella Valley and Palm Springs. Rep. Ruiz is the son of migrant farmers from Mexico who went on to medical school and became the first Latino to receive three graduate degrees from Harvard — a medical degree, a masters of public policy, and a masters of public health. Rep. Ruiz is an emergency physician by training and AGA got to know him early in his congressional career and provided support for his initiatives that aligned with our policy priorities and support through AGA PAC.

When Rep. Ruiz was elected to Congress, the Democrats were in the minority in the House and as a freshman member in the minority, did not yield a lot of power and influence. However, AGA continued to work with Rep. Ruiz in garnering his support for repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) that was created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — it was charged with making budgetary decisions for the Medicare program that would have disproportionately impacted physicians. Rep. Ruiz was willing to work with Republicans to support legislation to repeal IPAB; Congress eventually repealed it in the last Congress.

AGA also worked with Rep. Ruiz in support of increasing access to colorectal cancer screening especially for underrepresented minorities and he has been a strong supporter of the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act that would fix the current Medicare screening colonoscopy coinsurance problem that disproportionately impacts poorer Medicare beneficiaries who lack supplemental coverage.

Recently, AGA has been working closely with Rep. Ruiz as he champions an issue that impacts GI patients with inflammatory bowel disease and their ability to access the treatment that their doctor recommends. Rep. Ruiz has introduced H.R. 2279, the Safe Step Act, legislation that would provide a clear, transparent, and easily accessible appeals process for physicians and their patients when subject to step therapy protocols. Step therapy, also known as “fail first,” requires patients to try and fail one or more medications before the insurer will provide coverage for the therapy that their doctor thinks is the best to manage their condition. The Safe Step Act would not eliminate step therapy but would provide some common sense guardrails for patients and reasonable exceptions for patients who would be harmed if subjected to such a policy.

Because of AGA PAC’s and other physician organizations’ PAC support for Rep. Ruiz, he was able to secure a seat on the highly coveted Energy and Commerce Committee and its Health Subcommittee. The Committee has jurisdiction over all public health programs such as NIH, CDC, FDA, and Medicare Part B which is all physician services. Given Rep. Ruiz’s background and the committee position he holds, he is well-suited to continue to help champion AGA’s policy priorities and those of all organized medicine.

Over the years, Rep. Ruiz has spoken to AGA members at our annual Advocacy Day on the importance of physicians being involved politically and also in advocacy. He has also met with AGA Government Affairs Committee member Gaurav Singhvi, MD, in the district on issues important to the gastroenterology community and our patients.

AGA looks forward to working with Rep. Ruiz to continue to ensure that patients have access to specialty care, that the administrative burdens that physicians face like prior authorization are reduced, we continue to invest in research, and that we continue to train the next generation of GIs.

[email protected]