Largest Medical Education Meeting For General And Subspecialty Internists To Be Hosted By ACP

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Medical Students / Training;  Conferences;  Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 30 Apr 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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More than 6,000 internists (doctors of internal medicine), subspecialists, medical students, and allied health professionals will meet in Washington, D.C., for Internal Medicine 2008, the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Physicians (ACP), from May 15 - 17 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Internal Medicine 2008 is the largest continuing medical education meeting exclusively for adult medicine and offers more than 260 lectures, panel discussions, and workshops in internal medicine and its subspecialties, issues in practice management, and health care policy, including: diabetes management, patient safety, osteoporosis, menopause and manopause, controversies in cancer screening, illness in national leaders, computers in medicine and medical records, ethics and spirituality, and medicine in the movies.

According to ACP data, more than 75 percent of the general and subspecialty internists attending the meeting are involved in the direct care of patients. More than half of the nation's adults consider an internist as their primary care physician.

Noteworthy Events and Courses

The opening ceremony on Thursday May 15, at 9:30 a.m. in Hall C features Karen Davis, PhD, president of The Commonwealth Fund, delivering the keynote address, entitled "Patient-Centered Medical Homes: Key to a High Performance Health System."

On Friday, May 16, at 11:15 a.m. in room 201, representatives of Senator Clinton, Senator McCain, and Senator Obama will present positions of the presidential candidates concerning health care reform. The panel will discuss how the 2008 presidential and congressional elections will affect prospects for achieving universal health insurance coverage and what actions are most likely.

On Friday, May 16, at 4:30 p.m. in room 206, Robert Berenson, MD, FACP; Carolyn Clancy, MD, MACP; and Eugene Rich, MD, FACP will present "Internists in Government: Insider Views from ACP Members Who Have Changed Health Care by Serving in the Federal Government." The panel will offer insights from internists who are or were leaders in the federal government on how federal health policies are made and how current key health policy issues impacts patient care.

A former presidential physician and head of the White House Medical Unit, a medical historian, a former CIA physician who carried out profiling of national leaders and their mental and emotional health, and the chairman of the committee on disability in U.S. presidents are participating in two medical history panel discussions. History of Medicine: Illness in National Leaders on Thursday, May 15, at 2:15 p.m. in room 146 B analyzes the duties, responsibilities, and challenges of the president's physician. The panel will discuss presidential incapacity and the case of Woodrow Wilson. Taking care of presidents, kings, rock stars, and presidential candidates is the focus of History of Medicine: Illness in U.S. Presidents on Friday, May 16, at 11:15 a.m. in room 206.

The Herbert S. Waxman Clinical Skills Center offers hands-on activities and clinical demonstrations focusing on communication, physical examination, and procedural skills. In a new workshop this year, internists will evaluate live "comatose patients" -- trained standardized patients who, in many cases, will have real physical findings that can aid the "diagnosis." Neurologists will offer feedback to the internists on how they managed the "case."

The annual Convocation ceremony on Thursday evening recognizes new Fellows, Honorary Fellows, Masters, and award recipients. Through its awards, ACP recognizes accomplishments in medical practice, teaching, research, volunteer service, preventive medicine, and other areas.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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About the American College of Physicians

ACP (http://www.acponline.org/), the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States, is the leading national professional organization for internists -- physicians who specialize in the prevention, detection, and treatment of illnesses in adults. ACP members include 125,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Founded in 1915 to promote the science and practice of medicine, ACP works to enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine.

Source: Steve Majewski
American College of Physicians