730,000 New Yorkers don’t know they have diabetes.
New York State Academy of Family Physicians
New York State Academy of Family Physicians
Janet Lindner
janet@nysafp.org
518-489-8945
The New York State Academy of Family Physicians (NYSAFP) represents more than 4,300 family physicians and medical students throughout the State. NYSAFP provides education, advocacy, and information for members; promotes family practice among medical students; and works to enhance and improve the quality and stature of family medicine. NYSAFP advocates for patients in the public policy arena, has worked successfully for the development of family medicine at medical schools and hospitals throughout New York State, and has developed programs for the clinical and leadership development of residents and young family physicians.
Reversing New York’s diabetes epidemic requires a comprehensive and coordinated response, including implementing improvements to the way that care is provided to patients with diabetes. Despite the wealth of information about best practices in the care of diabetes, many patients still do not receive the care and support they need to most effectively manage their conditions. In response, NYSAFP has joined the Campaign as a cornerstone member of the Campaign’s Diabetes Clinical Improvement Network. NYSAFP is working with the Campaign and other clinical partners to design and implement strategies that enhance diabetes care and improve patient outcomes in all types of primary care settings—community health centers, hospitals, and private practices.
To date, NYSAFP has providers at 13 hospitals apply for NCQA certification. It has also worked with the Campaign’s Network partners to develop and launch a statewide comprehensive survey to assess the needs of the primary care providers in caring for their patients with diabetes.
NYSAFP is continuously recruiting family practice physicians and practices interested in joining the Campaign and assisting them in improving the health outcomes of their patients with diabetes. Their work will enable their members to achieve and demonstrate high standards of diabetes care, including through the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Diabetes Physicians Recognition Program and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Physician Quality Reporting Initiative. They also will leverage opportunities for their members to complete the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Diabetes Practice Improvement Module, the American Academy of Family Physicians METRIC module in diabetes, or the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Maintenance of Certification Self-Assessment Module for Diabetes (PIM).
NYSAFP has convened a physician advisory group to provide clinical expertise for diabetes and guide initiative activities. They also are recruiting physicians who have already achieved positive outcomes for their patients with diabetes to serve as mentors for other physicians and practices seeking to improve their diabetes outcomes.
NYSAFP will work with the New York State Health Foundation’s Diabetes Policy Center and the Campaign’s other partners to advocate for policy, systems, and reimbursement changes that support primary care practice and improvements in diabetes outcomes.
