TPS e-Newsletter November 2008
Official Newsletter for Texas Pediatric Society Members and Office Managers
The Texas Pediatric Society
401 West 15th Street, Ste 682 Austin, Texas 78701
P. 512.370.1506 F. 512-473-8659
Welcome! New edition of the TPS Monthly e-Newsletter!
► CME Proposal Forms for Educational Sessions at the 2009 TPS Annual Meeting
► Resistance of Influenza A Virus to Oseltamivir
► Texas Early Hearing Detection and Intervention
► CATCH Grants Available
► Insure Texas Kids Specialty License Plates
► Co-Sleeping Precautions
► The Physician Perspective on Medical Practice in 2008
► MAC Drug List Update
► Members in the News
CME Proposal Forms for Educational Sessions at the 2009 TPS Annual Meeting
The 2009 TPS Annual Meeting will be held September 10-13 in Plano at the Marriott Plano/Dallas at Legacy Park. The
Medical Education Committee is now accepting proposals for continuing medical education programs to be included as part
of the meeting. To submit a topic for consideration, please complete the PROPOSAL FORM, and return it to Mary Greene-
Noble before December 31, 2008.
Resistance of Influenza A Virus to Oseltamivir
In the December 12, 2008 Influenza Update of the MMWR, the CDC published important data on resistance of the currently
circulating influenza A (H1N1) virus to oseltamivir. Since September 28, 2008, 68 influenza viruses from 15 states have
been tested for antiviral resistance. Preliminary data show that 45 of the 46 influenza A (H1N1) viruses tested were resistant
to oseltamivir and all H1N1 viruses were sensitive to zanamivir. These H1N1 specimens are from 11 states with 29/46 from
two states. Texas is one of the two states responsible for submitting the majority of the A (H1N1) specimens tested for
antiviral resistance, with 10 of 11 A (H1N1) specimens resistant to oseltamivir.
Though this preliminary data alone is insufficient to provide a comprehensive indication of antiviral resistance prevalence at
a national or regional level during this season, Influenza A (H1N1) viruses that have a genetic mutation conferring
oseltamivir resistance appeared and circulated during the 2007–08 influenza season in both the Northern and Southern
Hemispheres. These early US data suggest that oseltamivir-resistance is likely to be high among H1N1 viruses, and
providers are encouraged to remain alert for changes in recommendations that might occur as the 2008–09 influenza
season progresses.
To see the complete report, please visit: http://txpeds.org/u/documents/resistance_of_influenza_a_virus_to_oseltamivir.pdf.
Alternatives for antiviral treatment can be found at: (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/index.htm).
Texas Early Hearing Detection and Intervention
The Texas Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (TEHDI) Program is now offering primary care physicians real time
access to their patients’ newborn hearing screening results at no cost. Providers will be able to electronically access records
for infants that are identified as being under their care. Usernames and passwords are being disseminated at this time. For
questions or to request access, please contact Mary Catherine Hess, TEHDI coordinator, at 214-631-6161 ext 751.
CATCH Grants Available
Need funding to work on a community project? The AAP’s CATCH (Community Access to Child Health) program provides
up to $12,000 in startup grants for planning and implementation of community based programs to local pediatricians and
residents. The program’s focus is on linking children to medical homes and providing access to any other needed health
care services.
Information on the current grant cycle can be found at http://www.aap.org/catch/implementgrants.htm for implementation
grants and http://www.aap.org/catch/residentgrants.htmfor resident grants. The deadline for applications is January 30,
2009. Texas has 2 co-facilitators who are happy to answer questions or provide assistance in the application process.
Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Louis Appel (louisa@austinpcc.org) or Dr. Carl Tapia (ct692423@bcm.tmc.edu) if you
are interested in learning more or would like to discuss a project idea.
Insure Texas Kids Specialty License Plates
During the 80th Legislative Session, Senate Bill 1032 was passed to develop a specialty license plate to support efforts to
increase the need to insure children in the state of Texas. On December 1, 2008, HHSC and the Department of
Transportation released the license plate for purchase, and $22.00 of each $30.00 fee per plate sold will go toward
promoting public awareness of health insurance programs for children of low-income families. For more information on this
initiative and to find out how you can purchase a specialized plate, please go to:
http://rts.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASApp/txdotrts/SpecialPlateOrderServlet?grpid=60&pltid=315.
Co-Sleeping Precautions
In a recent report released by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, it was estimated that an infant or
young child dies nearly every other day while sleeping with a parent, other adult or older children. In the first year of a case
by case analysis of investigations by DFPS, conducted in fiscal year 2008, 170 children died while sleeping with an adult or
older child. Though this data shows the infant’s sleeping arrangement at the time of death, DFPS does not presume that co-
sleeping was the cause of death in each case. Officials will do further analysis to determine if other factors contributed to the
deaths and to identify any common risk factors that may exist. With this report, DPFS hopes to raise awareness about
potential dangers associated with co-sleeping and urge parents to take appropriate precautions to create a safe sleeping
environment. To read the complete press release, please visit: http://txpeds.org/u/documents/cco-
sleeping_news_release.pdf.
To further address this issue, the Texas State Child Fatality Review Team Committee has released a position statement
entitled “Safe Sleep for Infants”. To access this information as well as additional resources on safe sleep and crib safety,
please visit: http://www.txpeds.org/Committees/extras/injury_and_environmental_health.php.
The Physician Perspective on Medical Practice in 2008
A recent survey of primary care physicians conducted by the Physicians’ Foundation revealed concern and frustration with
the current practice of medicine among many, which may contribute to serious workforce shortages in the future. Citing
increasing paperwork and declining reimbursement rates as major barriers to providing care, key findings included:
• 78% of physicians believe there is a shortage of primary care doctors.
• 65% of physicians said that Medicaid reimbursement is less than their cost of providing care and 36% said
Medicare provides reimbursement less than their costs. 82% said that their practices would be “unsustainable” if
proposed cuts to Medicare reimbursements were made.
• Only 17% of physicians rated the financial position of their practices as “healthy and profitable”.
• 49% of physicians – more than 150,000 doctors nationwide – said that over the next three years they plan to reduce
the number of patients they see or stop practicing entirely.
To read more, please visit: http://www.physiciansfoundations.org/news/news_show.htm?doc_id=728872.
MAC Drug List Update
The Medicaid/CHIP Vendor Drug Program has updated the list of Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) drugs. The new prices
begin December 15, 2008, and can be found at: http://www.txvendordrug.com/productenroll.asp.
Members in the News
Barbara Huggins, MD has received her second Anson Jones Award for Physician Excellence in Reporting from the Texas
Medical Association. The award recognizes the physician who exemplifies excellence in reporting general interest health
news to the public. Dr. Huggins, a board certified pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics,
was honored with this award for serving as the reporter and co-producer of “Dr. Mom”. This medical series, which was
produced by the award winning Media Services Department of the UT Health Center, aired weekly on the Tyler ABC
television affiliate. For additional information or to view segments of the “Dr. Mom” news program, please visit:
www.uthct.edu/drmom.
Dr. Boris Gritzka and Dr. Maria Scranton, pediatricians at the Austin Regional Clinic in Round Rock, were presented with
the “Top Doc Award” from the University of Texas medical Branch. The award recognizes the contributions of community
based physicians who devote their time and energy to the education of the next generation of health care professionals.
Drs. Gritzka and Scranton were selected from a group of over 250 preceptors for their commitment to the development of
community based education. Dr. Walter Kuhl, Chief of Pediatrics at ARC, was also honored in October by Dell Children’s
Hospital as “Outstanding Community Pediatrician”. Dr. Kuhl has also been recognized by Texas Monthly as one of the
state’s “Super Doctors”, an indication of excellence in his practice of pediatrics.
Dr. Carl Tapia and Dr. LeAnn Kridelbaugh will be featured in the February edition of the AAP News for their roles as lead
pediatricians on the GrandFamiles Project, an obesity intervention program targeting grandparents. Pediatricians in the
Houston and Dallas areas partnered with community based organizations to provide a series of six workshops, each
workshop targeting an important aspect of nutrition or exercise. Drs. Tapia and Kridelbaugh will be recognized for their
commitment to addressing the growing problem of childhood obesity though education and innovative programs.
The 2008 TPS Annual Meeting was held October 31 – November 2, 2008 at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel. The
following individuals were recognized for their significant contributions to children in the state of Texas.
Dr. Ralph Feigin was the recipient of the TPS Charles W. Daeschner, Jr, MD Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest
Award of the Texas Pediatric Society.
Dr. Molly Droge was the recipient of the TPS Sidney Kaliski Award of Merit in recognition of her many and continuing
contributions to the TPS and the children of Texas.
Dr. Donald Murphey received the TPS Executive Board Award for his outstanding service to the pediatric community in
Texas in the collection and publishing of RSV data on the TPS website.
Ms. Rose M. Orsborn was recipient of the TPS Distinguished Service Award for her outstanding lifetime career advocating
for abused and neglected children.
The following preceptors were honored for taking numerous medical students into their practice for the TPS Preceptorship
4-week mentoring program:
Five Students: Naiyer Chadha, MD; David Gray, DO; Lisa Swanson, MD; Meganne Walsh, MD; Suvipa Wiri, MD
Ten Students: Margaret Kinalska, MD; Richard Plumb, MD; Kathleen Stokes, MD, PhD
Twenty Students: Kim Cheung, MD; Maryam Taghadosi, MD
Thirty Students: Mark Sicilio, MD; Vitoria Regan, MD
O.W. “Skip” Brown, MD was also honored as the incoming President of the Texas Pediatric Society.
For more information on recipients and awards, please visit: http://txpeds.org/News/extras/Members_In_The_News.php.
The mission of the Texas Pediatric Society, the Texas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is to focus its talent and
resources to ensure that the children in Texas are safe and healthy, that its members are well informed and supported, and that
the practice of pediatrics in Texas is both fulfilling and economically viable.