Stanley M. Fineman,MD, MBA, FAAAAI

Practice Notes from the AAAAI

LayOrganization Spotlight: Allergy&Asthma Network Mothers ofAsthmatics

Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) isthe leading nonprofit family health organization dedicated toeliminating death and suffering due to asthma, allergies andrelated conditions.

Nancy Sander founded the organization in 1985 to helpfamilies affected by asthma and allergies. She personally spentyears struggling to manage her daughter’s severe symptoms andwanted to help others going through the same thing. Today,AANMA’s core areas of expertise are education, advocacy andcommunity outreach.

AANMA has a history of success implementing practical,family-friendly policy change. Its annual Allergy AsthmaAwareness Day Capitol Hill highlights critical issues that neednational attention. AANMA led the campaign to ensurestudents’ rights to carry and self-administer their lifesavingasthma and anaphylaxis medications at school. Other issuesraised include educating patients and medical professionals aboutthe change from CFC to HFA inhalers and reducing governmentwaste while protecting patients by halting CMS reimbursementfor illegally manufactured nebulizer medications.

AANMA will be leading the advocacy charge again on May8-9, 2013. They will host a Capitol Hill fly-in for physicians,patients, allied health professionals and industry to raise criticalissues facing allergy and asthma care. Furthermore, AANMA willhost a one-day Summit bringing FDA, EPA, CDC, PCORI,physicians and patients together to discuss true patient-centered,collaborative care focused on achieving optimal health outcomesin a cost-effective manner.

The Sixteenth annual Allergy Asthma Awareness Day CapitolHill will take place at the Rayburn Building on May 9, 2013. ACongressional Press Breakfast will be held to send a singlemessage, “Life-threatening food allergies & asthma are not(over-the-counter) OTC diseases.” Leadership of the AAAAI,ACAAI and JCAAI will be present in support of this effort. Themorning will conclude with free allergy and asthma screeningsheld in the Rayburn Building Foyer. Decorated Olympian andDancing with the Stars champion Apolo Ohno will share hispersonal story with Congress as the celebrity spokesperson forthe event.

AANMA plans to bring forth a citizens petition to invokea stay of action on the FDA proposed paradigm to move albu-terol and epinephrine over the counter. Join AANMA in theirfight to have allergy and asthma patients’ voices heard on CapitolHill.

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Advocacy inPractice: AnInterview withStanley M.Fineman, MD,MBA, FAAAAI

Clinical Associate Professor,Department of Pediatrics,

Division of Allergy, Emory University School ofMedicine in Atlanta, and in private practice with theAtlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic in Marietta, Georgia

What interested you in specializing in allergy and asthmaconditions?During my residency training at Children’s Hospital inCincinnati, we treated numerous children with asthma exacer-bations. This was my initial exposure to the field of allergy. Thechief of the allergy division was Joe Ghory, who taught me howto improve the outcomes for these children through the benefitsof allergy specialist care.

I completed my allergy fellowship in Boston, where RaifGeha, MD, FAAAAI, helped me understand the evolving field ofthe immunological basis for allergy. I spent many hours in thelab working with suppressor and helper T cells. It is gratifying tosee that these cells, which we now know as T reg cells, have beenfound to be critical in modulating the allergic response.

Since I also have the opportunity to perform clinical researchin my practice, it is particularly rewarding to see the developmentof new molecules that impact immune mechanisms and poten-tially help improve our patient’s clinical responses and ultimatelyenhance disease outcomes.How did you become involved with AANMA, and what doyou find most rewarding about your participation with them?When I was first introduced to AANMA, it was known asMothers of Asthmatics. Nancy Sander, the founder of AANMA,created this organization to fill the void that she found whilecaring for her daughter with allergies and asthma. Over the last25 years, Nancy and the Mothers of Asthmatics have helped toeducate and promote proper care and management strategies forfamilies with members who have asthma and allergies.

Since our field deals with the full spectrum of allergic disorders,including the growing problem of anaphylaxis, the Mothers ofAsthmatics have evolved to become the Allergy & AsthmaNetworkMothers of Asthmatics (AANMA). It is certainly satisfying when

llergy Clin Immunol: In Practice

Lay Organizations

The AAAAI places a high value on its relationships with patientadvocacy organizations in support of our mutual concern forthe needs of people with allergy, asthma and immunologicdisease and their families. In particular, the AAAAI has anongoing relationship with a group of organizations with whomwe partner on various projects as needs and opportunities arise.We encourage you to visit these organizations’ websites formore information on their initiatives and missions.

Allergy & Asthma Network/Mothers of Asthmatics(AANMA)www.aanma.orgwww.breatherville.orgAmerican Latex Allergy Associationwww.latexallergyresources.orgAmerican Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders(APFED)www.apfed.orgAsthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)www.aafa.orgAlaska Chapter: www.aafaalaska.comCalifornia Chapter: www.aafa-ca.comGreater Kansas City Chapter: www.aafakc.orgMaryland/Washington DC Chapter: www.aafa-md.orgMichigan Chapter: www.aafamich.orgNew England Chapter: www.asthmaandallergies.orgTexas Chapter: www.aafatexas.orgSt. Louis Chapter: www.aafastl.orgCampaign Urging Research for Eosinophilic Disease(CURED)www.curedfoundation.orgFood Allergy Research & Education (FARE)The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and theFood Allergy Initiative (FAI) merged to form FARE.www.foodallergy.orgImmune Deficiency Foundation (IDF)www.primaryimmune.orgThe International Association for Food Protein Entero-colitis (IAFFPE)www.iaffpe.orgThe Mastocytosis Society (TMS)www.tmsforacure.orgUS Hereditary Angioedema Association (HAEA)www.haea.org

Practice Notes from the AAAAI

my patients report how helpful the information is that they’vereceived from the multitude of educational materials made availableto AANMAmembers. Thesematerials are not just on their website.Publications like theMA report and the wonderfulAllergy&AsthmaToday magazine are also delivered to patients on a regular basis.

Patients and their families need to know that they are notalone and the folks at AANMA are there to help educate otherparents about proper care for their children. It’s somewhatunique that AANMA’s website and educational materials helpinform our patients about the importance of proper asthmacontrol, including the need to either ‘step up or step down’ theirtreatment when appropriate.

With the increasing prevalence of anaphylaxis, there is a need toimprove education and support for our patients. AANMA hasdeveloped the Anaphylaxis Community Experts (ACEs) program.This program pairs an allergist with interested communitymembers and parents to help raise awareness, reduce anxiety andeliminate deaths through education, advocacy and outreach. Wehave had a number of very successful programs that I have con-ducted in the Atlanta area and it is gratifying to see how parents ofpatients with food allergies truly appreciate accurate informationand helpful strategies which improve their child’s quality of life.

I have encouraged all allergists to join AANMA as professionalmembers. AANMA truly is an organization that supports qualityallergy specialty care for patients.How has advocacy impacted treatment of patients withasthma and allergies over the past 10 years?One of AANMA’s main goals is to show patients how important itis to have a proper diagnosis, accurate determination of allergytriggers and appropriate treatment regimen recommendations. Inthis regard, AANMA has become a true advocate for allergyspecialty care. There are numerous examples of AANMA advo-cating for quality patient care. They have successfully planned theannual Allergy Asthma Awareness Day on Capitol Hill. I havebeen personally involved in this outstanding program that offersasthma screening and educational opportunities about allergicdisease right in our Nation’s Capital.

AANMA has also helped to organize the CongressionalAsthma and Allergy Caucus which is a bi-partisan group oflegislators that have an interest in helping promote quality carefor all patients with allergies and asthma. Last year the JointCouncil of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (JCAAI) DClobbying group successfully partnered with parents and patientsfrom AANMA to support our advocacy message of the need forcontinuing availability of allergy specialty care for our patients.

With the current changes in health care, it is very important tohave patient groups supporting our messages. Legislators doappreciate visits and information from physicians, but whenpatients bring the message it becomes that much more impactful.We’re fortunate to be able to partner with AANMA tosuccessfully advocate for quality allergy patient care.What do you enjoy the most about treating patients withasthma and allergies?One of the things I most enjoy about treating allergy and asthmapatients is when they return for their follow-up visit and thankme. We all know that quality allergy specialty care can improve

J Allergy Clin Immunol: In Practice

patient outcomes and it is most gratifying to see my patientsbenefit from our recommendations.

Our field has made major advances in the last 35 years since Istarted in practice. Helping children whose parents I treated aschildren is one of most satisfying experiences and certainly doesmake it a delight to be an allergist. As we all know, allergistsreally do help patients feel better.

MAY/JUNE 2013 21A

Practice Notes from the AAAAI

2013PracticeManagementWorkshopFocuses on Latest Healthcare Topicsfor the Practicing Allergist

If you’re a practicing allergist, don’t miss the 2013 PracticeManagement Workshop taking place July 19-21 in Nashville.Current and impending changes in health care can be difficult tonavigate, but sessions at the workshop will give you the infor-mation you need to get your allergy practice in tune.

Session Why You Should Attend

Allergy Coding Update: Get Readyfor ICD-10

Offers a broad overview of codingand documentation principles asthey apply to an allergy/immunology practice, includingthe most up to date information onICD-10.

Meaningful Use Stage 2: Where WeAre Now, Where We’re Going andWhat it Means for Your Practice

Get an overview of the meaningfuluse program and review Stage 1criteria. Learn what is in store forStage 2, how it differs from Stage1, what happens next and how yourpractice can benefit.

Incorporating NPs and PAs into YourAllergy Practice

Can an NP or PA help grow yourpractice and increase patientsatisfaction? How do you knowwhen it’s time to hire or considerhiring an NP or PA, and how doyou hire the right one? A physicianand nurse team will give anoverview of how it works in theirpractice.

Using Social Media and OtherTechnologies to Build YourReferral Base and Market YourPractice

Does your practice need a website?Should you use Facebook, Twitterand other social media platforms tointeract with and engage yourcurrent and potential patients? Howdoes social media complementtraditional relationship-buildingtechniques? A faculty panel willwalk you through the basics.

New Trends in Healthcare:Accountable Care Organizations(ACOs)

What is an ACO and why do youneed to know? Find out howallergy practices will be affected bythis new trend in health care andhear how one member’s practicesucceeds as part of an ACO.

Compliance, Documentation andMore: What Your Practice Needsto Know in 2013 and Beyond

Learn about new federal regulationsfor skin testing, vial preparationand more, and what your officeneeds to do to remain incompliance. Are you prepared forallergy and asthma measurementand PQRI reporting? You’ll hearabout these new regulations, howthey can benefit your practice’sbottom line and the pitfalls ofnoncompliance.

22A MAY/JUNE 2013

Find out more about what will be covered at theworkshop by reading the complete course brochure athttp://education.aaaai.org/2013PMW. Space is limited, soregister and book your hotel room now.

All workshop sessions will be at the Sheraton NashvilleDowntown Hotel. For more information, contact LauriSweetman at lsweetman@aaaai.org or (414) 272-6071.

Find an Allergist/ImmunologistDirectory Updated

The Find an Allergist/Immunologist Directory, one of the mostpopular destinations on the AAAAI website, was recentlyenhanced to make it easier for patients to connect with AAAAImember physicians in their area.

With over 254,000 page views in 2012, the AAAAI Find anAllergist/Immunologist Directory is a valuable member benefit ifyou’re in practice—and now it will better serve the thousands ofpatients who use it each year to find physicians. The enhance-ments include:

� A map feature that lets users find the physicians closest tothem on a map of their current area

� Smarter search functionality where patients can search fordoctors by last name, even if they only type the first fewletters

� Expanded features that provide better zip code, city, state,country or name search

Take a look at the updated Find an Allergist/ImmunologistDirectory at www.aaaai.org. If you’re an AAAAI memberwho sees patients and you don’t have a listing, contactmembership@aaaai.org for assistance.

New Information on Runninga Practice Available at the AAAAIWebsite

An allergy practice is a business. Yet most allergist/immunologistsget little or no training on the “business side of medicine” duringmedical school, residency or fellowship.

To help, the Practice Resources section of the AAAAI websitehas a new page called Running a Practice. It has useful resourceson health information technology and promoting your practice,spanning topics like e-prescribing, health information exchange,social media and your practice website. Important tools like theimmunotherapy forms can now be found on the Practice Toolspage.

Visit www.aaaai.org today to access the AAAAI PracticeResources section.

J Allergy Clin Immunol: In Practice