ACCP Blogs

The ACCP Receives Accreditation With Commendation: "What’s the Big Deal?"

Darcy Marciniuk — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:43:11 +0000

Teaser:

Earlier this month, the ACCP formally received “Accreditation With Commendation” from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). The achievement grants full accreditation to the ACCP until 2017 and places the organization in the very highest (and some may say “exclusive”) tier of all continuing medical education providers.

Technology Changes to Enhance Membership

Suhail Raoof — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:33:02 +0000

Teaser:

Technology advances over the last 2 decades have revolutionized the way we communicate. An important yardstick to judge the success of a professional organization is how well it communicates with its members and what channels of communication it provides to its members to communicate with each other.

Written in conjunction with Steve Welch, Senior Vice President, Communications.

Help The ACCP Expand Its International Education Opportunities

David Gutterman — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:56:56 +0000

Teaser:

The ACCP is the largest international organization for chest medicine specialists in the world. Over the past few years, the rate of international membership growth has outpaced that of domestic membership. As a result, we have an ever-increasing opportunity and responsibility to expand our programs and outreach beyond North America.

Social Media Use in Healthcare [INFOGRAPHIC]

Steve Welch — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:51:43 +0000

Teaser:

In keeping with my recent flurry of infographics, here's a nice one summarizing some interesting data about social media use in healthcare. It also makes the case for creating social media policies, with a link to a great database of policies you can refer to in creating your own.

I found this infographic interesting and I hope you do too.

The blog I found it on is from a compliance software manufacturer (clearly they have an agenda for pointing out the risks in social media, which are evident in their infographic). However, they also make an excellent point about the importance of creating policies for social media, and have a link to an extensive database of social media policies that you may be able to learn from as you develop or review your own policies:

Best Airports, Airlines, and Devices for Business Travelers [INFOGRAPHIC]

Steve Welch — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:33:00 +0000

Teaser:

Docs and healthcare professionals are often "road warriors," especially when traveling to and from conferences, training, speaking engagements, and other important commitments. Today's installment features some tips on where to find the best services for technology when you travel.

So you're going to be traveling soon? If you want to ensure your downtime at the airport is productive, the infographic below provides some insight into airports, airlines, and other tips to make your trip less frustrating.

Those of us here in the Chicago area notice that O'Hare is not on the list. And rightfully so. It has a ways to go before it's truly "wired-friendly". Free wi-fi would be a good start!

Your New Year Resolution List: Where to Start?

Michael Baumann — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:26:58 +0000

Teaser:

If you are reading this blog, you have successfully navigated the holiday season into yet another new year. Now begins the often-dreaded development of your New Year’s resolution list. This can be fun, painful, enlightening, embarrassing, any combination of these, and more! To get you in the mood (or not) to do your own list, I will give you a taste of my personal and professional resolutions this year.

Your OneBreath New Year’s Resolution

Darcy Marciniuk — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:09:15 +0000

Teaser:

Many of you have taken up the challenge by ACCP President Suhail Raoof, MD, FCCP, to make a OneBreath New Year’s healthy resolution.

Many of you have taken up the challenge by ACCP President Suhail Raoof, MD, FCCP, to make a OneBreath^® New Year’s healthy resolution. In fact, there have been almost 1,000 new Facebook “likes” in the past few days. While the beginning of the year often leads to a New Year’s resolution such as “I’m going to quit smoking,” “I need to exercise more,” or “I want to lose 10 lb,” I’d like to join Dr.

Make Your Healthy Resolution

Suhail Raoof — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:16:12 +0000

Teaser:

We would like to wish a very happy and healthy holiday season to all members of the College. We hope that 2012 brings good health, joy, and prosperity to the more than 18,000 members of the ACCP family.

As we ring out the old and ring in the new, most of us reflect on what we want to do differently in the New Year. Several polls have listed the following as the most common top 10 New Year’s resolutions:

Spend more time with family and friends
Become more fit

Rise of the Digital Physician [Infographic]

Steve Welch — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:01:36 +0000

Teaser:

This infographic serves up a ton of great data about how physicians are embracing (or not) social media and digital communication tools. Where do YOU fall within these statistics?

Multiple surveys from social media strategy firms have shown that physician use of social media tools like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter have grown tremendously over the past several years. And although physicians are increasingly encouraging their patients to join and engage with online patient communities, physicians themselves are still somewhat wary of using social media and interacting with their patients online -- the biggest concerns are litigation and HIPAA violations.

New Doc on the Blog

Michael Baumann — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:58:05 +0000

Teaser:

As President-Designate, I’m the newest entrant in this ACCP President's blog lineup. I’d like to start by introducing myself.

As President-Designate, I’m the newest entrant in this ACCP President's blog lineup. I’d like to start by introducing myself. I am a Professor of Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Chief Quality Officer for the hospitals and health system. My primary clinical interests are pleural diseases and many critical care issues.

Holiday Shopping

Darcy Marciniuk — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:57:20 +0000

Teaser:

It’s that time of the year again when we start thinking about the holiday season. It is a special time to spend with family and friends, a time to be grateful for all that we have, and a time to assist those who aren’t as fortunate. It’s also that time of the year when we begin to worry about gifts. For those of you who are thinking about gifts for friends or colleagues in chest medicine, let me make a few suggestions. Many of these gift suggestions are free, while others are available for purchase.

Taking a Stand

Suhail Raoof — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:08:56 +0000

Teaser:

In this blog, I would like to share with you an indelible experience I had in December 2001—something I often think about. It occurred soon after the World Trade Center (WTC) tragedy.

In this blog, I would like to share with you an indelible experience I had in December 2001—something I often think about. It occurred soon after the World Trade Center (WTC) tragedy. As a New Yorker and as a physician, I had seen this tragedy up front and close. One of my relatives was on the 47th floor of the WTC North Tower and had miraculously escaped. At that time, I was working at Nassau University Medical Center and decided to launch a WTC clinic for the Long Island policemen and firemen who were exposed to the air at ground zero.

From Member to Leader: The Impact of Mentoring on Future ACCP Leaders

David Gutterman — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:34:16 +0000

Teaser:

I am impressed with the number of times colleagues have told me the same story about their pathway to leadership positions in the ACCP. In each case, the first step was almost always associated with a helping hand (and advice) from a senior colleague of the College. The spark that launched their journey to leadership was generated through a nurturing relationship with a mentor. My involvement was stimulated in exactly this manner through the help of Paul Stein, then President of ACCP.

We “Still” Need Your Help for CHEST 2012

Darcy Marciniuk — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:51:28 +0000

Teaser:

The last blog by President Suhail Raoof, MBBS, FCCP, highlighted the successes of CHEST 2011 and asked for your help to make CHEST 2012 even better. I agree, and the request deserves repeating!

Building on the Success of CHEST 2011 for CHEST 2012

Suhail Raoof — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:00:44 +0000

Teaser:

The success of CHEST 2011 in Hawaii is fresh in our minds. The scientific content of the meeting was superb and simulation education sessions were ever so popular. Global education sessions that broadened the horizons of domestic and international participants and new, innovative ideas such as the “Centers of Excellence“ were a grand success.

The success of CHEST 2011 in Hawaii is fresh in our minds. The scientific content of the meeting was superb and simulation education sessions were ever so popular.

Setting the Stage for the Future

David Gutterman — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 08:07:13 +0000

Teaser:

During the past year, the ACCP has undergone a transformation that has made it stronger and more relevant to our membership.

During the past year, the ACCP has undergone a transformation that has made it stronger and more relevant to our membership. This change has been led by the Board of Regents and Board of Trustees and has begun the process of unifying and harmonizing all facets of the College in a strategically driven fashion.

Making a CHEST 2011 Packing List, and Checking it Twice

Darcy Marciniuk — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:30:26 +0000

Teaser:

It is time to start thinking about packing for CHEST 2011. Sometimes the packing, and even just thinking about what to pack, can be as exciting as the trip itself.

It is time to start thinking about packing for CHEST 2011. Sometimes the packing, and even just thinking about what to pack, can be as exciting as the trip itself. Already on my list to bring to CHEST 2011 in Honolulu is suntan lotion and flip flops. And to the chagrin of my wife, I’ll also be bringing every Hawaiian shirt I own—I like these shirts and own a few. I’ve been frequently counseled by my family to wear many of these shirts less often, an occurrence I’m certain many of you have also experienced.

Ready for the Presidential Challenge

Suhail Raoof — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:11:08 +0000

Teaser:

I have been involved with the college since 1998. Starting with the young leaders course, I realized how much I enjoy working for the college and what a great organization it is. I decided I would like to contribute to its future. As time went by, I worked my way up the leadership ladder, until my selection as president designate in October 2009.

I have been involved with the College since 1998. Starting with the young leaders course, I realized how much I enjoy working with the College and what a great organization it is. I decided I would like to contribute to its future. As time went by, I worked my way up the leadership ladder, until my selection as President-Designate in October 2009.

The President Wants Your Input

David Gutterman — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:41:50 +0000

Teaser:

The ACCP must remain as relevant as possible to our members and, at the same time, must be nimble and broadminded to take advantage of opportunities presented to us. Therefore, last year I appointed a Presidential Task Force on Diversity to develop a plan for incorporating diversity within the College and leveraging our breadth of experience and expertise.

Ben Goldacre on Battling Bad Science [Video]

Steve Welch — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:11:19 +0000

Teaser:

Ben Goldacre, a physician and journalist who debunks bad science, gives a nice talk on TED.com about how scientific evidence and data can be misused and distorted.

I was referred to this great TED.com talk by the Scholarly Kitchen blog author Phil Davis, and I wanted to share it with you.

From the TED.com web site description of this talk:

The Year in Review

David Gutterman — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:56:44 +0000

Teaser:

In my final message as President, it is appropriate to reflect on the many accomplishments at the ACCP over the past year. Although our progress has been highly integrated to achieve the updated Board-approved strategic plan, in the interest of readability, I will highlight, in no particular order, discrete milestones achieved by ACCP members and staff that serve as a foundation for initiatives planned for 2012 and beyond.

Editor's Note: This blog also appears as the Message from the President in the September 2011 issue of CHEST Physician.

“If life were measured by accomplishments, most of us would die in infancy.” – A. P. Gouthey

(“By these standards, the ACCP is already a venerable elder.” – D. D. Gutterman)

Need CME? There's An App For That!

Steve Welch — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:51:39 +0000

Teaser:

ACCP has just launched an additional version of the ACCP-SEEK app, now with CME! Read on to find out more, and see a video demo.

Back in October 2009, ACCP launched an ACCP-SEEK app for the iPod and iPhone (this was the tablet Stone Age, as there was no iPad yet!). The original app featured the well known ACCP-SEEK board review questions, which were available for download in sets of 10 at a time, to allow users to download small bits of content at a time, for a little bit of money at a time. Kind of a "pay as you go" approach. The product has been (and still is) quite popular, but unfortunately back when it was developed, there was not a good option for offering CME.

ACCP Activities Abound

David Gutterman — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:44:31 +0000

Teaser:

Do you want to know what is new at the ACCP? We have just completed a very productive meeting of the Board of Regents of the ACCP and Board of Trustees of The CHEST Foundation. So much is happening that I thought it would be timely to provide an update on major areas of progress and accomplishments at the College.

Editor's Note: This blog also appears as the Message from the President in the August 2011 issue of CHEST Physician.

CHEST Journal and ACCP-SEEK iPhone and iPad Apps Get Rave Reviews

Steve Welch — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:55:54 +0000

Teaser:

The ACCP has been working to deliver different types of content to you on your iOS mobile device. A leading independent app review site just gave some very positive reviews of two of our mobile apps, and we're working to provide you with more medical education content for your mobile device. Read on for more details!

In the past 18 months, ACCP has launched a number of mobile projects: 1) ACCP-SEEK was released for iOS as a mobile app in October 2009 with additional content added earlier this year; 2) CHEST journal released an iOS app in December and it has been downloaded more than 21,000 times; and 3) the CHEST journal web site has been optimized for viewing by mobile devices. In addition, we will be rolling out more mobile tools for attendees of the CHEST 2011 Annual Meeting to be held in October in Honolulu. Here's the run-down:

Evidence-Based Guidelines – A Prominent Jewel in Our Crown

David Gutterman — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:44:42 +0000

Teaser:

Anticipated with as much enthusiasm, and embargoed with as many safeguards as the winners of the Academy Awards, are the ACCP guidelines. Dr. David Gutterman details the importance and processes of ACCP evidence-based guideline development within ACCP.

Editor's Note: This blog post also appears as the Message from the President in the May 2011 issue of CHEST Physician.