Reprinted from the Fall 2020 Issue of The Ohio Family Physician
What a year it has been! We experienced the highs of celebrating the installation of Ohio’s own Gary L. LeRoy, MD, FAAFP, of Dayton, OH, as American Academy of Family Physicians president and the challenges brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) began the year hosting an enhanced schedule of in-person continuing medical education (CME), American Board of Family Medicine certified knowledge self-assessment sessions, and quality improvement activities; however, in March, the OAFP found it necessary to convert scheduled programs to virtual learning opportunities that provided attendees with a safer way to access equally high quality educational experiences.
Our advocacy efforts with state and federal officials took on new subjects including adequate availability and distribution of personal protection equipment; COVID-19 tests and testing supplies; financial support for primary care practice infrastructure during a pandemic; and telemedicine payment parity. Our typical communications continued, but featured atypical information about applying for the Paycheck Protection Program and other relief programs under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. We highlighted information about rapidly changing Medicaid, State Medical Board of Ohio, and State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy rules— changes designed to ease practice challenges during “stay-at-home” orders. In the midst of it all, the OAFP staff adjusted flawlessly to working remotely, spending hours on Zoom, and virtually supporting OAFP members as they cared for their patients and communities in this unprecedented period.
This has certainly been an extraordinary time—one that will be remembered and discussed for ages to come. To you, the family physicians of Ohio, thank you for the courage, leadership, and commitment with which you met the challenges of 2020. You did so with grace, care, and dignity. We appreciate you!
View the 2019-20 Annual Report.