What’s New
Bring an Asthma Screening to Your Community
This is the 14th year of the Nationwide Asthma Screening Program, the ACAAI campaign to find adults and children with breathing problems that might be asthma and help those already diagnosed keep their disease under control. This year the screening program is supported by Teva Respiratory, LLC, and includes a special initiative to reach people who might be at risk for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). Registration materials and information are available here.
Register now for the 2010 ACAAI/AAAAI
Certification/Maintenance of Certification
Board Review Course
Registration is now open for the 2010 ABAI review course, April 14-18 in Chicago, IL. Click here for registration, housing, and more information.
Rhinitis Guidelines Pocketcards Now Available
Convenient, quic reference guides based on the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters are now available online. The quick-reference guides were developed under the expert review of the parameter's chief editors.
Updates on novel influenza A (H1N1).
The CDC Web site provides “Asthma Information for Patients and Parents of Patients” in addition to clinician guidance on identifying and caring for patients and antiviral recommendations. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports the current status of vaccines, antiviral use and the risk of drug resistance.
Sign Up for the Allergist Marketing Campaign
Join the Find an Allergist, Find Relief public education and advocacy campaign. The College has developed a comprehensive national program that you can bring to your local community. Receive a “toolkit” with patient education brochures, advertising templates, media and community relations tips, and much more.
There's More to Diagnosing Allergic Disease than just Diagnostic Testing
A positive allergy test result only indicates allergen sensitization, not necessarily clinical allergy, emphasizes a report in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, by the ACAAI/AAAAI Specific IgE Test Task Force. An allergy evaluation should be based on patient history directed by "a health care professional with sufficient understanding of allery diagnostic testing," who would know which tests to order, how to interpret results and how to use results to develop an appropriate therapeutic treatment plan, according to the authors.
2008 Annual Meeting Webcast Now Available for CME Credit
Selected presentations from the ACAAI's 2008 Annual Meeting are available as Webcasts and offer complimentary CME credit.
2008 Annual Meeting Podcasts and Vodcasts
Selected presentations from the 2008 ACAAI Annual Meeting are available as Vodcasts. Included are presentations from the Literature Review Course, the Immunotherapy and Dermatology programs and Named Lectures.
A new program is being posted to this website every week.
The program is supported by a grant from GlaxoSmithKline.
ACAAI Buyers Guide simplifies search for products and services
The ACAAI Buyers Guide is the first product marketplace representing the field of allergy-immunology. The fully searchable site features listings of companies grouped into business segments, enabling online searchers to easily locate products and services unique to their practice.
New edition of ‘Blue Book’ published
The ACAAI handbook that shows how allergists achieve the best asthma treatment outcomes at lower cost has been updated and published online. Asthma Management and the Allergist: Better Outcomes at Lower Cost is a valuable resource when relating to managers and purchasers of health care programs.
Elimination of CFC-Albuterol Inhalers
The last day of 2008 also will be the last day that it is legal for pharmacies to sell CFC-containing albuterol metered-dose inhalers. This will be the first time in which an effective medication has been removed from the U.S. market for environmental reasons. The alternative products that use HFA as a propellant are outlined in a letter to ACAAI and AAAAI members.
AMA Physician Practice Information Survey
The AMA and more than 70 other organizations are conducting a comprehensive multi-specialty survey of America's physician practices. The survey firm will contact randomly selected physicians and practice managers to collect responses. More information is available here.
Joint Statement on FDA Investigation of Singulair from the ACAAI and AAAAI
The Food and Drug Administration announced March 27 an investigation into a possible link between Singulair and behavior/mood changes, suicidal thoughts or suicide. Leadership from the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology released a statement in response.
Allergy-Immunology Specialist Shortage Looming; Leaders Encourage Mobilization of ACAAI Members
There is a growing shortage of allergists-immunologists in the United States. Without intervention, the number of allergy-immunology specialists is projected to decline by 7% over the next dozen years while demand increases by 35%. New and larger residency programs are needed in allergy-immunology to meet patient demand. A new committee report, a brochure for your patients, a PowerPoint presentation for health professionals and a letter from the ACAAI President are available online.
Web site now includes legislative briefs
The ACAAI Web site has a new Legislative Relations section, providing up-to-date information and briefing materials on topics such as graduate medical education, Medicare physician payment formula and pending legislation in Congress, such as the Family Asthma Act.