Practice Management Tip of the Month: Talking to Your Patients About the COVID-19 Vaccine
While the number of adults and adolescents receiving the COVID-19 vaccine continues to climb, many people remain hesitant about it. Studies show that patients trust their personal physicians, and allergists are in a position to explain the intricacies of vaccine development, testing, efficacy and safety.
According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey, these statements were most impactful in encouraging vaccine hesitant individuals to get vaccinated:
-
•
Vaccines are nearly 100% effective at preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
-
•
Scientists have been working on the technology used in the new COVID-19 vaccines for 20 years.
-
•
More than 100,000 people from diverse backgrounds took part in the vaccine trials.
-
•
The vast majority of doctors who have been offered the vaccine have taken it.
-
•
There is no cost to get the vaccine.
Visit the AAAAI COVID-19 resources page at education.aaaai.org/resources-for-a-i-clinicians/covid-19 for other helpful resources on how to talk to your patients about the vaccine.
The Practice Management Tip of the Month is a feature that appears in Practice Matters, the AAAAI's semimonthly newsletter with information and resources tailored for the practicing allergist. If you are an AAAAI member and have not been receiving Practice Matters, contact practicematters@aaaai.org.
Read This Featured Coding Question from Practice Matters
Question: What is the best ICD-10 code to use for documenting/testing reactions/adverse effects to the COVID-19 vaccine?
Answer: You should code for the reaction and you may use the T50.Z95A for adverse effects of vaccines and biological substances, initial encounter, etc.
If you have a coding question of your own, send it to coding@aaaai.org. A coding question is also featured in every issue of Practice Matters.
Get Ready for the 2022 AAAAI Annual Meeting: Submit Abstracts by August 26
Are you looking to be a part of the essential allergy/immunology research presented at the next AAAAI Annual Meeting? Abstracts for consideration at the 2022 AAAAI Annual Meeting can be submitted through August 26 on the Annual Meeting website at annualmeeting.aaaai.org.
Research presentations are an important part of the Annual Meeting, contributing significantly to the overall scientific content of the meeting and providing an excellent opportunity to share findings with other Annual Meeting delegates. Accepted abstracts will be presented at the 2022 AAAAI Annual Meeting, taking place February 25-28 in Phoenix, and published in an online supplement to the JACI.
First Year FITs, Medical Students and Residents Can Also Submit a Case Report by September 22
First year FITs, medical students and residents have the unique opportunity to submit a case report to be presented at a poster session or, potentially, as an oral presentation. Case report submissions will be accepted through September 22.
Become a National Allergy Bureau (NAB™) Pollen Counter
Most plants are blossoming and releasing pollen into the air to provide a new generation of allergenic flora. The pollen of certain species travel via the wind and interact with other factors such as humidity, temperature, precipitation and even environmental pollution. This pollen forms the basis of allergic mucosal inflammation of the eyes and nose that produces symptoms such as itching, sneezing, congestion and runny nose. In some, it can trigger asthma attacks.
The National Allergy Bureau (NAB™) and the Aerobiology Committee of the AAAAI have been working for more than 50 years to train healthcare professionals when it comes to pollen and other aeroallergens. They are currently seeking additional members interested in setting up pollen counting stations for the collection, classification and generation of real pollen counts. These counts help to inform the public and professionals alike of current pollen conditions through various media, including newspaper, radio, television and social media.
NAB pollen data has also been used for research studies on climate change, environmental pollution, and recently, a study examining the association between pollen and the likelihood of increased infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
These studies are able to be carried out thanks to the professional and persistent work of the large number of NAB certified stations. That is why the objective of the NAB for the coming years is to add more stations and expand the knowledge about aerobiology to more allergy physicians, so that the pollen/mold report data can be recorded in more cities, more regions and even in other countries to collaborate in global studies.
The pollen report provided by the AAAAI can help raise awareness among people who use masks (N95 or FFP2), which has been shown not only to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but also to reduce allergic inflammation in the respiratory tract. It is one more argument healthcare providers can use to advise their patients on how to prevent seasonal allergies and help control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you're interested in learning more about pollen counting and how you can get involved, email NAB@aaaai.org .
Introducing the New AAAAI Website
The new aaaai.org is here! We're excited to introduce you to the new online resource—boasting a fresh look with clean, modern page layouts and improved navigation—that will enhance your user experience, making it easier to access the resources you need to serve your patients and provide optimal care.
Following feedback, we've prioritized A/I professionals and the content made for them while continuing to be the definitive A/I resource for the general public. We've also made it easier to determine at a glance what content is for healthcare professionals, and what content is for patients and the general public. You'll notice there is a more thoughtful and strategic organization of content, translating into an intuitive website experience for all audiences. Many of the resources you know and love can be found under the Allergist Resources, Practice Management, and My Membership areas of the new website if you are an AAAAI member.
A special thank you to everyone who helped make this revamp possible, including the AAAAI Board of Directors, the Website, Internet and Related Technologies Committee (WIRT), Website Medical Editor and WIRT Chair Andrew Moore, MD, FRCPC, FAAAAI, and Executive Vice President Thomas A. Fleisher, MD, FAAAAI.
We encourage you to click around and familiarize yourself with the new website. If you have any questions or feedback, please reach out to us at webeditors@aaaai.org.
Lay Organizations.
The AAAAI places a high value on its relationships with patient advocacy organizations in support of our mutual concern for the needs of people with allergy, asthma and immunologic disease and their families. In particular, the AAAAI has an ongoing relationship with a group of organizations with whom we partner on various projects as needs and opportunities arise. We encourage you to visit these organizations' websites for more information on their initiatives and missions.
Allergy & Asthma Network
American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED)
Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
Alaska Chapter: aafaalaska.com
California Chapter: aafa-ca.com
Greater Kansas City Chapter: aafakc.org
Maryland/Washington DC Chapter: aafa-md.org
Michigan Chapter: aafamich.org
New England Chapter: asthmaandallergies.org
Texas Chapter: aafatexas.org
St. Louis Chapter: aafastl.org
Campaign Urging Research for Eosinophilic Disease (CURED)
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT)
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF)
International FPIES Association
The Mastocytosis Society (TMS)
US Hereditary Angioedema Association (HAEA)