AANEM Foundation Steps up Funding for Research He AANEM Foundation Has Made Significant Steps Toward the Funds
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Newsletter of the American Association of Volume 10 | Issue 1 AANEM • February 2017 • 1 Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine February 2017 INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION 4 ANNUAL MEETING 7 LABORATORY ACCREDITATION 11 2017 PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE 15 AANEM Foundation Steps Up Funding for Research he AANEM Foundation has made significant steps toward the funds. We hope that the membership will see the need for Tfunding research in neuromuscular medicine. Thanks to our these and help fund these programs.” partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), the AANEM is currently co-funding three studies: Funding Commitments • LncRNA as therapeutic target for SMA by Constantin In order to provide long term funding for two to three projects d’Ydewalle, PhD of about $120,000 per year, the AANEM transferred $3 million • Improving the diagnosis of NM diseases by Monkol Lek, to the Foundation. “The AANEM is committed to supporting PhD research, as demonstrated by this transfer of money to the • Motor system connectivity influences in ALS by Christi Foundation,” said William S. Pease, MD, AANEM President. Kolarcik, PhD “This amount, however, only begins this commitment by funding two projects with the MDA and one project through AANEM. Read interviews with Drs. Lek and Kolarcik on pages 16-17, and There are many more great research ideas that we are unable to detailed project summaries at www.aanemfoundation.org/Research- fund. Please consider donating to the AANEM Foundation to Grants/Currently-Funded-Projects. help us advance neuromuscular medicine through research that will someday lead to improved treatments for our patients.” In addition to the partnership with MDA, the Foundation is funding its own development grants. In 2016, the AANEM The AANEM Foundation is also funding a $245,000 project received 14 applications. The Foundation Research Committee with the RAND Corporation, “The Value of High Quality reviewed six full proposals in December and the Foundation also Electrodiagnostic Study in Work-Associated Carpal Tunnel recently approved a clinical research fellowship in the area of Syndrome”. This will be a 2-year project with three aims: 1) To autoimmune neuromuscular disorders. assess the quality of EDX studies for the diagnosis of CTS in the workers’ compensation setting; 2) To examine the relationship Clinical Research Fellowships between the quality of EDX studies and clinical outcomes for For 2017, the AANEM is funding Lisa Williams, MD, for a patients with CTS; and 3) To examine the relationship between clinical research fellowship in the neurological application of the quality of EDX studies and the appropriateness and utilization neurotoxins. A second research fellowship is available in this area of surgery, total healthcare expenditures for CTS, and duration of for 2018, with Letters of Intent due September 15, 2017. “We temporary disability. are proud of what we have accomplished with the Foundation and want to do more in 2017,” said Shirlyn A. Adkins, AANEM With the focus on quality measures, the AANEM Foundation Foundation’s Executive Director, “We would like to expand our hopes this project will help establish the basis that quality EDX clinical research fellowship offering, but right now we don’t have studies improve outcomes. ■ Dr. Peter Grant Appointed to National Physician’s Council for Healthcare Policy n November of 2016, AANEM for the physician engaged in private practice. Imember Peter A. Grant, MD, was appointed as a Vice Chair, Physical The NPCHCP is creating a vision to restore physician autonomy Medicine, to the National Physician’s and create a framework where physicians can do their job better Council for Healthcare Policy in a competitive, transparent marketplace, by focusing each (NPCHCP). year on two-three very specific opportunities that will enhance productivity in private practice. With the help of Congressman The NPCHCP is a multispecialty Sessions, the Council works with legislators on legislation physician group representing a or works more directly with regulatory agencies in order to majority of states. Established in accomplish its goals. (Read more about the NPCHP at http:// 2014, under the leadership of Marcy npchcp.org.) Zwelling-Aamot, MD, FACEP, and John Gill, MD, and facilitated by According to Dr. Grant, the current focus is two-fold: Dr. Peter A. Grant, MD Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), 1) Work to address MACRA/MIPS concerns and other mandates it was created to be a national voice that threaten solo/smaller/rural medical practices; and 2) Promote CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 2 • AANEM • February 2017 IN THIS ISSUE February Issue of Muscle & Nerve Selected Highlights Muscle & Nerve Selected Highlights 2 ZACHARY SIMMONS, MD, MUSCLE & NERVE EDITOR, PROVIDES AN Innovative Science 3 OVERVIEW OF ARTICLES IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE. Inspire the Next Generation 4 Simmons New Editor-in-Chief 5 Safety and Pain in Electrodiagnostic Studies Texas Board Approves ABEM Certification 5 This review provides a concise and clinically relevant Training Program Partnership 6 discussion of the literature on pain that may not be well- Welcome, New Members 6 known to those who perform electrodiagnostic studies. Zachary Simmons, MD New Member Benefit 6 It also provides a comprehensive overview of the key safety Transition to Emeritus Membership 6 issues of infection, bleeding, and electrical complications with which electrodiagnostic Sneak Preview: 2017 Annual Meeting 7 physicians should be familiar. 2017 Plenary Speakers 7 Repetitive Nerve Stimulation Cutoff Values for the Diagnosis of New Course Chair: Ruple S. Laughlin 8 Myasthenia Gravis Submit Your Abstract 8 The traditional teaching is that a decrement of 10% or more on repetitive stimulation Grant Awards for Research Exellence 9 should be used to identify patients with a defect of neuromuscular transmission. This SAEs for Institutions 10 study provides evidence that a cutoff value of 7% to 8% when recording from facial Ultrasound Workshop 10 muscles may increase sensitivity without sacrificing specificity. Coding with Carrie 10 Peripheral Nerve High-Resolution Ultrasound in Diabetes Exemplary Status Phased Out in 2017 11 Ultrasound is rapidly becoming a standard part of the diagnostic toolbox of Newly Accredited Labs 11 neuromuscular physicians. This article adds important information by finding that 2017 Certification Exam Dates 11 peripheral nerve cross-sectional area is larger in diabetic than nondiabetic individuals, and Accreditation Establishes Standards 12 that the number of enlarged nerve sites by ultrasound appears to be a good predictor of MACRA 13 diabetic polyneuropathy. 2017 Physician Fee Schedule 15 Diagnostic Accuracy of Concentric Needle Jitter in Myasthenia: Joint MDA/AANEM Research Grants 16 Prospective Study Test Your Knowledge 17 Concentric needle electrodes are increasingly being used in place of single-fiber electrodes Checkpoints for Technologists 19 for assessment of jitter in patients with myasthenia gravis. In this study of the orbicularis Clinical Pearl 19 oculi muscle, the authors found very high sensitivity and specificity for concentric needle Test Your Knowledge Answers 20 jitter analysis in patients with both ocular and generalized myasthenia gravis. IMPORTANT DATES One Clinic’s Experience with Carbon Fiber Orthoses in Neuromuscular Disease Many neuromuscular physicians have traditionally prescribed custom-molded posterior ABEM Certification Exam March 1-4 plastic ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) for patients with ankle dorsiflexor weakness. Anterior Abstracts Deadline 2017 March 15 shell carbon-fiber AFOs represent an alternative. This study found that the carbon- Annual Meeting fiber devices were associated with a high rate of patient satisfaction for fit, comfort, and Proctored EDX and NM SAEs May 1-8 performance. CIDP Knowledge Exam May 18-19 CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE AANEM 2017 Annual Meeting June 1 Reg Opens AANEM News is a biannual newsletter. It is Supervising Editor: CNCT Examination June 7 or 10 mailed, free of charge, to AANEM members and Shirlyn A. Adkins, JD, Executive Director [email protected] to related associations. Other interested persons should contact the AANEM for a complimentary AANEM 2017 Annual Sept. 13-16 Managing Editor: Meeting - Phoenix, AZ issue. Send inquiries to: AANEM News, Attn: Laurie Mona, Communications Manager AANEM Communications Department, 2621 [email protected] Superior Drive NW, Rochester, MN 55901. Nov. 29 or Graphic Designer ABEM MOCP Exam Dec. 2 © 2017 AANEM. All rights reserved. Whitney Lutteke, Communications & Graphic Designer Reproduction without permission is permitted [email protected] with due acknowledgement. For a full list of important dates, visit Reprints available from the AANEM. www.aanem.org/calendar Printed by Johnson Printing Co., 1416 Valleyhigh Dr NW, Rochester, MN 55901 AANEM • February 2017 • 3 CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Muscle & Nerve Online Access is Easy Evaluation of Freehand High-Resolution 3-Dimensional Ultrasound of the Median Nerve Go to www.aanem.org and access the journal using your Conventional 2-dimensional ultrasound is widely used in assessment of the median nerve AANEM member login. Click in patients with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome. The authors of this study found that “Muscle & Nerve” in the upper freehand high-resolution 3-dimensional ultrasound of the median nerve over a distance of left corner to get started. 20 cm is feasible and appears to warrant further study. ■ Download the Muscle & Nerve App The Muscle & Nerve app is available