One of the goals under Vision Forward is to educate nonmember health care professionals (HCPs) ‒ including primary care physicians, pediatricians and others ‒ on the specialized expertise and services of allergists. We asked Executive Medical Director Michael Blaiss, MD, FACAAI, to expand on this initiative.
Why is it important to educate HCPs about allergists’ areas of expertise?
Unfortunately, many internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine physicians did not have contact with board-certified allergists during their training and don’t understand our important role in numerous medical conditions. The College must lead the way in reaching these physicians so that their patients can get the expert care they deserve for allergies, asthma, and immunodeficiencies.
What are some other ways the College is raising awareness about the specialty and how can our members support these efforts?
Numerous strategies are being planned over the next several months. The College’s new revamped public website was just launched, which again includes the popular “Find an Allergist” tool. We continue to engage with the media to draw attention to the specialty. I recently had an article in U.S. News and World Report on “What Does an Allergist Treat?” Soon the College will contact you about an exciting campaign to help you reach out to primary care physicians, NPs and PAs in your referral area to help educate them on the role of the allergist. The College will not sit still and do nothing as the remote practice of allergy grows.
