Yea TDH!!

I'd suggest working with your state medical groups -- chapters of the
AMA, AAP, ACOG, AAFP, neonatologists, etc. Maybe you could nicely cite
the status of physician practices as outlined in the work of Gary Freed
(reference below). A letter from your State Commissioner of Health
wouldn't hurt, either.  The orgs. might be able to "advertise" the
conference in their newsletters/journals.  AAP is really doing a lot
right now -- hopefully their revised position statement on breastfeeding
will be available this spring.  This might be a good springboard to get
the Peds involved -- an update (explanation?) of their own policy.

What about your Colleges of Medicine?  Work with the Peds instructors to
get residents, etc. to come (cite the Freed stuff with them, too). If
there is more than one big College, could you get a friendly competition
going (who will have greatest number of students come?)
Get MD's to do the presentations -- that will increase your credibility.
Maybe the MD's could challenge each other, too?!

Finally, get your health insurers involved.  If QA is a big deal for
Medicaid in TX like it is in KY (USA), improving physician practices
could help with QA, which incidentally might increase physician
payments! Could a big private insurer or for-profit health care company
provide underwriting too?  Eg. Columbia-HCA, Prudential, Blue Cross,
Travelers, etc. (Who is financially big in TX?) Do any of them
financially reward physician CMEs?

Go for it, Good Luck, and let us all know if any of this works!!

Freed GL, Clark SJ, Sorenson J, et al. National assessment of
physicians' breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, training and experience.
JAMA 1995;273:472-476.

Freed GL, Clark SJ, Lohr JA, Sorenson JR. Pediatrician involvement in
breast-feeding promotion: A national study of residents and
practitioners. Pediatrics 1995;96:490-494.

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