Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians
2015 – 2018 Strategic Plan
The Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians
exists to promote and support Louisiana’s family physicians
in providing excellent health care service and leadership
The Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians (LAFP) was founded in 1948. It is designated as a 501(c)6 by
the Internal Revenue Service and is a medium size chapter (401 – 1,001 Active members) of the
American Academy of Family Physicians.
LAFP Capacity Analysis
The LAFP has 1,715 total members (as of March, 2015) which includes 945 Active members representing
approximately 76% of the market share in Louisiana. This is an increase of 25 Active members since
March, 2014. The retention rate for Active members is 94%. There are 143 Resident members which
represents an increase of 6 Resident members since March, 2014. The Academy recognizes the
importance of engaging first-year new physicians and offers a 50% discount to this member segment.
80% of LAFP graduating Resident members converted to Active members and remained a member a
year later. The LAFP dues are $275 and were last raised in 2010 from $225.
The LAFP operating budget is $484,820 with $300,000 in reserves. The amount in reserves represents
62% of the expense budget. The Center for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
recommends associations retain at least 50% of the next year’s projected operating expenses budget in
reserves. Membership dues account for $239,660 which is 50% of the budget. The association standard
is to hold membership dues revenue to 50% - 60% of the total revenue budget. The Academy maintains
a strong level of non-dues revenue.
The LAFP Board of Directors is comprised of:
- President
- President-Elect
- Immediate Past President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Speaker of the General Assembly
- Vice-Speaker of the General Assembly
- Two (2) AAFP Delegates (or Alternate Delegates)
- One (1) member (Director or Alternate Director) from each of the ten (10) geographic districts
- One (1) member (Director or Alternate Director) from the at large membership
- One (1) member from the resident membership
- One (1) member from the student membership
The Academy is led by long term, experienced Executive Vice President, Ragan LeBlanc.
The Academy structure includes five committees:
1. Legislative & Membership
2. Education
3. Operations
4. Nominations
5. Resident & Student Leadership
Additional work is conducted by work groups which reflects the current trend in association structure.
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Planning Session
The strategic planning session was held at the LAFP office on April 11, 2015. The following chapter
leaders participated in the planning session:
Melvin Bourgeois, MD
James Taylor, MD
Chris Foret, MD
Derek Anderson, MD
James Campbell, MD
Mary Coleman, MD
William Woessner, MD
Tobe Momah, MD
Richard Bridges, MD
President
Vice President
Secretary
Speaker/GA
AAFP Alternate Delegate
Director, District 1
Alternate Director, District 1
Alternate Director, District 5
Alternate Director, District 6B
Alan Broussard, MD
Luther Euil, MD
Mark Dawson, MD
Lafayette Residency Program
Monroe Residency Program
Past President
Ragan LeBlanc
Lee Ann Albert
Clay Coco
Mary DuCote
Executive Vice President
Membership & Education Director
Event & Communications Coordinator
Administrative Assistant
The planning session was facilitated by Nancy Laughlin, CAE, American Academy of Family Physicians.
Mission Statement
The mission statement creates an internal and external image of the association which distinguishes the
organization from other associations. The planning participants amended the mission statement to
more closely reflect the purpose of the organization:
Mission Statement (Existing):
To promote and support Louisiana’s family physicians in providing excellent health care and to
provide its members with continuing medical education opportunities.
Mission Statement (Amended):
To promote and support Louisiana’s family physicians in providing excellent health care, service
and leadership.
LAFP 2015 – 2018 Strategic Plan Report
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2015 – 2018 Goals
The Board of Directors set five broad goals spanning three years. The plan will be reviewed for progress
annually and used by the president-elect to set the work plan. Committee efforts will support the plan’s
goals and strategies.
I.
Advocacy
Preserve and strengthen the leadership of family medicine
II.
Practice Support
Provide support to members in fulfilling their practice and career goals
III.
Education
Provide high quality education for family physicians in all practice styles
IV.
Membership & Communications
Ensure relationship with members is relevant, valued and communicated
V.
Operations
Maintain a strong, sustainable Academy accountable for supporting the membership
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I.
Advocacy
Preserve and strengthen the leadership of family medicine
A. Set legislative priorities that strengthen the practice environment for family physicians
related to workforce issues, payment reform, and scope of practice
a. Partner with affiliate organizations to promote the advancement of primary
care
b. Host lobbyist meeting prior to the legislative session
B. Educate legislators on challenges in family medicine
a. Create and share infographics
b. Consider providing customized communications to legislators
C. Enhance reputation as the recognized expert on issues impacting primary care
a. Host legislative events, e.g. White Coat Day, Legislative and Advocacy Training,
and Legislative Socials
b. Participate in AAFP State Legislative Conference
c. Participate in AAFP Family Medicine Congressional Conference
D. Increase PAC donations to the LAFP Political Action Committee (PAC) to $20,000
a. Identify LAFP PAC physician champion
II.
Practice Support
Support members in fulfilling their practice and career goals
A. Provide access to practice management resources
a. Provide contract negotiation tools
b. Educate members on coding
c. Assist members in managing regulatory hurdles
B. Explore use of member platform to share topics of interest (listservs)
C. Expand opportunities for undergraduates, medical students, and residents to learn
about trends in practice structure, work-life balance, and the support structures in
family medicine
D. Develop partnerships with affiliate organizations in an effort to identify mutual goals,
e.g. LMGMA
E. Explore core needs of practice styles
a. Conduct focus groups at annual meeting
III.
Education
Provide high quality education for family physicians in all practice styles
A. Offer education that attracts the maximum number of physicians and allied health
providers
a. Routinely query members about the areas of practice where they most need
continuing education
B. Include practice management education at annual meeting, e.g. sessions on contract
negotiation, ICD-10, PQRS
C. Ensure CME offerings are tailored to both employed physicians and those in
independent practice, e.g. separate tracks at Annual Assembly, up-to-date Web-based,
hot topic clinical CME based on needs assessments
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D. Ensure LAFP provides necessary resources to train family physicians for new federallymandated licensing requirements, e.g. the certification examination for providers who
perform physical examinations of CDL drivers
E. Educate members on best practices of preceptors
F. Consider providing incentives for meeting attendees to stay for General Assembly
a. Include legislative updates
IV.
Membership & Communication
Ensure relationship with members is relevant, valued and communicated
A. Serve as the essential resource for the professional success of family physicians as
leaders of the growing primary care workforce
a. Explore additional communication tools for use during committee meetings in
disseminating information to the membership
b. Prepare and enable members for leadership opportunities within LAFP
healthcare teams, organized medicine, and their communities
c. Explore opportunities for a leadership academy for students, residents and new
physicians.
B. Develop outreach plan
a. Explore family physician appearance on news stations
b. Promote value of membership to residents in first three years
c. Utilize residency coordinators for communication
C. Optimize the infrastructure of LAFP in anticipation of changes in the healthcare
environment
a. Develop timeline for membership satisfaction survey
b. Assess the value of the current General Assembly
D. Work with students at all levels of education to enhance the primary care workforce
a. Work with the following organizations to establish or support a new student
interest group: Ochsner, Chabert, UMC-Lafayette and other hospitals
V.
Operations
Maintain a strong, sustainable Academy accountable for supporting the membership
A. Ensure governance structure relevant
a. Geographic representation
b. Quorum size
c. Board size
B. Explore timeline of dues increase
C. Explore alternate venues for summer meeting
D. Explore conducting regional meetings
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