[Beulah, ND] — Aaron Garman, MD, has been appointed to serve as member of the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Commission on Quality and Practice for a four-year term beginning December 15, 2013.

The Commission on Quality and Practice is one of seven commissions that direct AAFP policies and programs. The mission of the Commission on Quality and Practice is to provide a venue for the development of recommended policy related to the practicing family physician. The commission studies and develops recommendations, policies, and programs for family medicine in the following areas: healthcare delivery systems (e.g., PCMH, ACOs), performance measurement, practice redesign/quality improvement, privileging, health information technology, practice management, private sector advocacy, and physician payment.

Dr. Garman has been the medical director of Coal Country Community Health Center in Beulah for the past 10 years. He has been leading the process of the facility becoming PCMH certified.  CCCHC will be one of the first if not the first entity in ND to become PCMH certified. As medical director he has participated in this process and the meaningful use process closely. Coal Country received the Rural Practice of the Year award for 2013 for its innovations in screening for mental health policy which Dr. Garman initiated. They were awarded the rural practice of the year in ND in 2012 for their work in diabetes.

To maintain membership in the American Academy of Family Physicians, Garman is required to complete a minimum of 150 hours of accredited continuing medical education every three years. The AAFP was the first national medical specialty organization to set continuing education requirements for its members. This requirement helps ensure family physician members stay current on the most up-to-date medical technologies, research and techniques.