New year, new opportunities to make American medicine better than ever

From the AMA president. By Yank D. Coble Jr., MD. Jan. 20, 2003.

AMA LEADER COMMENTARY

A few words about current events in medical practice

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A message to all physicians from AMA President Yank D. Coble Jr., MD.

Reflecting on the new year ahead, I think about how fortunate we are as physicians. I have been impressed by the physicians I have observed in my travels as AMA president. They are skillful, caring and compassionate. And I've also seen their diligence away from our workplaces -- taking the fight for the integrity and dignity of our profession to boardrooms, classrooms and community centers and the battle for our rights to statehouses, courtrooms and the Capitol.

This new year promises us great opportunities to apply our efforts and to have our priorities upheld by our political leaders. We are fortunate that President Bush and his administration, especially Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, share these priorities and are willing to work with us to improve the health care system for all Americans.

We have high hopes for the new 108th Congress.

The previous House of Representatives heard our cries for action on the Medicare crisis and did the right thing, twice passing bills that would have averted the crisis.

The Senate that convenes this month will be headed by a physician, Majority Leader Bill Frist, MD (R, Tenn.). Dr. Frist has shown exemplary leadership on medical and health issues, working in a bipartisan manner on bioterrorism readiness, Medicare reform, covering the uninsured, medical liability reform and patient safety.

We look forward to our work with Dr. Frist and the 108th Congress on medicine's priorities in this new year: The urgent need for medical liability reform, the need for Medicare reform, and the need to address the issue of the uninsured -- and underinsured. We also must add to this list the preparations for the growing threat of bioterrorism.