Wednesday, May 9, 2012
This Week's News
Policy debate, full lineup of events set for AMA Annual Meeting
Stage 2 of Medicare's meaningful use program too rigid, physicians tell CMS
AMA CEO discusses future of the organization, medical profession
Medical associations oppose onerous Medicare overpayment regulation
This Week's News
AMA CEO discusses future of the organization, medical profession
In an in-depth interview posted today to Medscape, AMA Executive Vice President and CEO James L. Madara, MD, reflected on his first nine months at the AMA helm.
During the video interview, part of Medscape's ongoing One-on-One series, Dr. Madara highlighted various AMA efforts to improve today's health care system, thoughts about the association's key strengths and goals for moving medicine forward.
Dr. Madara referred to the AMA Equation, a metaphor that captures AMA efforts that often go unnoticed or are not easily quantified. Making up the AMA Equation are members, the AMA House of Delegates, advocacy, practice tools, and research and education.
"The AMA is the sum of all of these fine parts," Dr. Madara said.
Asked what excites him most in his new position, Dr. Madara pointed to the opportunity to help physicians thrive in the midst of "multitudes of changes." In particular, Dr. Madara said the AMA will be focusing on physicians' satisfaction with the profession.
"That's important," Dr. Madara said, "because physician satisfaction relates to patient satisfaction, but if we don't have thriving practices in this new health care environment, how are we going to encourage and entice the next generation of the brightest young people in this country to go into this field?"
Another key area in which the AMA plans to make an impact is medical education. Dr. Madara noted that while medical school curriculum is continuously updated, the educational format has remained unchanged for half a century. He discusses a vision for blending clinical and scientific training, simulation to expand areas of training, and a greater focus on what he calls the "social aspects of practicing medicine" to prepare future physicians for leadership roles in team-based care.
Dr. Madara also provided updates on AMA membership, implementation of the Affordable Care Act and ongoing AMA efforts to repeal the broken Medicare physician payment formula.
