AMA in the News: November 2019

AMA in the News covers media coverage and mentions about the American Medical Association. Find articles recognizing our efforts in health care, advocacy, medical education and improvements in public health. Read coverage on the achievements of our leadership and the members of the AMA community.

1. American Medical Association celebrated for supporting LGBTQ conversion therapy ban

   1. ABC News - Go.com, Nov. 26, 2019
   2. Chavez said the LGBTQ community received a much-needed win last week when the American Medical Association, the country's largest association of physicians, announced its support for a federal ban on conversion therapy.

2. American Medical Association backs nationwide conversion therapy ban

   1. NBCNEWS.com, Nov. 22, 2019
   2. The American Medical Association on Tuesday voted to support state and federal efforts to ban gay conversion therapy, throwing the weight of America’s medical establishment behind ending the scientifically discredited practice of attempting to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

3. American Medical Association calls for immediate vaping ban

   1. The Hill, Nov. 21, 2019
   2. “It’s simple—we must keep nicotine products out of the hands of young people and that’s why we are calling for an immediate ban on all e-cigarette and vaping products from the market,” AMA president Patrice Harris said in the statement. “With the number of young people using e-cigarettes spiking it is not only critical that there is research into nicotine addiction treatments for this population, but it is imperative that we continue efforts to prevent youth from ever using nicotine.”

4. American Medical Association Calls for Nationwide Ban on LGBTQ Conversion Therapy

   1. Newsweek, Nov. 21, 2019
   2. The American Medical Association (AMA), the nation's largest association of physicians, said Tuesday it officially opposed "conversion therapy" for members of the LGBTQ community and urged the federal government to ban such procedures nationwide.

5. AMA calls for total ban on all e-cigarette, vaping products

   1. Associated Press, Nov. 19, 2019
   2. The American Medical Association on Tuesday called for an immediate ban on all electronic cigarettes and vaping devices. The group adopted the sweeping stance at a policy-making meeting in San Diego. It aims to lobby for state and federal laws, regulations or legal action to achieve a ban, but the industry is sure to fight back. The AMA cited a surge in underage teen use of e-cigarettes, which typically heat a solution that contains nicotine.

6. Influential U.S. doctors group calls for ban on vaping products

   1. Reuters US News, Nov. 19, 2019
   2. The American Medical Association (AMA) on Tuesday called for a total ban on all e-cigarette and vaping products that are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as smoking cessation tools.

7. Physicians score EHRs an 'F' on usability, study finds

   1. Modern Healthcare, Nov. 18, 2019
   2. When benchmarking EHRs' score of 45 across previous research on other technologies, the researchers found EHRs fell in the bottom 9th percentile—earning an "F" grade. That suggests that EHRs "as currently designed, implemented and regulated, lack usability as a necessary feature, resulting in EHRs that are extremely hard to use compared to other common technologies," said AMA President Dr. Patrice Harris in a statement. The AMA was a collaborator on the study. (Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)

8. AMA, AHA look to retrain physicians to measure blood pressure

   1. Modern Healthcare, Nov. 18, 2019
   2. "Hypertension is a leading risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and preventable death in the U.S. Inaccurate blood pressure readings can lead to diagnosis errors, which means getting an accurate reading is vital to treating the condition," AMA President Dr. Patrice Harris said. "To support physicians and care teams, we will continue working with healthcare organizations on implementing quality improvement efforts that enhance the standard of care and safety for the patients they serve." (Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)

9. Opinion: Physicians Cannot Ignore Human Suffering at the Southern Border

   1. Healthline, Nov. 18, 2019
   2. Physicians have not been silent on this issue. Alongside other physician groups that have been amplifying their voices against injustice, the American Medical Association has also decried the poor living conditions, the lack of the provision of healthcare, and the family separation policies that have jeopardized the health and safety of men, women, and children in detainee holding facilities.

10. AMA study: Physicians give EHR usability an 'F' rating

    1. Becker's Hospital Review, Nov. 15, 2019
    2. An American Medical Association-led study found that in terms of usability, physicians grade EHRs as an "F" rating and attribute them as a cause of burnout, according to a Nov. 14 report published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

11. Yale study: Doctors give electronic health records an 'F'

    1. Yale News, Nov. 14, 2019
    2. The AMA, along with researchers at Mayo and Stanford, surveys over 5,000 physicians every three years on topics related to burnout. Most recently, the burnout rate was found to be 43.9%—a drop from the 54.4% of 2014, but still worryingly high, researchers said. The same survey found that burnout for the general U.S. population was 28.6%.

12. CDC: More people dying from antibiotic resistance than previously believed

    1. Fierce Healthcare, Nov. 14, 2019
    2. “While the CDC’s report shows that progress has been made over the past few years to stem antibiotic-resistant infections, it also shines a light on the emerging sources of antibiotic-resistant infections that will continue to threaten public health if not controlled," said AMA President Patrice Harris, MD, MA. "We must all remain vigilant in combating the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in both the health care setting and in our communities."

13. The Health 202: U.S. to lose thousands of health-care workers if 'dreamers' must leave

    1. The Washington Post, Nov. 13, 2019
    2. “Our health care workforce, including physicians, nurses, physician assistants and home health aides, is bolstered by providers with DACA status,” AMA President Patrice Harris wrote. “During their careers, these providers will care for and improve the lives of millions of Americans.”

14. DACA lands before Supreme Court

    1. MDedge, Nov. 13, 2019
    2. A number of physician and health care organizations have weighed in on the DACA case, including the American Medical Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In a joint brief to the Supreme Court, the organizations wrote that an estimated 27,000 health care workers and support staff depend on DACA for their authorization to work in the United States, including nearly 200 medical students, residents and physicians. 

15. How to Engage Physicians in Innovative Health Care Efforts

    1. Harvard Business Review, Nov. 11, 2019
    2. To help address this problem, the American Medical Association created its Physician Innovation Network (PIN), which connects physicians, residents and medical students to health technology companies and entrepreneurs. Through research and talking with physicians active on the platform, the AMA has gathered some best practices for engaging physicians, residents and medical students in health care innovation. (Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)

16. HLTH 2019: A Conference Wrap Up with the Pop-up Studio Team Moderated by @DrNic1

    1. Blog Talk Radio, Nov. 7, 2019
    2. Guests include Patrice Harris, MD, president of the American Medical Association, Daniel Kraft, MD, physician, scientist, innovator and curator of Exponential Medicine, former AthenaHealth co-founder and CEO, Jonathan Bush, now executive chairman at Firefly Health, a direct primary care start-up, and Daniel Durand, MD, Chief Innovation Officer at Lifebridge Health, as well as others.

17. Physician groups satisfied with improved payment for E/M codes, reduced documentation in new Medicare rule

    1. Fierce Healthcare, Nov. 6, 2019
    2. The American Medical Association (AMA) which worked with CMS to modify the E/M code changes, said the final rule achieves the first overhaul of E/M office visit documentation and coding in more than 25 years.

18. Final physician payment rule keeps E/M code changes

    1. Healthcare Dive, Nov. 5, 2019
    2. "This new approach is a significant step in reducing administrative burdens that get in the way of patient care," said American Medical Association President Patrice Harris, MD. She also noted that "over the past year, the AMA and CMS worked together to achieve the first overhaul of E/M office visit documentation and coding in more than 25 years."

19. New AMA President Plans to Attack Dysfunction in Medicine: Expert Interview

    1. Medscape, Nov. 1, 2019
    2. Medscape Q&A with AMA President Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, the first African American woman to hold the office. (Free registration is required to view content.)