Governor's Newsletter, Fall 1998
Mark E. Silverman, MD, FACP
Governor ACP-ASIM
Greetings from London where I am engaged in a six month sabbatical working at the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine. Osler called a sabbatical a necessary "brain dusting," and it is certainly a wonderful opportunity for me to turn my thoughts in fresh directions away from the incessant demands of practice, and to reflect on the practice of medicine as viewed from both sides of the Atlantic gap. As I write, Great Britain is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Health Service. Launched in 1948 by the Labour government of Aneurin Bevan as a free service funded almost exclusively by the taxpayer, the NFIS was initially opposed by the British Medical Association whose mostly GP members fought bitterly against salaried employment and grudgingly settled for a capitated arrangement. At the same time, the Royal College of Physicians (in Britain the word physician means an internist), led by their President Moran (Churchill's famous physician), held out for special inducements which secured for them a firm salary with a bonus, known as a distinction award, and private practice within the hospital setting. Over the past five decades, the NHS has had its financial ups and downs but is widely credited for providing good universal service for a cost that is low for an industrial nation. Surprisingly, considering their initial attitude which prevented any meaningful contribution to the construction of the NHS, the GP's now broadly approve of the system, coming full circle and requesting a salaried arrangement. Despite the publicized queues and rationing that is inevitable in a system dependent on tax alone and subject to political whims and necessities, most of the British are devoted to the NHS. Medical education, research, and hospital building seem to have intermittently suffered though that judgment is compared with the U.S. and perhaps not attributable to just the NHS. Recently, under the privatization thrust of the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher, private medicine has increased in a limited way for mostly a wealthy and international clientele.
On the U.S. side of the Atlantic, for all too-familiar-reasons, internal medicine has been bumping towards salaried positions and full-time hospitalists. There is complaining, if not yet queuing, related to medical care and both physicians and patients are fearful about their uncertain future. The treasured doctor-patient relationship has suffered great harm under the pressures of managed care, and the image of the doctor has suffered.
This week I visited the unexpectedly modern building of the RCP, our sister organization. As I wandered among the statues of Linacre and Harvey and the impressive oil portraits of Osler, Moran, and its past leaders, I thought about the importance of an organization to its membership. Like the ACPASIM, the RCP represents its members to the government, provides education, and vigorously maintains professional standards and ethics. As the members of the RCP looked to its leadership for guidance when the foundling NHS was bargaining, the members of the ACP-ASIM expect its leaders to stand up for them. This was convincingly shown at the May "fly-in" meeting in Chicago where the ACP-ASIM played an important role in forcing HCFA to backpedal from the implementation of the frightening "Evaluation and Documentation Guidelines," at least for awhile. Robert Copeland, from LaGrange and Chair of the Board of Regents, and others from Georgia were instrumental in coercing the government to come to the hearing. Members of the ACP-ASIM sometimes ask, "What does the College do for my practice?" If you had any doubt, this is a shining example where reputation and strength in numbers were essential on your behalf.
In the underground rail system here in London, there is a constant reminder to "Mind the Gap." If you don't, presumably you will be crushed by the train as it approaches or leaves the station. There are lessons to be learned from across the gap in England that could help us get on the right train and avoid injury in the difficult travel ahead.
Mark E. Silverman, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Governor, Georgia Chapter, ACP-ASIM
My E-Mail Address in London is
msilver@emory.edu (I welcome your messages.)
Savannah Meeting A Success!
The 1998 Georgia Chapter/Associates Meeting in Savannah, May 1-3, scored a high rating from the 140 in attendance. The weather was perfect, the Associates' competition keen, and the talks by Doctors Tracy Callister, David Parrish, and Chris Cassel highly informative. Dr. Cassel also spoke effectively about the ACP-ASIM connection. On Sunday, former Georgia Chapter Governor, Charles Harrison updated everyone on the reconciliatory attitude by HCFA on the E/M Guidelines; and Evan Weisman moderated a question and answer period by Representative Jack Kingston. John Noble, our College Representative, and John Tooker, Deputy Executive Vice President added an important presence.
Congratulations to Winners of the 1998 Associates' Competition
Research: Tied -Melanie Guerrero, Eisenhower
Tied -Lee Morrow, Memorial Medical
2nd -Mark Steen, Emory
Clinical Vignette: 1st -Troy Denunzio, Eisenhower
2nd -J. Clark Hill, Georgia Baptist
3rd -Brick Acosta, Memorial Med.
Poster: 1st - Sana Salih, Morehouse
2nd - Anthony Scheid, Georgia Baptist
Thanks to Vince Nicolais, John Hudson and their committees and to the fine arrangements and hard work of Linda Mason, Judy Anderson, Laverne Christie, and Jerrie Edwards. See you next year in Atlanta at the Westin Atlanta North. Look for details in upcoming flyers and brochure. Also, visit the Georgia Chapter Website with the 1999 meeting details and registration form.
New Fellows Elected in January
| William T. Branch, MD, FACP, Atlanta James N. Brawner, MD, FACP, Atlanta Charles E. Brown, MD, FACP, Atlanta Anthony W. Cheng, MD, FACP, Riverdale Babatunde T. Fariyike, MD, FACP, Thomaston Daniel Ferguson, MD, FACP, Atlanta Jacqueline W. Fincher, MD, FACP, Thomson J. Bancroft Lesesne, MD, FACP, Atlanta |
Tunde Olutade, MD, FACP, Atlanta Robert M. Patton, MD, FACP, Columbus Robert D. Schreiner, MD, FACP, Dunwoody Wyman P. Sloan, MD, FACP, Atlanta John M. Smith, MD, FACP, St. Simons Island James P. Steinberg, MD, FACP, Atlanta John W. Thomas, MD, FACP, Atlanta George S. Walker, MD, FACP, Eastman Charles I. Wilmer, MD, FACP, Atlanta |
Charles E. Brown, MD, FACP
After reading our recent Georgia newsletter explaining the four pathways of eligibility, Charles E. Brown, MD decided that it was about time for him to apply for FACP. At age 87, and retired after 46 years of a successful practice, he is one of the most senior, if not the most senior in the country to ever achieve this distinction. Those of us who know him well as an outstanding and dedicated internist, who still attends conferences regularly, realize that this is a fitting and much delayed tribute to his fine career and an honor to our organization.
James White and Bruce Koplan, MD
James White, senior medical student at the Medical College of Georgia, has been appointed to the Council of Student Members. The purpose of this council is to address the needs of the 15,000 Medical Student Members. E-mail address for James White is jwhite@medmail.mcg.edu.
Bruce Koplan, Chief Resident in the Department of Medicine at Emory, has been appointed to the Council of Associate Members. Associate membership is offered to residents and fellows whose membership is now over 24,000. Both serve on the Georgia Chapter Governor's Advisory Council. E-mail address for Bruce Koplan is bkoplan@emory.edu.
Dallas Hall, MD, New MACP
Dr. Hall is the recently retired Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Hypertension at Emory University. He has been recognized as an outstanding teacher and researcher for many years. Since 1978, he has been a participant in 16 major NIH clinical trials. He served as Principal investigator in the NIH studies on hypertension in the elderly and the Women's Health Trial Feasibility Study in Minority Populations. Do US out to the inner city of Atlanta resulted in NIH sponsored trials on church-based programs for hypertension control and statewide high blood pressure coordination programs. His community efforts led him to co-found the International Society of Hypertension in Blacks. His Hypertension in Blacks is a trail blazer and has remained an outstanding treatise on the subject of hypertension in African Americans.
ACP-ASIM Helps Internists Avoid Disaster with Evaluation & Management Documentation Guidelines
Jacqueline Fincher, MD, FACP, Chair, Membership Committee
This is just one of the many ways our organization has helped all internists this year. Both organizations were front and center fighting for our concerns over the E/M guidelines disaster that would have severely impacted all internists, since we are the "Doctors for Adults," and have some of the largest percentages of Medicare patients in our practices.
This recent effort is just one of the many reasons to join the ACP-ASIM. In fact, there has never been a better time to join, because now the two organizations are one. The new organization combines strengths of both ACP and ASIM into one powerful new entity, speaking with a single, unified voice for internal medicine. With over 108,000 members presently, the combined organization has a powerful voice in the health care arena that impacts the way you practice medicine everyday. From advocacy for our patients, the public, and all internists to premier journals, educational programs and services, as well as deep discounts on products and services, ACP-ASIM offers these services at one reasonable annual membership price.
If you are not a member, contact Linda Mason at 404-605-3368 or Jacqueline Fincher, MD, membership chairperson, at 706-595-1461 for a membership application. If you are a member and know of internists who are not, give us a call with their name, address, and phone number and we will send them an application. With changes in health care everyday (medically, educationally, politically, and otherwise), you cannot afford not to have a voice in the way you practice Internal Medicine. We need your input. Join today!
Managed Care Resource Center
The ACP-ASIM Managed Care Resource Center, as a member benefit, is ready to give you the latest information on managed care. Its staff provide personalized assistance in many ways:
- Creating tools such as bibliographies to point you in the right direction when conducting independent searches. A resource guide is in development as well as resource packets on capitation, industry trends, and patient education;
- Supplying current literature related to managed care, international health care trends, practice management and more;
- To stay current, the Managed Care Resource Center monitors trends and legislation affecting internists in managed care. The Center also networks with other experts to share resources within the general medical information community.
Contact the Managed Care Resource Center at 800/523-1546 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time with your questions. You can also contact William Baker, Chair of the Managed Care Committee for the Georgia Chapter at 1968 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30309 or by e-mail: baker_william@promina.org.
Announcement
An election will be held at the March 1999 ACP-ASIM Georgia Chapter/Associates Meeting in Atlanta for vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and new members of the Governor's Advisory Council. Please send your suggestions for these positions (including your name if you are interested) to the nominating committee at the Chapter office or e-mail to: lmason@promina.org.
1999 ACP-ASIM Annual Chapter/Associates Meeting
When: March 12, 13, and 14, 1999
Where:
The Westin Atlanta North at Perimeter
Seven Concourse Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30328
Who: Internists, Internal Medicine Subspecialists, Medical Residents, Medical Students
Theme: "The Spectrum of Medicine: Alternative Medicine and High Technology"
This meeting will be our first chapter meeting following the merger of the American College of Physicians and American Society of Internal Medicine. This should be an informative, educational, and fun weekend for all. If you need further information, please call the Governor for the Georgia Chapter, Mark E. Silverman, MD, FACP at 404/605-3368.
What's New
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Contact Information
Vincent Nicolais, MD, FACP,
Governor, Georgia Chapter
Karen Townsend
Executive Director
Ph: 770-693-9973
Georgia Chapter
Michelle Dietz
Administrative Assistant
Ph: 770-920-6995