gautam samadder, md - American Association of Physicians of ...

AMA Delegate Report
The 2012 AMA Interim Meeting held in Honolulu Hawaii from Friday
November 9th through Monday November 12th emphasized the theme of
diversity within a state that enjoys one of the greatest minorities in the United
States. Major highlights throughout the AMA meeting included ensuring
future generations of physicians including a research symposium, stressing
physician leadership for care delivery, and summarizing key collaboration
efforts in order to improve broad health outcomes. The research symposium,
for the first time, showcased international medical graduates certified by the
20
Piyush Vyas, MD
Piyush.Vyas@va.gov
Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. Dr. Jigisha Thakker won the poster competition, while Dr. Leonard Chen
won the podium competition.
Physicians from throughout the country met in the AMA House of delegates to determine policy and adopt amendments twice a
year. The following list the most important determinations for this past interim meeting:
1)In an attempt to address the coming overwhelming shortage of physicians by 2025 especially in primary care specialties the
House stated that the J-1 visa waiver program should be expanded. The program currently allots 30 positions in each state for
international medical graduates who complete their graduate medical education and pledge to work two years in a Department
of Health and Human Services designated shortage area in exchange for waivers from the return-home visa requirement. The
AMA would like to increase the number of slots from 30 to 50 per state. Additionally the AMA House opposed any cuts in federal
funding for graduate medical education that would lead to the closure of much needed residency programs (or dismissal of current
residents).
2)Several issues were discussed with regard to medical education. AMA adopted resolution advocating regulations that would
ensure that clinical clerkship slots go first to students at accredited U.S. medical school or those who have preliminary or provisional
accreditation instead of unaccredited for-profit foreign medical schools. Although another resolution opposing the use of
legacy status in medical school applications was discussed it was not adopted. Indeed some physicians argued that using legacy
status might be detrimental to the student during the selection process. However the argument still remains that many US medical
schools may use family connections to alumni that will favor non-minority students. Further discussion is necessary for this topic.
3)The AMA adopted other ways to accelerate changes in medical education including implementing targeted objectives starting in
summer 2014 in selected schools.
4)Employment principles resolutions were adopted given the increasing dependent nature of physician employment and the
potential conflicts of interests that arise the physician-employer-patient dynamic. For the most part the guidelines are meant to
fortify the importance of patient welfare priority in any situation. Employers are encouraged to become more transparent in this
model and allow physicians similar rights in participation of medical staff sell-governance.
5)11 principles to help guide physician leaders of teams were adopted focusing on patient and family-centered care, making transparent
the teams’ missions, enforcing collaboration, accountability, quality improvement, continuing education, and efficiency of
care.
6)AMA encouraged the development of standards to guide clinical use of genomic-based technologies including understanding
privacy, practice, payment, and regulatory issues.
7)Although Washington has yet to make changes in automatic cuts scheduled to several programs, AMA affirmed its support to
prevent automatic cuts to health programs especially in Medicare, public health, and other initiates.
Overall AMA maintained its image as an advocate of patient-focused healthcare and implemented policies that strive to help physicians
navigate evolving health care practices. Additionally AMA focused on reaffirming the importance of international medical
graduates as a way to supplement the shortage in primary care by passing resolutions to increase the number of international medical
residencies J-1 visa slots per state from 30 to 50. Additionally AMA strives to encourage a more fair selection process, while
giving preference to those graduates from domestically accredited programs. AMA asks that federal funding not be cut in this
crucial time and simultaneously provides guidelines and help to physicians navigating this fiscal environment. AMA emphasized
team-based practice while helping physicians positively direct less-autonomous patient-care which is becoming the new norm.
- Piyush Vyas, MD