Summer 2003 - Chicago Medical Society

CMS Executive Director’s Report 2003Action plan for challenging times--Your involvement is criticalBy James R. Tarrant, CAEThey sayt i m ef l i e swhen you arehaving fun.They also saythat after a periodof timethe honeymoonis over.Both describe my tenure atthe Chicago Medical Society.Five years and time has flownby, and the job is still fun. Whilevisiting recently with membersin an area hospital doctors'lounge, I talked with a memberI met during my first weeks inChicago and whose impressionwas that I must have been herefor ten years.As to the honeymoon effect,people say that those firstmonths or year is the time to effectchange. However, I believewe can accomplish more nowthan in my early days on the job.Why? Because we have laid thegroundwork for the future. It'son this foundation that theChicago Medical Society cancontinue to change and createnew opportunities to representphysicians in their struggle tobring high-quality medical careto the 3.5 million patients inCook County. During my visit,two members suggested: 1) weremind the physician communitythat we represent 17,000physicians. Whether a memberEvery opinion countsand can influencepositions, particularlyas we engage ingrassroots advocacy.or not, whatever we do (thegood, the bad and the ugly)helps or hurts every physicianand every patient; and 2) we areadvocates for the 3.5 million patientsin Cook County. Bothdoctors are right.Concerning membership, wemust expect all physicians to bemembers of the Chicago MedicalSociety. If they are in thelounge or dining room complainingabout a position takenby the AMA, ISMS or CMS andthey are not members, theyshould join, get involved andhelp mold policy. They shouldbe reminded of the 2000 presidentialelection when every votedid count. The same is true forthe Medical Society. Every opinioncounts and can influence positions,particularly as we engagein grassroots advocacy.First and foremost, we needto improve the image of physicians,educate the public concerningthe looming access-tocare-crisis and the circumstancesdriving physicians outof practice. As an example, I recentlyoverheard a young coupleat the Tall Ships event sayingthat "physicians are allwealthy, they make a lot ofmoney and can afford to payback large student loans andhigher insurance rates." Manyphysicians don't realize thatwhen patients see the chargesfor an office visit and calculatethe time spent with the physician,it adds to the perceptionthat physicians make a lot ofmoney. They are unaware of thereality that physicians are paidonly pennies on the dollar forthose charges.To correct these misapprehensions,we need you to communicatethe importance of membershipin CMS/ISMS/AMA.When asked, “What hasCMS/ISMS/AMA done for mein the past twelve months?” --here are the answers:• CMS changed its tax status,thereby allowing us to speakmore aggressively on issues affectingthe daily practice ofphysicians.• CMS conducted a medical liabilityreform rally with 4,200participants. Further,• CMS/ISMS/AMA participatedin a CEO/Physician LeadershipSummit with area hospitalsand insurance companies to discusscommon strategies for tortreform.• CMS has provided informationand background on the politicalissues and urged physi-