"The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking
that created them." - Albert Einstein

Good Morning,

I kept my doctor's appointment on Monday. These visits always remind me of what is working well within our health care system and, of course, they also serve as reminders that we can do better. We must do better. Please read the article in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (357: 1221-1228, 2007) by Dr. Steven A. Schroeder: WE CAN DO BETTER--IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE (click here to view). While some may differ with his assessments, we share his call "to become champions" for the health of all our citizens. This call is being answered by the FMA's Council on Medical Economics, chaired by Dr. David McKalip. Watch for his report. This will bring you up-to-date on our activities.

On Tuesday, I met with an insider of the pharmaceutical industry. In anticipation of the 2008 election, plans to move Research and Development facilities of many companies out of this country are already well underway. Where will they go? To Ireland and Singapore where they are being courted and where patent protection is assured. It will take approximately six months to make the move. An industry that required decades to construct can depart in months. An additional reminder, not that it was required, that the laws of economics have not been repealed in heath care.

That same evening, I attended a meeting of the Hernando County Medical Society at Brooksville Regional Medical Center. Hernando County has a population of around 160,000 and 225 physicians. This medical society has been dormant for a few years and the physicians, especially their spouses, saw the need last year to reorganize and re-energize. The FMA will assist them in any way possible. Their medical community is struggling with the same issues we all are: access to care, difficulty recruiting primary care and high-risk specialists, inadequate reimbursement rates, etc.

I returned to Tallahassee on Thursday. I was interviewed by representatives from the company performing our internal administrative audit. They still have much work to do, however, from their questions and comments, they are making substantial progress understanding both our strengths and weaknesses.

That evening, I had dinner with the President of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians (FAFP), Dr. Cyneetha Strong. She was accompanied by Dr. Alma Littles from the FSU College of Medicine and the FAFP Executive Vice President, Mr. Tad Fisher. Ms. Jodi Mork, Director of Membership Development and Specialty Society Liaison also joined us. We discussed a wide range of issues of special concern to Family Physicians, and indeed, to all physicians. The lack of primary care specialists is being felt and will likely get worse until the reasons for this shortfall are addressed. The shortage of specialists makes their job much more difficult. They requested support for the "Medical Home" concept and we agreed this should be a central feature of any "universal" plan. They were especially pleased to hear my appeal to recreate and expand partnerships with the Specialty Societies, the County Societies and the FMA. We are either going to survive and prosper together or not. This dialogue will continue.

On Friday, I met with various FMA staff. I reviewed our plans for this coming special legislative session scheduled to begin on Wednesday. PIP is on everyone's mind and, when we have additional information on its inclusion in the call for this Session, you will be the first to know.

Until next week...


Sincerely,
Karl M. Altenburger, M.D.
President, Florida Medical Association