"If I'd only got to be a doctor for five minutes,
now that would have been a tragedy."
- Doc "Moonlight" Graham in SHOELESS JOE

by: W. P. Kinsella, 1987
(Burt Lancaster played the character in the 1989 film adaptation:
"Field of Dreams")
 

Good Morning,

It is now eight weeks (who's counting?) since the FMA's annual meeting. It has been a busy and productive time. I appreciate your comments and encourage you to keep them coming. They are a great benefit to me and to this organization. Every now and then a special surprise arrives in my In-box. Last week, I received an envelope from E. R. Annis. Letters from Dr. Annis are eagerly anticipated; the closest thing to "Boxing Day" someone my age is able to experience. Several missives were enclosed and I want to share one of them with you (Click here to view).

The Brevard County Medical Society's (BCMS) annual meeting took place on Tuesday and I was able to attend, along with the Chair of the FMA's Council on Legislation, Dr. Miguel Machado. Also in attendance were three members of the FMA's staff, Ms. Liz Sullivan, Mrs. Kristy Jones, and Ms. Teri Shafer. We observed Dr. Lisa Cosgrove's election to the Presidency of the BCMS along with an outstanding group of her colleagues who filled other leadership positions. They, with the able assistance of their Executive Director, Ms. Linda Paille, are working to enhance services to their physician members. Dr. Machado presented his expected measured, yet passionate, review of our legislative activities and answered a number of questions. The problems they are concerned about are familiar to all: access to care, physician shortages, inadequate reimbursement, continued liability exposure, etc.

On Wednesday evening, I participated in a conference call of the FMA's Administrative Audit Committee. The auditors are finalizing their report. An overview will be presented to the FMA Board of Governors (BOG) this Saturday evening by the Chair of the Committee, Dr. Stephan Baker. At the conclusion of this presentation, a copy of the report along with reports from our legal auditor and key FMA staff--Mrs. Kimberly Scott and Mr. Tim Stapleton--will be distributed to each member of the BOG. The Administrative Audit Committee will then begin an analysis of these reports which will culminate in a series of recommendations for presentation to the BOG. These will be considered by the BOG at a special meeting that I have called for Saturday, January 26, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at or near the airport in either Orlando or Tampa. More details will follow soon. Please mark your calendars.

On Thursday, I drove to Tallahassee to meet with our staff. I had dinner with Mr. Tim Stapleton and we discussed the work he and Mr. Jeff Scott have accomplished to prepare us for the coming legislative session. The FMA's President-Elect, Dr. Steven Reynolds West, was in town and on Friday we reviewed the agenda items for the approaching meeting of the BOG and the results of our membership plans for the current year and next year. We have already made progress in 2008 membership year-to-date and we remain focused and committed to our plan to make sure this trend continues. Mrs. Kimberly Scott is working with FMA Treasurer, Dr. Alan Harmon, and the Chair of the Finance Committee & FMA Vice President, Dr. Jim Dolan, to finalize the 2008 budget, which will soon be presented to the BOG for its consideration.

On Saturday, I traveled to Ft. Lauderdale to attend the Broward County Medical Association's Annual Dinner Dance and Presidential Installation. I was honored to attend this meeting last year and this year's event was at least as much fun. I had the pleasure of administering the oath of office to Dr. Nigel Spier. His predecessor, Dr. Michael Weston, presented him with his presidential gavel. Dr. Spier, an OB/GYN, delivered a moving address that focused on our role as the patients' true advocate. You may read his remarks on the BCMA's beautiful new Web site (BCMA.com) which will be up and running soon. Dr. Arthur Eberly, FMA Past President, was honored for his 45 years of service to the BCMA. Dr. Alan Routman, Vice Chair of the FMA's Council on Legislation received the Dr. Charles Bechert Award for his legislative and political advocacy on behalf of our profession. FMA Secretary, Dr. Vincent DeGennaro and District F Representative to the FMA BOG, Dr. Nabil El Sanadi and their spouses, were also in attendance.

The FMA's Committees and Councils are meeting this weekend in Tampa (Click here for more information) and these are opportunities to express your opinion and offer suggestions to those working on our behalf to address some very big issues. The FLORIDA HEALTH CARE REFORM SUMMIT, sponsored by the FMA's Council on Medical Economics, features a number of outstanding speakers as we begin to develop the "Florida Plan" to make health insurance available for all Floridians. This is being held on Friday, October 26, from 9:00 AM through 3:00 PM. I look forward to seeing you there. We are also preparing for our Board of Governors meeting on Sunday, October 28. All members are welcome to attend this meeting as well.

I graduated from medical school in 1974. Government and policy sages were then projecting a surplus of physicians--perhaps as high as 400,000. The politicians' response was to stop funding new medical schools and curtail graduate medical education positions. The result of this "planning"--a significant physician shortage. (Click here to read a related story that I'm sure you'll find very interesting.) These are the very same savants who now want to manage and micro manage millions of health care encounters each day. Hold on tight...the ride is looking even bumpier!

Until next week...


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