Oct 15, 2007
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The CMA HOD experience is empowering.

There is nothing better to me than physicians taking active roles in changing our world. Every voice counts. Fair. Democratic. What more could you ask for? An organization that then acts on your ideas and turn them into legislation?

Frustrated with insurance companies or CMS reimbursements? Be active. Voice your concerns at the House of Delegates. At the HOD, you will find a group of like-minded individuals fighting for our patients. Testifying for resolutions is just the beginning. The CMA HOD opens your eyes not only to the medicine aspects of healthcare, but also the politics, business, and economics of healthcare. Soon, you will be researching, writing, and introducing your own resolutions.

Dive in and learn the history and driving factors in healthcare...the things that medical schools do not teach students. Stop feeling helpless; we can make the system better. We need to initiate the change we wish to see in the world. There are resources and support available through the CMA.

I left the HOD excited and ready to start new projects in my community. I feel rejuvenated. At the end of the day, I want to take care of my patients and be a strong patient advocate. Being an active CMA member is a means for me to accomplish those goals. In the past few years, I have made great friends and found inspiring mentors.

What issues are you passionate about? What changes do you want to see in the healthcare system? Talk to your local chapters/medical societies and bring your ideas to the HOD.

Here are some photos from Day 2 of the CMA HOD:

CLICK HERE

Katherine

Do you feel that? I do. The whole place is buzzing with excitement!

I still feel wired from today. How's that possible? It's 11:30 pm!! I've only had a small quarter cup of coffee at 10 am. And I am a REGULAR coffee drinker. The only explanation that seems feasible to me is my reaction to the day's events.

We started with our A.M. caucus meeting and reviewed reports and resolutions. During our A.M. session, we had some visitors stop by--CMA CEO Joe Dunn and Dr. Robert "Bob" Hertzka. Maybe now you can understand why I'm still so wired. They gave us a lot of their precious time to talk about resolutions, advocacy, and peer education. If you have ever been around these two men, then you know that their energy spills right into you and is rather infectious. Who needs energy drinks when you have powerhouse Dunn & Hertzka in the room?

We can't thank you enough for helping us establish a vision for this coming year. The excitement you've passed on today to the MSS will spread all over the state! And we were so pumped that we zipped through our remaining agenda items in record speed. =)

As my anatomy professor always says, "Don't freak out, freak in." Let's not freak out about the current health care crisis, let's freak in and direct our energy towards positive goals. We can affect positive change in the world. That is what the MSS hopes to do this coming year.

Today was a good day at the HOD. We were successful in getting the resolution passed that we wanted, another referred as we had desired, and overall things remained calm from a resident perspective for the most part.

However, what was very fascinating was learning about the passionate issues that I'm not even qualified to comment on such as Medical Staff self-governance, liability, and billing. While the challenges highlighted are troubling, I feel that my exposure to them now is key to a better understanding and increased advocacy by me in the future.

I've been meaning to post all day today and it's funny because I don't have WiFi access in the HOD. It's interesting to me because nowadays, even Motel 6 has wireless broadband internet access and yet the Disneyland Hotel does not.....

Labels: WiFi

On the face of it, the Resident and Fellow Section came out smelling like roses. This morning when the Reference Committees made public their recommendations, everything we advocated for went in our favor. Little fuss was made in the House of Delegates as our resolutions passed through the consent calendar unscathed. We finished the day in absolute astonishment and elation over our luck and well perhaps our political success.

We we were able to get the weight of the California Medical Association behind our efforts to curb attempts to circumvent the resident 80-hour work week rule by implementing home-call systems. And we were successful in maintaining our current generous representation in the House of Delegates and county support to recruit resident members.

Granted the entire California Medical Association and our respective county societies have been nothing short of supportive for residents and students over the years, there are trials and tribulations we all face when trying to push our respective agendas across.

See you have to understand what is described above is not really how politics works. It would be naive to believe that you have a good idea, bring it forth to an intelligent audience, who generally is supportive of your goals, a lively debate happens, and the policy is voted on by the merits of your proposal. HARDLY...

The behind the scenes machinations of politics is perhaps what makes it so interesting to me, yet so frustrating for so many others. If you truly believe that politics works per above then you will be ripping out your hairs by the follicle in frustration while you are trying to get anything accomplished. But if you see it as a chess game where the end game is adoption of your measure and getting people to ultimately agree with you and do what you want, and that the various moves, counter-moves, baiting, horse-trading, and strategizing as the means to come to your ends, then it is an exciting, dynamic process. The truth really is that while things may look easy on the face of it, the behind the scenes of it can get ugly and hectic.

Someone once told me that politics and policy is a lot like making sausage: you want the end result, but you don't want to see how it is made.

Labels: Politics, Resident, RFS

One of the resolutions calls on health organizations to serve food that is healthful both to the eater and to the greater ecology. I couldn't help noting how far we have to go as my breakfast plate came, without other option, of potatoes, eggs, cheese, bacon and sausage. Probably much of the food came from concentrated animal feeding operations.
Does our organization's food future include a possibility of 'opting out' of eco and body-sensitive meals?
Primum non nocere.