The Role of Organized Medicine

Organized medicine, with its access to the media, legislature, and through its public health initiatives, has the potential to establish in the public consciousness the role and place of the medical profession in a way that the individual physician cannot. It is the voice of physicians and a resource for the community. During this year it is my intention to use this monthly article to explore current ideas about establishing and deserving an appropriate place in our communities. I intend to give voice to the opinions of physicians practicing in our diverse and large county, as well as strategy that are being tried elsewhere. By talking with you and airing your experiences and opinions, I hope to share strategy, humor and increase our sense of community. As president I will continue to encourage the medical society leadership to meet with physicians at all the hospitals throughout the county in an attempt to make organized medicine a familiar face, to answer questions, and be relevant to your lives and practices.

The practice of medicine is constantly changing in response to many influences over which our organizations and its individual members have minimal or no control. Managed care in its present configuration is a flawed attempt, by insurance and industry, to exert fiscal control and accountability, and its impact has been felt both by physicians and patients alike. Physicians must now respond to these efforts in an organized way to preserve our role as healers in society, protect patients and secure a fair compensation. How can we take the initiative in response to other public currents?

Our credibility depends on our solving problems before solutions are imposed on us. The medical community needs to understand its role, respond and be proactive so that we can be both relevant and effective in a changing society. It is in our interest to lead the change efforts for the benefit of our communities.

Communication technology has been deployed successfully in banking and business, education and other sectors of our culture. The latest communication technologies have yet to be widely deployed in the practice of medicine. Our record keeping remains primarily on paper. One of my primary interests is facilitating the implementation of information technology in the practice of medicine in our region. A partnership between physicians, clinical laboratories, hospitals, and insurance companies could result in the deployment of an affordable electronic medical records system. These are stakeholders with a vested interest in records keeping. I am looking for ideas about getting a conversation started between the stakeholders and developing a practical, inexpensive records keeping application during this year. I would like to hear from you.

What about the issue of voluntary call panels? Should physicians take the leading role in solving the problem of inadequate specialty coverage for emergencies in the communities we serve? What is the community's responsibility (should members in our community be clearly informed through the media about what to expect in the event of a medical emergency?), what is the hospitals' responsibility? Assuming that there will be many opinions, who is willing to take the first step? What do our choices say about our role and place in our communities? I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

The Medical Society is an information resource about the influences impacting our patients and our practices. Our goal is to increase the community's awareness of the resources that are available to them through SBCMS, the activities of the Inland Wellness Information Network, our Speakers Bureau, the African-American Health Initiative, the Healthy Lifestyles program, and the Live and Then Give Organ Donor Awareness program.

Organized medicine has the potential to establish in the societal consciousness the role and place of the medical profession in a way that individual physicians cannot. San Bernardino County Medical Society is the local level of organized medicine. For the individual physician to have a credible voice in his community, organized medicine must be credible, visible, and effective.

The Medical Society should therefore be the vehicle for setting and maintaining standards, enforcing discipline and accountability, and preserving the value that physicians bring to their communities. I seek your support in achieving these objectives and thank you in advance for your support.

Like many physicians, I am an enthusiastic and voracious reader. At the conclusion of these monthly columns I would like to share my favorites with you and include also those books you feel others will want to read. Please write to me at admin@sbcms.org and share your opinions, ideas, and the books that personally intrigue and inspire you. Also, a reminder to visit the medical society's website at www.sbcms.org.

Dr. Wilson's Recent Reading List:
"Execution," authors Bossidy, Charan, & Burck. (About getting things done).
"Good to Great," author Jim Collins. (Why some companies become great and others don't).
"Living History," author Hilary Clinton. (The well-publicized autobiography of the New York Senator).
"It's an Hour Before Daylight," author Jimmy Carter. (His recent autobiography).
"Vernon Can Read: A Memoir," author Vernon Jordan.