AMA membership

[jimmys]

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Members do not see this ad.

Hello fellows,

$ 64 for 4 years membership. How does that sound. Anybody tried it. Should I go for it. Is it worth it?

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

Worth it for JAMA alone.

 

[jonb12997]

Worth it for JAMA alone.

oh yeah, that magazine that I almost never read... I suppose I really should email them and tell them not to send it to me anymore.

certainly doesn't hurt you Dean's letter to have AMA member on it...

 

[Twitch]

Would you still become a member if you're against their position on things like universal coverage for Americans?

 

[Cirrus83]

Would you still become a member if you're against their position on things like universal coverage for Americans?

Well then you *should* be a member since the members are what help decide their position If all the people against their current position left the AMA the AMA would never change their position on anything!

Yes I know in reality it's mostly the top people at the AMA calling the shots, but if most of the members are against the current position even they'll eventually cave if you pressure them enough 😉

So no, don't just not join because you disagree.

 

[DickyV]

Would you still become a member if you're against their position on things like universal coverage for Americans?

Wasn't it Michael Moore who suggested that if a few million people who were against handguns joined the NRA, they could all vote and turn it into an anti-gun organization?

 

[Twitch]

Well then you *should* be a member since the members are what help decide their position If all the people against their current position left the AMA the AMA would never change their position on anything!

Yes I know in reality it's mostly the top people at the AMA calling the shots, but if most of the members are against the current position even they'll eventually cave if you pressure them enough 😉

So no, don't just not join because you disagree.

Pressure with what? Join their policy committee and change the world. Join the army and change the world. 😍 How's that worked out so far? Watch sicko next week on the big screen.

 

[Cirrus83]

Pressure with what? Join their policy committee and change the world. Join the army and change the world. 😍 How's that worked out so far? Watch sicko next week on the big screen.

? Nobody said anything about changing the world, just the position of the AMA.

The AMA has changed their postition before after enough members were against the position their top brass took.

The only thing that's for sure is that not joining the AMA isn't going to change their position on anything, and I doubt they're really going to be heartbroken that you didn't join, lol.

I suppose if you really hate all their stances you could just start a competing medical association instead and hope to build enough enough support to take them on. Good luck with that though 😉

Oh, and I've already seen SiCKO, and even posted a little review in one of the SiCKO threads (not sure if I posted it in the allo one or the pre-allo one).

 

[RockShox]

Hello fellows,

$ 64 for 4 years membership. How does that sound. Anybody tried it. Should I go for it. Is it worth it?

I would like to share my two cents and state that I have really enjoyed my participation in the AMA and have always been dismayed at the misconceptions that many students have about what it is and how it works.

I would absolutely recommend it. As stated about there will be differing opinions and the policies of the AMA are ABSOLUTELY dictated by its members. I have sat in many positions and meetings in the AMA and policy is determined by members through 600+ physicians, residents, and students representatives, who on their own attend two meetings a year to discuss, debate, and plan ways to meet the needs of patients and their doctors. So come one come all.

(Some recent student examples include the fact that they vigorously opposed the addition of Step 2 CS, they have repeatedly pushed for confidential methods to report resident work hours violations, is pushing for at least 6-weeks of paid parental leave for residents, asked the LCME to require medical schools to offer language courses as electives, and more and more.)

Next, the AMA does much more than legislation and lobbying...every state and local society is attached to the AMA. The state societies oversee licensing, training, education, testing, preventative health, etc for their state, not just for doctors but anything related to health care. In our state the people that the governor appoints to state committees, boards, and councils come from names submitted by the medical society. So whether you are a member or not much of how you practice is determined by it, so the point again is participate.

I have been able to get very involved in local projects where you can really make a difference quickly through my local medical society)

Aside from JAMA, I also received several savings on purchases etc. through them that make up all the cost to join.

 

[Twitch]

? Nobody said anything about changing the world, just the position of the AMA.

The AMA has changed their postition before after enough members were against the position their top brass took.

The only thing that's for sure is that not joining the AMA isn't going to change their position on anything, and I doubt they're really going to be heartbroken that you didn't join, lol.

I suppose if you really hate all their stances you could just start a competing medical association instead and hope to build enough enough support to take them on. Good luck with that though 😉

Oh, and I've already seen SiCKO, and even posted a little review in one of the SiCKO threads (not sure if I posted it in the allo one or the pre-allo one).

We may be in the minority if we support universal health coverage for all citizens - atleast based on historical precedence. Perhaps I'm just jaded with the system. BTW, I never suggested starting a new society. Just questioning how you plan to change AMA's stance on universal coverage.

As a matter of fact I'd like to see some discussion on this. Specifically as to how one would go about changing a long held position with the AMA. Do you join COLA or one of the other policy arms. Then what?

 

[sirus_virus]

The AMA has been taking hippie positions lately, but I guuess we all need to join if we plan on changing anything.

 

[dilated]

(Some recent student examples include the fact that they vigorously opposed the addition of Step 2 CS, they have repeatedly pushed for confidential methods to report resident work hours violations, is pushing for at least 6-weeks of paid parental leave for residents, asked the LCME to require medical schools to offer language courses as electives, and more and more.)

What do all these things have in common...? The AMA has been successful in NONE. Actually, apparently they want to make CS harder.

The AMA generally takes fairly liberal social stances in a predominantly Republican profession. Hence the 30% membership figure. Until it gets realistic and stops wasting time on polarizing non-physician issues and actually focuses on physicians, it's going to continue to alienate doctors. The American Bar Association isn't spending its money opining on abortion, it focuses on lawyer's interests and is thus brutally effective. If only the AMA would follow.

 

[sirus_virus]

What do all these things have in common...? The AMA has been successful in NONE. Actually, apparently they want to make CS harder.

The AMA generally takes fairly liberal social stances in a predominantly Republican profession. Hence the 30% membership figure. Until it gets realistic and stops wasting time on polarizing non-physician issues and actually focuses on physicians, it's going to continue to alienate doctors. The American Bar Association isn't spending its money opining on abortion, it focuses on lawyer's interests and is thus brutally effective. If only the AMA would follow.

👍

 

[RockShox]

What do all these things have in common...? The AMA has been successful in NONE. Actually, apparently they want to make CS harder.

The AMA generally takes fairly liberal social stances in a predominantly Republican profession. Hence the 30% membership figure. Until it gets realistic and stops wasting time on polarizing non-physician issues and actually focuses on physicians, it's going to continue to alienate doctors. The American Bar Association isn't spending its money opining on abortion, it focuses on lawyer's interests and is thus brutally effective. If only the AMA would follow.

First your information is off. The AMA does NOT want to make it harder the NBME and the Federation of State Boards wants to make it harder. Second, I did chose to list some of the more student oriented issues and not all 300 policy and agenda items that we deal with each year.

It is amazing to me that we have one person on this forum who was disappointed because the AMA prefers a market-approach to access to care, and another is complaining that they are too liberal. The former I can get the latter is laughable. The point is that the reason things are harder to get done is that people are not pulling their weight. So fine.. you don't join the AMA. What are you then doing to help shape the direction of medicine in the country? Or are you just complaining that its not being handed to you without effort?

When congress wanted to cut the SGR this year where were you? Did you call your congress persons and demand that physicians are paid appropriately? The AMA did and the reason that the SGR cuts have been stopped for the last several years is because of the efforts of the AMA. Nearly all of the states that have adopted liability reform have been aided by the AMA and there is still a push in the others. Did you assist with this? You list an issue an I can tell you what is being done...but more and more people have stopped caring about their own profession.

I continually travel up to our state legislature to argue against things that seriously hurt the profession but getting many physicians to stand up for themselves and others is like catching an oiled pig.

 

[dilated]

First your information is off. The AMA does NOT want to make it harder the NBME and the Federation of State Boards wants to make it harder. Second, I did chose to list some of the more student oriented issues and not all 300 policy and agenda items that we deal with each year.

It is amazing to me that we have one person on this forum who was disappointed because the AMA prefers a market-approach to access to care, and another is complaining that they are too liberal. The former I can get the latter is laughable. The point is that the reason things are harder to get done is that people are not pulling their weight. So fine.. you don't join the AMA. What are you then doing to help shape the direction of medicine in the country? Or are you just complaining that its not being handed to you without effort?

I wasn't saying the AMA wants to make CS harder, I'm saying that despite their efforts the trend isn't towards eliminating it, it's actually towards making it worse. And I would be equally opposed to the AMA pushing a right wing social agenda. The entire point is that the AMA should be focused on its members like every other professional organization. Instead it has delusions that it should be an important voice in every social issue from abortion to daycare. The appropriate venue for this is, of course, for individual physicians to join the social advocacy groups that represent their stances.

It's sadly true that physicians are politically apathetic, but many, many physicians feel alienated by the AMA's non-physician policies.

 

[RockShox]

I wasn't saying the AMA wants to make CS harder, I'm saying that despite their efforts the trend isn't towards eliminating it, it's actually towards making it worse. And I would be equally opposed to the AMA pushing a right wing social agenda. The entire point is that the AMA should be focused on its members like every other professional organization. Instead it has delusions that it should be an important voice in every social issue from abortion to daycare. The appropriate venue for this is, of course, for individual physicians to join the social advocacy groups that represent their stances.

It's sadly true that physicians are politically apathetic, but many, many physicians feel alienated by the AMA's non-physician policies.

Good point. I agree that in an effort to be more "main stream" and "relavant" to all kinds of people that they have been focusing on all kinds of issues. I think this came from an idea that if we play patty-cake with all the kids on the playground they may play our games too. As it turns out they just want to play patty-cake. I think that has been my personal mission in the AMA nationally. I want to eliminate all the side issues that distract us from the several very pressing issues that I would say are crisis issues. I also want you to know I am not unique in idea, that there is a growing body to do this.

 

[Twitch]

There are aspects of health care that shouldn't be market driven. EM is an example where it is provided to all regardless of income or ability to pay. The argument being made is that it should be extended conservatively ofcourse retaining a healthy balance of income growth for us and a decrease in costs to pts via a spread through taxes.

One aspect that sets developed nations apart from developing ones is infrastructure. Things like electricity, phone, water, mail, etc are basic. The point being made is that there are certain health care needs that are / should also be classified as such. They constitute an infrastructural need for a developed society similar to EMR/firemen/law enforcement. From a market perspective, it is clearly in the benefit of the "consumer" to have costs spread across a larger # of ppl.