Big changes are coming to the health care industry. The federal health care reform bill provides coverage for 30 million previously uninsured Americans and overhauls the system at a cost of $940 billion over the next decade.
A bound copy of the bill is about the size of a lengthy novel, and has more twists and turns. It contains a lot of information for anyone to digest, much less physicians seeing patients all day.
That's where the Michigan State Medical Society steps in. Since 1866, the MSMS has worked to keep physicians up to date on the latest pressing issues in health care and to advocate on their behalf.
"Physicians want to see patients and not spend a lot of time on the administrative side of their practices," said Cheryl Vaupel, manager of MSMS member services. "We are here to guide them and to serve as their voice."
All Wayne State University Physician Group doctors and residents have memberships provided for them. Medical students can get a four-year membership for $88.
In addition to information and advocacy services, an MSMS membership provides opportunities for continuing medical education. The MSMS Foundation will host its 145th annual Scientific Meeting Oct. 20-23 at the Somerset Inn in Troy. The meeting will include several presentations by WSU School of Medicine faculty members. For a detailed daily agenda, visit www.msms.org/asm.
The MSMS website (www.msms.org) contains information on almost every conceivable health care topic, including legal and information technology issues, and includes special sections for residents and students.
"It's their profession and they really need to get involved to dictate their future," Jessy Sielski, manager of MSMS communications and media relations, said. "If they don't get involved, the decisions will be made by trial lawyers, judges and others."
Physicians will also find a link to the MSMS site on the MyTools section of the School of Medicine site at https://apps.med.wayne.edu/ssonew.
The MSMS shares information through several printed pieces. All of them, including a monthly Top Ten list of pressing issues and legal and IT alerts, can be found on line.
The MSMS has 44 committees that physicians and students can get involved with if they have an interest in a particular area. One popular program is Doctor of the Day, which provides escorts for physicians to the state capitol in Lansing to meet with lawmakers on issues affecting their practices.