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March 1997
Volume 61 |
Number 3
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RESIDENTS' REVIEW
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| ASA Provides Input
to AMA Resident Physicians Section |
Mark A. Cannon, M.D., Alternate Delegate
to AMA Resident Physicians Section
The 1996 interim meeting of the American Medical Association
(AMA) was held this past December in Atlanta, Georgia. The goals
we as anesthesiology residents set out to achieve were to bring
the concerns addressed at the ASA Resident Component House of
Delegates last October to the attention of the AMA's Resident
Physicians Section (RPS) House of Delegates. I believe these goals
were met and more.
While attending the first of several meetings scheduled during
the four-day event, it became very clear that several medical
specialties were concerned with many of the issues being raised
by anesthesiology residents. Work hours and educational opportunities
turned into hot topics throughout the four days of business. During
the specialty caucus, John Whyte, M.D., Chair of the AMA/RPS,
reported that a major change had occurred with the Residency Review
Committees (RRC), the bodies responsible for accrediting residency
programs. In the past, only 10 of the 28 RRCs have had resident
input into education development and accreditation. Due to the
tireless work of the AMA/RPS, the Accreditation Council for Graduate
Medical Education has mandated that all 28 RRCs have resident
representation within two years.
From the floor of the RPS House, a call was made to study the
effects of residency downsizing on work hours and education. This
resolution was strongly supported by the ASA delegation. ASA Resident
Component Delegate Janet D. Pearl, M.D., provided background information
and excellent arguments about this issue, leading to the final
passing of the resolution.
Tracking of nonphysician care providers was introduced by the
RPS delegation from Texas. With the current thought that there
is an overabundance of physicians, particularly anesthesiologists,
the ASA delegation moved to support this resolution. Dr. Pearl
reminded the RPS that current tracking is being performed by the
respective professional associations of various nonphysician care
providers and that a full nonbiased assessment is needed to determine
the medical needs of the general population.
At the close of official business, the ASA delegation met to
review the proceedings and evaluate the meeting according to our
objectives: addressing workforce demands, education and competition
from nonphysician providers. Through the hard work, support and
guidance of Dr. Pearl and Scott E. Metzger, M.D., ASA Resident
Component Chair, our goals were successfully met.
Mark A. Cannon, M.D., is a CA-2 resident
in anesthesiology at Ohio State University Hospitals, Columbus,
Ohio. He serves as ASA Resident Component Alternate Delegate.
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