Finally, I would like everyone to recognize the Wonder Woman of the BCMA, Cynthia Peterson, our EVP, who put together this wonderful event and who has managed to bring everything together in spite of last minute requests, program changes and general chaos. All this, while becoming quite the email and internet maven herself. Don't worry Cynthia; I am willing to bet that by the end of the year, you will have your own "My Space" account and your very own blog!!!
As you look around you this evening, some of you may be wondering why the Superheroes theme? Given that the source of strength and inspiration in any decision I take has always been my family; I think I need only direct your attention to those fine young men sitting at my table to answer that question.
Yet once we had all agreed that such a theme would be fun, even if a little geeky, and I am now speaking as my oldest would say "Geek in Chief", I started to realize that there was indeed a lot more to this idea than just a fun way to celebrate our event. It is in fact a celebration of the sense of idealism, duty and honor that draws us all to be part of a cause that is bigger than any one individual. It taps into that sense of imagination, wonder and hope that we all possess in our youth that allows us to believe in something bigger than ourselves.
In an age of instant gratification and where one's relevance is measured only by the latest headline or 30 second sound bite, it is sometimes difficult to explain to physicians why membership in the BCMA and organized medicine is so important. Most likely some of you here tonight have been faced with the question by one of your colleagues "Why should I join the BCMA or the FMA or the AMA? They don't do anything for me!" And yet, in times of crisis, whether it is pushing through prompt pay legislation, tort reform, Amendment 3 or defining the standards for patient safety initiatives and pay for performance, those same people flock to us because they know we are the only voice that speaks for them.
But if we are to remain vital and relevant, we must find new ways to inspire and engage new members. As we face new challenges to modernize healthcare and to reduce the financial burden of healthcare on our patients, we must provide our members with the tools necessary to meet these challenges, while still maintaining a thriving and economically viable practice for the 21st century.
Health Information Technologies, or HIT, which assist with both the business and delivery of healthcare, hold the promise of better efficiency, reduced overhead, better outcomes and process measures, and ultimately more effective healthcare.
Nearly every service industry has been revolutionized by the implementation of technology. And we all benefited from that revolution in one way or another during the 1990's, and continue to do so today. Only Healthcare stands as the last frontier in this regard, and while the goals are becoming more tangible, we have a lot of catching up to do. We have the ability to make dramatic changes in our healthcare system that reflect the true spirit of American ingenuity and entrepreneurship but we must demand leadership and vision from both government and the private sector to facilitate these changes. Continue
