Lazarus noted how physicians who ran in the race helped the wounded and how the nearby hospitals quickly organized to treat the 180 people who were injured.
“I have rarely been more proud to be a physician,” Lazarus said.
He also mentioned the mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut, and noted how the AMA met with government officials to discuss strategy addressing gun regulation, mental illness and public education.
“Though legislation has not passed this year, we remain committed to seeing it happen,” said Lazarus, eliciting some mild applause from the delegates.
Lazarus noted that the AMA “earned more than 125 legislative victories at the state level,” including the passage of a Georgia law shielding physicians from lawsuits tied to administrative payment guidelines.
In Washington, Lazarus said the AMA's “relentless education efforts” regarding problems with the Medicare sustainable growth-rate physician-payment formula are having an effect on members of the House Energy and Commerce and Senate Finance committees.
“In our discussions with each of these panels, we are hearing the messages delivered by medicine echoed back to us,” he said. “Finally, we might have the right prescription to put this issue to rest.”
Lazarus welcomed a new delegation to the meeting, the Integrated Physician Practice Section, and he welcomed a new delegate, his son Ethan, who was attending with the American Society of Bariatric Physicians delegation.
“Your determination and talent is helping patients get off medication for diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol and restoring a hopeful future for their lives,” Lazarus said. “You are making a difference, and I'm very proud of you.”
Dr. James Madara, AMA executive vice president and CEO, noted how there were 185 state and specialty medical societies represented this year at the organization's 162nd annual meeting.
Madara outlined the progress being made on the AMA's long-range strategic plan that he unveiled at last year's annual meeting. The plan focuses on improving health outcomes, accelerating change in medical education and enhancing physician satisfaction and practice sustainability.
Toward the first goal, the AMA has launched initiatives aimed at preventing diabetes and eliminating preventable cardiovascular harm caused by hypertension.
Toward the second goal, it has awarded $1 million grants to 11 medical schools that submitted proposals for closing the gap between physician training and the healthcare system's “day-to-day realities.” Proposals were received from 119 of 141 eligible schools.
“This is a clear sign these schools had been considering structural change for some time,” Madara said. “They simply needed someone to lift the gate and make it happen.”
For the third goal of the strategic plan, Madara said the AMA is partnering with the RAND Corp. to study 30 diverse practices in six states to develop resources and promote proven strategies for enhancing physician satisfaction.
“We will do everything in our power to restore joy in medicine, to ensure that every physician, in every practice environment, can thrive in our evolving healthcare system,” Madara said.
The meeting runs until June 19.
Follow Andis Robeznieks on Twitter: @MHARobeznieks
