Posted November 18, 2019
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy in our life. As members of the KMA, we have a lot to be thankful for, as well as a lot to look forward to in the coming months. Over the last few weeks, I have had the privilege of meeting with physicians from various parts of our state, and it has made me more thankful for the strength that comes from being part of a team. Not every profession has the opportunity to impact change and improve the lives of others. Physicians, through the KMA, care for patients and help make decisions whose implications reach far beyond our individual practices.
So how is the KMA making a difference? This past August the KMA launched a website to give a greater voice to you and your patients.
AIM for Better Care is an efficient way to convert those frustrating moments in your practice into powerful narratives that can be collected, shared, and used effectively as we champion efforts to reduce ridiculous administrative burden in your daily practice. I encourage you to share this website with your colleagues and office staff members so that challenging situations can be converted into opportunity.
Leadership matters in all aspects of life and our KMA continues to deliver education on leadership through our Kentucky Physician Leadership Institute (KPLI) and Medical Student Outreach and Leadership (MSOL) programs. These programs help to train medical students through experienced physicians to become better leaders and there has already been interest expressed for the KPLI program during the Summer of 2020, so if you are interested, please contact our KMA staff.
I am also proud of and grateful for the work of our Association in the public health arena. As physicians, our primary goal is the health and well-being of our patients, and through campaigns like Focus on Flu and Tobacco-Free Schools, we are affecting change in areas where Kentuckians need it the most. Just last week, KMA joined the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky in five different school districts, from Hopkinsville to Greenup, to unveil new campus signage designating these districts as 100% tobacco-free. Eventually we hope those signs will be permanent installations on all of our state’s school campuses, and with the KMA logo featured on each one, we are sending the message that Kentucky physicians are committed to ending tobacco use in our Commonwealth.
I am looking forward to what KMA will accomplish in the new year as well. We have a robust list of legislative priorities we will be taking to Frankfort in January, and I am confident that with our physician advocates we will be able to claim a number of victories next spring. Please place the phone number in your contacts as it is one of the most effective tools for us to make are voice heard in Frankfort. Also, please join us in Frankfort on February 6th to make your presence known and your voice heard to our state leaders and policymakers.
Kentucky Legislative Action Line: 1-800-372-7181
Physicians Day at the Capitol: February 6, 2020
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family. I am thankful for your membership in our KMA and the art you practice every day in delivering compassionate care to our fellow Kentuckians.
