Andrew W. Gurman, MD, the American Medical Association president, gave a speech at the AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago last week, addressing the House of Delegates.
In his speech, Dr. Gurman reiterated his plea for physicians to become better advocates for healthcare legislation and systems that will benefit patients and physicians. "We all watched as our nation's healthcare system became embroiled in a messy, contentious and politically charged debate. For our colleagues out there who had not yet realized the importance of advocacy, well … I hope 2017 has been their wake-up call," he said.
Here are five key takeaways from Dr. Gurman's speech:
1. He emphasized the need for diversity in medicine, including diversity in experience, practice setting and opinion. The AMA reiterated its opposition to President Donald Trump's proposed travel ban.
2. The ideal health system should be accessible and affordable, he said, and flexible around the patients' needs. He also stressed the importance of cost transparency in medicine.
3. Last year, the organization voted to support gun safety policies and wait periods as well as background checks on firearm purchases in the wake of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando; Dr. Gurman asked the association label gun violence as a public health issue and work with lawmakers "to fund research as part of a comprehensive solution to end the bloodshed."
4. Dr. Gurman recognized the imperfections in the ACA, but lauded the law's expanded coverage for more than 20 million people who now have health insurance. The organization continues to support making healthcare accessible and affordable. "At the AMA, we stand rooted in principles … not politics," he said.
5. Dr. Gurman encouraged physicians to participate in policy development and guide decisions that could be adopted by the White House. "It's our responsibility to light a path toward a future in medicine that protects people from every community and every demographic … and empowers them to live longer and healthier," he said. "It is our duty to shed light on the challenges that physicians face … and to seek changes to protect the profession."