The American Medical Association (AMA) held its Annual Meeting June 15-19, 2013 in Chicago.  During this meeting, the Integrated Physician Practice Section (IPPS) had its inaugural annual meeting.  Bruce Hamory, MD, EVP, Managing Partner of Geisinger Consulting Services for Geisinger Health System, presented the keynote, entitled “The Future of Physician-Led Care.”  North Carolina providers and the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS), through its Toward Accountable Care Consortium, are preparing for health system reform, so Dr. Hamory’s presentation is especially timely and relevant.  His presentation can be found here.

Additionally, during the Organized Medical Staff Section (OMSS) meeting, employed physician issues were addressed.  The NCMS’ Physician Hospital Relations Task Force is developing resources for employed physicians, and accordingly, Task Force Chair, William M. Johnstone, Jr., MD, JD, was in attendance.  The OMSS Section held an Employed Physician Discussion Group and also presented the newly adopted AMA Principles for Physician Employment.  These Principles address conflicts of interest, advocacy for patients and the profession, contracting, hospital medical staff relations, peer review and performance evaluation, and payment agreements.  A copy of these Principles can be found here.

Also revealed during the meeting were the winners of the AMA’s Accelerating Change in Medical Education initiative.  Eleven medical schools, including the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, were chosen.  All schools will receive $1 million over the next five years.  Congratulations to the Brody School of Medicine!

Finally, AMA House of Delegates’ actions can be found here.