August 2001 • Volume 7 • Number 8
AAFP delegates speak out at AMA house
BY JANE STOEVER
From pain control to direct-to-consumer ads, issues affecting America's patients and physicians came up for action by the AMA House of Delegates this summer.
AAFP's 19 delegates and eight alternates spoke out frequently during the annual meeting of the AMA house June 17 - 21 in Chicago. Here's a sampling of the AAFP delegates' testimony:
Pain relief standard. "Pain is a big concern to family doctors. We take care of a lot of patients with chronic pain and acute pain," said delegate Glenn Loomis, M.D., of Fishers, Ind. The pain relief standard of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations took effect Jan. 1, and hospital nurses are documenting patients' pain levels and physicians' response to continued pain. "A lot of outpatient centers owned and operated by hospitals are implementing these guidelines that were meant for inpatient centers," said Loomis.
Michael Adams, M.D., above, discusses a disclaimer for direct-to-consumer ads. Warren Jones, M.D., right, suggests the AMA should study the idea of limiting the gifts drug companies offer physicians.He supported a resolution that, after revision, asked the AMA to develop scientifically based, objective standards of pain measurement. The house referred the measure to the AMA board.
Nursing shortage. "Designate this problem of shortages among nurses and other allied health personnel an emergency," delegate Ross Black II, M.D., of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, challenged the AMA. "Advocate urgent response." Black, an AAFP director, commented on a report and resolution on the nursing shortage.
The AMA house asked the AMA to work with other groups to remove nurses' administrative burdens, such as excessive paperwork, and to enhance the recruitment and retention of nurses.
In an interview, Black said, "We have an extreme need for nurses right now, and it'll be awhile before we can repair the shortage."
Recertification. One reference committee handled resolutions revealing disagreements between the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine.
One internist asked why internists couldn't be like family doctors in regard to recertification, receiving assistance to pass the exam.
In response, delegate James Martin, M.D., of San Antonio, an AAFP director, gave this input: "The American Board of Family Practice and the AAFP work closely together. The board has set standards for certification, and the Academy offers courses to help members review for recertification."
The AMA house referred the resolutions about internists' certification to the AMA board.
Gifts from pharmaceutical companies. Some delegates said gifts from drug companies did not influence their prescribing patterns. AAFP President-elect Warren Jones, M.D., of Ridgeland, Miss., a delegate, disagreed. "The reason why we get offered these gifts is because it moves the needle (the sales indicator). It's as simple as that," said Jones. "If it didn't move the needle as the companies watch the flow of sales through an area, we would not be invited to lunch, we would not be offered all the other things."
He added, "We need to develop tools to help guide physicians in their interactions with pharmaceutical representatives."
Jones advised referring to the AMA board a resolution on placing specific limits on the gifts drug companies can offer physicians. The AMA house, however, defeated the resolution.
Direct-to-consumer ads. One resolution sought the placement of this disclaimer on direct-to-consumer ads: "Your physician may recommend other treatment options that may be equally or more effective."
Delegate Michael Adams, M.D., of Portland, Ore., the resident member of AAFP's delegation, speaking on the floor of the AMA house, urged delegates to retain the word more in the disclaimer. Adams said, "There are situations where there are more effective or appropriate treatments" than those pitched to consumers.
The house, however, asked the AMA to seek to have this disclaimer added to all direct-to-consumer ads: "Your physician may recommend other appropriate treatments."
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department.
Copyright © 2001 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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