While the nation debates the future of our health care system, many of us in the medical profession are wondering—will we get it right this time?
Do we have the national resolve to make the tough choices required for true health care reform?
Will we be wise—or politically expedient?
I believe the answers to these questions are largely in the hands of the hundreds of thousands of doctors in the United States—whose voices are sorely needed in the discussion of health care's future.
This is a time when podiatric surgeons have a greater opportunity than ever before to influence the shape of health care—and to define more strongly our role in it.
The nation is looking at every moving part in the health care system to determine its role and relevance. Our patients want to be assured that when the debate is over, quality and excellence remain.
And that's why I see opportunity. With a strong national organization—the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS)—representing our profession; a long tradition of quality and excellence in clinical skills, research, and education; and a growing need for our expertise, we are positioned to succeed in this environment of change.
As I near the beginning of my term as ACFAS president for 2010 to 2011, here are some of the key factors that I believe put our organization on the right track, in the right place, at the right time as health care reform moves forward:
•Strength in numbers. ACFAS has set new records for growth, having reached an all-time high of more than 6000 members. We stand out among medical associations, with a member retention rate well over 90%. With that growth has come a strong fiscal position, despite the current economic downturn. Our budget for 2009 was the largest in our history and it included a number of growth initiatives designed to enhance the value of membership.
•Well-established credentials and influence. Our voice and influence on behalf of the community of podiatric surgeons is strong and unwavering. We have a track record of more than 65 years of collaboration and partnership with the organizations that affect every level of our professional lives—ranging from the American Board of Podiatric Surgery (ABPS) to the Joint Commission. Thanks to decades of relationship building and engagement, the College is today at the center of decision making and standard setting at all professional levels. Our relationships and partnerships with podiatric and allopathic organizations are a key connecting link at a time of great change in health care. ACFAS recently bolstered its Office of Health Policy and Practice Advocacy to offer even greater effectiveness at a time when our profession must be well represented.
•Focused mission. The mission of ACFAS is clear, and it is aligned to serve the best interests of podiatric surgeons and their patients. In a nutshell, the College is here to ensure that we have access to the best training and the best research…that our practices receive maximum visibility among the public and health care decision makers…that we are on the cutting edge of practice management…and that, perhaps most importantly of all, we are on the path toward parity in the health care community. Our Strategic Compass, which spells out 6 strategic imperatives for ACFAS (view it at ACFAS.org) mandates that the College assist its members with credentialing and privileging issues—and through our advocacy and resources for members in this area we are steadily gaining ground. Any veteran podiatric surgeon can see a clear-cut difference in the scope-of-practice landscape today compared with 10 or 15 years ago. •Highest standards of quality. As the ONLY national organization for podiatric surgeons that requires its members to be board certified or board qualified, ACFAS truly represents the gold seal of quality in our profession. Again, our recent survey results indicate that there is great practical as well as perceptual value in the stringent standards the College applies for membership. As ACFAS continues to improve podiatric education and as the number of 3-year residencies grows, the need for a true professional college to serve surgeons with increasingly advanced clinical skills will only increase… and ACFAS has proven for decades its ability to lead in this direction. Our emphasis on quality, in turn, will continue to be a key factor in our journey toward parity—we can succeed only if our profession is thoroughly grounded in quality and excellence.
•Innovation and service. ACFAS is nearing the end of a remarkable year of innovation, growth, and service to its members. We are hands-down the national leader in continuing medical education—as reflected in our latest in-depth membership surveys. Our e-Learning CME courses have been expanded and our educational podcasts have been downloaded more than 30,000 times to date. Our completely revamped Web site was unveiled the first week of October and later this year an all-new FootHealthFacts.org will debut. The name has been changed from FootPhysicians.com to better appeal to the end user—your patients (ACFAS is one of very few medical associations that have standalone consumer/patient Web sites). We have increased our publication of Update, our member publication, from 6 issues a year to 8 issues a year and we now publish a weekly e-newsletter with links to a broad range of practice management information as well as advocacy and science news. And we're doing still more to add value, ranging from the publication of new clinical practice guidelines to the creation of complimentary memberships for first-year residents. These are just some of the highlights of an organization on the move—there are far too many to include in this limited space. The point is that ACFAS is stronger than ever, serving you better, and is in the process of raising the visibility of our entire professional community.
At this key moment in the health care debate, strength, positive momentum, and visibility are just what we need from the organization that represents us.
As the nation scrutinizes its health care system, your ACFAS membership and continued support ensure that the right message about podiatric surgeons will be delivered: As members we are uniquely skilled, focused on excellence and quality, and ready to fill a clear niche serving patients as an integral part of the health care team.
That's how we can thrive in an era of great change.
Thank you for your ACFAS membership and for helping us strengthen the field of podiatric surgery. I look forward to my upcoming term as ACFAS president.
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