Click here to follow TMA on Twitter .  Or visit TMA on Facebook.

• WHAT:  Physician leaders from across Texas will gather for the Texas Medical Association (TMA) Fall Conference for discussions on electronic medical record (EMR) use and to learn more about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. TMA Fall Conference is one of three annual meetings held by the association.
  
• WHEN:Friday, Oct. 15-Saturday, Oct. 16 (see details below)
  
• WHERE:  Hyatt Regency Austin hotel, 208 Barton Springs Rd., Austin
  
• WHO:  TMA physician leaders from across Texas and top medical experts in EMRs and health system reform
  
• WHY:  Today's health care landscape is vastly changing. Texas physicians need to learn how these changes affect their practices and their patients. TMA Fall Conference provides answers about the new health law as well as new rules governing doctors' use of electronic medical records.
  
• Reporters, please join us at TMA Fall Conference or call for interviews. Call either Pam or Brent upon arriving at the conference so we can reduce your hassle and assist you in finding the panel or physician expert for your interview.

TMA Fall Conference Highlights

Friday, Oct. 15, noon: Panel discussion led by David Blumenthal, MD , national coordinator for health information technology , about electronic medical record adoption and "meaningful use" standards to improve health care quality.

Saturday, Oct. 16, 8:30-11:45 am: Moving Forward in a Post-Health Reform World

8:30 am: Introduction - Susan R. Bailey, TMA president

8:40 am: Critical Success Factors: Preparing for Inevitable Post-Reform Fixes - Nathan S. Kaufman, Kaufman Strategic Advisors

9:30 am: Health System Reform - Where Do We Go From Here? - Andrew W. Gurman, MD, vice speaker, American Medical Association House of Delegates

9:45 am: Accountable Care Organizations: Friend or PHO?- William D. Darling, JD, Strasburger & Price, LLP

10:15 am: Question/Answer Panel

11-11:45 am: Shaping Health System Reform in Texas

Dan McCoy, MD, chair, TMA Council on Legislation
Darren Whitehurst, TMA vice president, Advocacy
Rep. Susan King, RN, District 71 (R-Abilene)
Rep. Mark Shelton, MD, District 97 (R-Fort Worth)
Charles Schwertner, MD, nominee for representative, District 20 (R-Georgetown)

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 45,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA's key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

-- 30 --