Protecting the 2003 tort reforms, the presidential campaign's impact on the future of health care, and leadership and legislative testimony training are on the agenda for the 2008 TMA Fall Conference on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 5-6, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Austin. You can earn up to 9 continuing medical education credits by attending the conference.
Saturday's events begin at 7:30 am with a two-part dawn-duster session. First will be a review of a Texas Medical Liability Trust closed-claim study. Attendees will learn tactics to avoid liability lawsuits and enhance their defensibility if a claim is filed. A discussion on the political action and legislative strategies to protect TMA's hard-won 2003 liability reforms follows at 9 am. TMA and its allies held off the trial lawyers in the last legislative session, but the attorneys are lining up again to attack the reforms during the 2009 session of the Texas Legislature. The Fall Conference will offer an opportunity to formulate a plan that will help mount a strong defense.
The conference's General Session begins at 10 am with opening remarks by TMA President Josie Williams, MD.
Then, Nancy W. Dickey, MD, vice chancellor for health affairs in the Texas A&M University System, will moderate a discussion by Democratic and Republican health policy advisors on the Obama and McCain health care plans.
A recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 42 percent of Democrats said their top health policy concern was expanding coverage for the uninsured, while 35 percent said it was reducing costs. Priorities flipped when Republicans and Independents were added to the mix. Forty-one percent of those polled – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents – said they cared most about reducing costs, and 31 percent cited coverage for the uninsured.
Some health experts say it would be regrettable if the general election devolves into a debate that pits coverage against cost. In fact, they say, the government must fight on all fronts simultaneously to have any chance at meaningful change.
During the conference luncheon, Drs. Barry Levy and Greg Lagana will present "Damaged Care: The Musical Comedy About Health Care," a humorous musical that Lifestyle magazine described as "part cabaret, part musical comedy with a healthy dose of social satire thrown in to give it punch. The program tackles such issues as managed care and the soaring cost of treatment, inadequate preventive medicine training, and the depersonalization of the patient-physician relationship."
New board, council, and committee appointees can sharpen their leadership skills at a leadership training orientation at 1:30 pm Saturday. Speakers will discuss the House of Delegates process, parliamentary procedure, TMA Bylaws pertinent to meeting management, and how to align committee activities with TMA's strategic goals. Learn the roles and responsibilities of TMA volunteer physician leaders and methods for maximizing your committee's productivity.
Also scheduled for the conference are training sessions on how to testify before a legislative committee. Those sessions are scheduled for 2 to 4 pm on Friday and 8 to 10 am on Saturday. Participants will learn how to present information so listeners can hear, how to know when not to answer a question, and how to cull a message from a mountain of information. The session will include videotaped simulated testimony and a presenter-guided peer review of techniques. Classes are limited to 10 participants and registration is required. E-mail Kim Harmon or call her at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1410, or (512) 370-1410 to secure a spot.
TMA boards, councils, and committees will meet on Friday.
Registration for TMA members is free. Nonmembers may attend for $125.
Physicians insured by the Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT) may earn professional liability insurance discounts by participating in approved continuing education activities. TMLT policyholders who attend the risk management seminar and general session will earn a 3-percent discount (not to exceed $1,000), which will be applied to their next eligible policy period.
Action, Aug. 18, 2008
Last Published: 8/18/2008
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