I’m getting ready to join more than 500 physicians, residents and medical students Nov. 8-11 in Dallas for the 2014 AMA Interim Meeting, where we’ll come together for activities and policy debate that will help shape the future of health care.
Whether you’re attending the meeting in person or following our coverage, here are some highlights not to miss:
- Hundreds of medical students, residents and international medical graduates will present their original research beginning at 4 p.m. Friday during the 12th annual AMA Research Symposium.
- At 6:30 p.m. Friday, we’ll get a sneak peek of the sneak peek of the PBS documentary Rx, for which the AMA is a premiere sponsor. The film looks beyond technology and medicine, and explores a health care model focused on medicine’s fundamental mission to promote health, prevent sickness and help people live long, productive lives.
- The Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs will host an open house from 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, during which members can ask questions about the council’s project to modernize the AMA Code of Medical Ethics. AMA members can log in to see the draft modernized Code online. The Code will be presented the House of Delegates at this meeting.
- Robert McDonald, U.S. secretary of Veterans Affairs, will speak at the House of Delegates opening session Saturday afternoon. Two U.S. congressmen will give insights into efforts to repeal Medicare’s physician payment formula during a special session Saturday afternoon, following the meeting’s opening session.
- A special Ebola update will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Central time Sunday, during which Arjun Srinivasan, MD, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s associate director for health care associated infection prevention programs, will discuss how to prepare for and manage Ebola patients in hospital and ambulatory care settings.
Dozens of proposed policies and reports on a range of important issues also will be considered. They include:
- Expansion of safe disposal sites for prescription drugs
- Promoting improved electronic health records
- Facilitating state licensure for telemedicine services
- The role of pharmacists in improving immunization rates
- Timing of the USMLE Step 1
Even if you aren’t attending the meeting this year, you still can stay connected to your peers in Dallas. Beginning Friday night, look for daily updates at AMA Wire®, and check the AMA’s Facebook and Twitter (#AMAmtg) news feeds.
If you are attending, I look forward to working with you to effect change on the future of health care. See you in Dallas.
