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Picture of House of Delegates Chairperson
Alva S. Baker, MD, CMD
State Network News
November 2003 Special Issue, Issue 48
Front Page: HOD Chair's Message
Delegates Needed
Notes for Chapter Presidents
2004 Nominating Committee
House of Delegates Resolutions
State Chapter Receptions
Chapter Connections Booth
Physician Pay Increase
Mid-Level Practitioner Use
Russell Wins Award
Foundation-supported Research
Foundation Futures Program
CPG Training Opportunity
Upcoming Chapter Meetings
Printable Version of This Issue
Attachments:
A. Delegate Registration Form
B. Active Member Count, by State
C. Meeting Space Request Form
E-mail Your Articles

What better way to disseminate information to other AMDA chapters than to include an article in State Network News (SNN)?

If you would like to include an article in an upcoming issue, please e-mail it along with permission to reprint to Nicole Germain, Membership Coordinator, at ngermain@amda.com.

State Chapter Meetings

Click here for a listing of state chapter meetings.

Getting the Word Out

Symposium registration information is available on AMDA's web site. Remember that not all state chapter members are members of AMDA.

Please promote the symposium in your newsletters and encourage your state members to register and join AMDA. Members save $200 on registration fees and increase your state’s representation in the House of Delegates.

If you would like to have AMDA membership information available at state meetings, please contact Susan Gutierrez,Membership Coordinator, at 410/992–3106 or sgutierrez@amda.com.

Chapter Newsletters

Please make sure that the national office is on your mailing list to receive your state chapter newsletter.

The newsletters may be sent to:
Nicole Germain, Membership Coordinator
American Medical Directors Association
10480 Little Patuxent Parkway, Ste 760
Columbia, MD 21044.

Message from AMDA's House of Delegates Chair

Limes. That was the secret! After years of battling scurvy amongst their seamen on long voyages, the British Royal Navy came to understand that providing the seamen with limes (along with their grog!!) prevented the development of scurvy in the sailors. And thereafter, it was de rigueur that adequate supplies of both rum and limes were on board when a ship set out to sea. (Hence the etiology of the moniker 'limey' to refer to a British seaman.) In other words, the Royal Navy learned that being prepared to offset the adverse outcomes of extended periods at sea was better than having the sailors develop scurvy and having them be sick and ineffective.

Be Prepared! That's the organizationally proper attitude for us to have as we look forward to convening at the Annual Symposium in Phoenix for the next House of Delegates meeting. In this context, what are the steps for developing a state of preparedness?

  • First, each State Chapter needs to evaluate items that have come up in meetings or in correspondence for which the Chapter wants to submit a resolution for consideration by the Resolutions Committee and subsequently the House. For proper and timely processing, resolutions should be to AMDA by Friday, January 2, 2004.
  • Second, State Chapters should be considering candidates to serve as Delegates for the meeting of the House. The form is included with this newsletter (Attachment A).
  • Next, Delegates should be committed to be in Phoenix in time for the first session of the meeting of the House, which takes place on Thursday, March 4 and to be available on Saturday, March 6 for the second session.
  • Also, Delegates should be committed to preparing for the meeting by reading and understanding the Delegate materials they will receive from AMDA prior to the meeting. If there are controversial items which will be coming before the House, it would be appropriate for the Delegates to gain a sense of how the State Chapter feels about the issues by whatever method is effective in the Delegate's State.
  • Finally, Delegates should be prepared to come to the meeting of the House with minds open for debate and discussion and committed to using our democratic process to further the mission of AMDA and of each of us, namely, to improve the quality of care for patients under our supervision.

Be Prepared! It was good for the Royal Navy. It is good for the Boy Scouts. It will be good for the functioning of the House of Delegates, for AMDA, and for our constituencies.

Alva S. "Buzz" Baker, MD, CMD
Chair, House of Delegates


In This Issue of State Network News:

This issue of State Network News is devoted to helping you prepare for AMDA's 27th Annual Symposium to be held March 4-7, 2004, at the Phoenix Civic Plaza in Phoenix, AZ.

The meeting will feature many events involving state chapters, including:

State Chapter Discussions
Wednesday, March 3 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Learn what works from the success of other chapters. Presented by Dan Haimowitz, MD, CMD
CMD Orientation and Panel
Wednesday, March 3 from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Hear first hand the details of the new core curriculum.
State Chapter Working Session
Wednesday, March 3 from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
House of Delegates Meeting with Box Lunch (Delegates only)
Thursday, March 4 from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
State Chapter Receptions/Meetings
Friday, March 5 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
State Presidents Council Breakfast
Saturday, March 6 from 6:30 am - 8:00 am
House of Delegates Meeting (Delegates only)
Saturday, March 6 from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Seating begins at 3:30 pm and doors will close promptly at 4:00 pm.

As we continue to improve upon our system for getting delegates seated to allow the maximum amount of time scheduled for business of the House, we will again have a House of Delegates Help Desk open Thursday and Friday to register state delegates. Please make every effort to register delegates as early as possible.

In order to have all of these meetings run as smoothly as possible, we need your input and cooperation. Please read the information included below carefully and bookmark it for future reference.


Delegates Needed
Preparation is crucial to a successful House of Delegates business meeting.

Notes for Chapter Presidents
Information on the State Chapter Working Session and advice for new chapter presidents

2004 Nominating Committee
The 2004 Nominating Committee is looking for candidates for the AMDA Board of Directors.

Resolutions, Policy Papers, and Position Statements
How to develop and submit your resolutions for consideration by the AMDA House of Delegates.

State Chapter Receptions
Make arrangements now for your State Chapter reception or meeting in Phoenix.

State Chapter Connections Booth
Showcase your state chapter accomplishments and member materials at the State Chapter Connections Booth in the AMDA Exhibit Hall.

Pay Increase Likely for Medicare Physicians
Congress will include in the Medicare reform bill a 1.5% pay increase to physicians for 2004.

CMS Clarifies Physician Use of Mid-Level Practitioners
Further clarifying physicians' use of mid-level practitioners in nursing homes, CMS recently issued a memo to state survey agency directors that replaces a similar one sent last April to the same recipients.

Kudos to Dr. Russell
AMDA member Peggy M. Russell, DO, CMD, FACP, received the "Jack Sayre Weinblatt Award for Heartfelt Dedication and Service."

AMDA Foundation Research to be Presented at Annual Symposium
The 2004 Annual Symposium offers AMDA members a number of opportunities to learn more about Foundation supported research.

Know a Resident or Fellow Interested in LTC?
The AMDA Foundation Futures Program introduces residents and fellows to career opportunities in long term care and provides scholarships to attend the AMDA Annual Symposium.

CPG Training Opportunity Available During AMDA Symposium
The AMDA Foundation is offering clinical practice guideline implementation training to Symposium attendees using the AMDA We Care: Implementing CPGs Toolkit.

Important Deadlines

Friday, December 19, 2003: Delegate Nominations Due.

Reminder: Individuals who have been submitted as delegates to the House of Delegates meeting are not automatically registered for the annual symposium. Members must register for the annual meeting separately! Follow this link to register online for AMDA's 27th Annual Symposium.

Friday, January 2, 2004: Resolutions, Position Statements, and Policy Papers Due for the House of Delegates to the National Office.

Wednesday, February 4, 2004: Resolutions, Policy Papers, and Proposed Bylaw Changes Sent to Registered Delegates.

AMDA Contacts for State Chapter Business:
Membership Department 410-992-3118
Gov't & Public Affairs Department 410-992-3145

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