Healthcare`s Special Interest Groups Essay Example

Healthcare`s Special Interest Groups Essay Example Healthcare`s Special Interest Groups Paper Healthcare`s Special Interest Groups Paper In May 7, 1847 amongst the ancient remains of a mastodon (Mammut amercanum) and other exhibit cases inside the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, two hundred fifty delegates from twenty-eight states responded to the call of Dr. Nathan S. Davis (1817-1904) for a national convention of medical practitioners. On that date the American Medical Association was founded (Founding of the American Medical Association, 2005). Its goals were to consolidate scientific advancement in the realm of medical science, to set standards for medical education, to establish rules for the ethical practice of medicine, and to strengthen public health. During its early days, the AMA proposed policy recommendations towards the implementation of various strategies related to the newly discovered processes in sanitation and hygiene. It also paved the way in establishing other organizations or councils that will improve AMA’s grasp on different issues relating to public health. Like the AMA House of Delegates which was established to act as the decision making body of the association. They started publishing the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 1883 to hasten the means of communicating newly established medical discoveries. Today it has become the largest publication for weekly medical journals in the world (American Medical Association, 2007). â€Å"Healthcare`s Special Interest Groups† Various other associations also stemmed from the AMA, the American Medical Association Alliance composed of physicians and their spouses who advocates in the improvement of family medicine and the establishment of healthy communities. They also started the Stop America’s Violence Everywhere (SAVE) in 1996 to assist victims of domestic violence in America and provide them with financial and emotional support (Stop Americas Violence Everywhere, 2007). Since its founding AMA has established a lot of organizations and medical policies for the betterment of the American medical profession and improvement in the health of the American people. Current Policies Promoted by the AMA The American Medical Association remains consistent to its mission to help provide support for students and raise money for medical education. Throughout the years, AMA continues to support students who lack financial assistance to finish their medical education and help them go through their graduate studies. The association allocates $1,000,000 annually in tuition assistance for these students. This would raise hopes for students with financial burdens and encourage them to continue their studies and be a physician in the future. This policy for medical student helps to promote the medical profession and ensure continues â€Å"supply† of medical practitioners in the country. Aside from keeping in touch with the mission that their founding members ascribed for them to continue, present members strive to be an institution which gives its stand about present issues, the association improved its relationship with the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association to show that they are willing to bridge the gap between different racial and ethnic â€Å"Healthcare`s Special Interest Groups†Ã‚   groups, they started to develop different policies aiming to improve health care for LGBT patients and better working environment for LGBT doctors (American Medical Association, 2007). Their stand towards a good relationship between AMA members and members of different groups like the LGBT promotes a â€Å"healthy† working environment where doctors can work without prejudice with other physicians. The association remains to be a public figure in the fight for laws that would affect the welfare of public health, such as their support for the â€Å"Patient’s Bill of Rights† which was legislated at the US Congress in the year 2000. They have continued to support subsidization of prescription drugs against those who strive to cut Medicare funding or shift its cost to members since the enactment of Medicare to protect the interest of physicians and patients in the US (The 2000s, 2005). They were also a leading body in the struggle against President Bill Clinton’s health care reform in the 90’s. Their stand against removal of the subsidies provided in the Medicare helps to ensure that patients can have a health insurance that otherwise would inhibit them from gaining medical care and attention and it also ensures that physicians get paid for their work for a Medicare beneficiary. The association is posing a continuous struggle for Medicare reform in Congress they said that reduced physician payment by Medicare beneficiaries in 2008 would push physicians to limit the number of Medicare holders that they treat. AMA says that the current Medicare system â€Å"hurts access to care for America’s military families† (National legislative activities Medicare, 2007). Thus to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries maximize their membership, Congress should enact immediate and long term changes.