LETTER FROM OUR CEO
I
n any given year health care braces itself for massive change depending mostly upon national
and state politics. But no one could have predicted the huge twists and turns we’ve experienced
with the practice of medicine in Greater Louisville, let alone a worldwide pandemic bringing our
local economy to a slam-on-the-brakes, screeching halt.
In the Louisville health care market, much of last year was unsettling. After months of
media reporting and speculation, UofL Health was officially formed, bringing much-needed
stability to our community’s revered transplant program and some of our most time-honored
and cherished medical facilities.
Throughout this transition, we witnessed the migration of unprecedented numbers of physicians
moving across systems (Baptist, Norton, UofL) and independent practices. Add in the ever-changing
governmental policies that affect the everyday lives of physicians and their patients, and many
physicians, both independent and employed, have been under incredible pressure.
Yet, doctors remain unwavering in their commitment to a higher calling. The whole world is now
getting to see what we’ve been witnessing for years: story after story of the incredible sacrifices
that our physicians make throughout their entire careers, certainly now more than ever.
Our highly capable hospital-employed physicians have been working overtime in conjunction
with our Louisville Metro Health and Wellness Department to contain the virus which continues
to upend regular practices and procedures. Meanwhile, many practices that do non-emergent
care have transitioned to telehealth, with some being forced to lay off beloved staff in the process.
Nonetheless, doctors continue to rise up against inconceivable adversity.
Throughout all of these challenges, your Greater Louisville Medical Society has been a strong and engaging voice with a single mantra, “Em-
power Physicians to Care for Patients.”
As lawmakers and regulators make health care decisions that impact the people of Kentucky, your local and state medical societies are fighting
for you every day to ensure that the patient-physician relationship remains at the heart of all major and minor health care decisions.
GLMS and the Kentucky Medical Association together provide members with comprehensive services and support including legislative, legal,
regulatory, economic, payer and public advocacy. Many hours are spent by our collective board members, executive officers and staff doing ev-
erything we can to alleviate administrative burdens that keep physicians mired in cumbersome administrative tasks instead of providing direct
care to patients.
With so many physicians transitioning their careers, GLMS developed new career transition seminars that have been very well-received.
These seminars help empower our members to make well-informed decisions in the areas of finance, employment contracts, benefits and more.
It’s no secret that credentialing has been a pain for physicians for far too long. It was a massive undertaking, but we are pleased to report
that we have given birth to a blazing fast, high-quality paperless credentialing system with performance metrics built-in. The MedCentral Med30
provides initial credentialing in 30 days or less, guaranteed.
Your society is repeatedly recognized as being one of the most active medical societies in the nation through numerous awards and accolades.
During the pandemic, GLMS was one of the first downtown offices to go entirely remote. Our GLMS Foundation jumped right in to help create a
PPE drive in conjunction with the health department and deliver medications to quarantined patients.
We couldn’t do any of this good work without the deep engagement of our members. Thank you for being a self-sacrificing hero for your
patients and our community. Your noble work is what motivates our staff to rededicate ourselves each day to serve and empower you to improve
the lives of our citizens and set an example for the rest of the world.
Hearty cheers to all of our physician heroes!
Bert Guinn, EVP/CEO
2020 ANNUAL REPORT