It
From the
PRESIDENT
JOHN L . ROBERTS , MD GLMS President | john . roberts @ glms . org
NO , IT DOES NOT COST TOO MUCH !
“ costs too much !” came the answer from a physician friend when I asked him why he was not a member of the Greater Louisville Medical Society ( GLMS ). “ No , it doesn ’ t !” I said . “ Yes , it does !” said he . “ Does not !” “ Does so !” “ Not .” “ Does .” Yes , we were the model of maturity .
But the conversation caused me to think : why do I feel that belonging to GLMS has value and is worth the cost of membership , while at the same time an equally educated friend does not see the value and feels that it is not worth the cost ? I have been a member since 1983 and have never questioned its value to me as a physician .
I received my 2017 Membership Dues Statement just a few weeks ago . The cost of membership is $ 870.00 . The cost has not changed since 2004 . Three hundred forty dollars is for membership in GLMS and $ 530 is for membership in the Kentucky Medical Association ( KMA ). A common question is why does one have to belong to both organizations ? We , the GLMS membership , with around 3,000 members , decided years ago that we would not try to maintain a legislative lobby in Frankfort to represent us but rather work through the KMA , with its nearly 8,000 members , to do so . The partnership has proven to be very successful over the years , and 2016 was particularly successful with several important and physician-friendly laws being passed by the Kentucky Legislature . All physicians , whether dues paying or not , will benefit from these laws . In a way it reminds me of the “ Right to Work ” controversy that is brewing in our country . Is it fair that a worker , who does not contribute to the work of the union , benefits from the union ’ s negotiations ? It seems to me that everyone should contribute to the common good of their profession .
Let me focus on the GLMS portion of the dues : first , it is important to recognize that membership in this or any other organization is not a commodity . You can ’ t touch it , trade it or drive it off the lot . And , membership is not goods . You cannot eat it or wear it . So if you are looking for something concrete and physical in exchange for your dues you , of course , will be disappointed .
Membership in this or any other organization provides the right to access services and to contribute to and benefit from activities of a group of like-minded people .
A key service of GLMS is CAPS ( Centralized Application Processing Service ). Before CAPS , physicians had to complete multiple hospitals ’ medical staff application forms , all different , all with fees . The CAPS program coordinates all this for the physician or the physician ’ s employer . Members pay a steeply discounted rate for this service . Non-members pay $ 350 , established members just $ 80 . This was of significant value to physicians and physician groups when more physicians were independent and most physicians went to multiple hospitals to see patients . Times have changed , but physicians and physician employers today still find it of value to outsource this tedious , complex process . In fact , most of the physician employers in Louisville will pay for GLMS dues of their employed physicians in order to obtain this tax deductible benefit . Significant upgrades in the CAPS program are now underway to make it more efficient and convenient . For example , verification forms can now be completed online , and soon the entire process will be online and paperless .
Another benefit of membership is the GLMS Annual Pictorial Roster known as the “ mug book .” Complete with spouses ’ names , telephone numbers , addresses and those pictures that have flattered us since medical school , the mug book is a great resource used by doctors ’ offices and hospitals throughout our region .
But , for me , the real value of belonging to GLMS is the opportunity it presents for me to be involved . GLMS has more than 15 active committees that would benefit from your input . For example , there is the Editorial Board that decides what articles will be published in Louisville Medicine . There is the Emerging Medical Concepts Committee which is currently examining how the practice of medicine is changing in our region . There is the Policy and Advocacy Committee that is gearing up for the next legislative session . And if you are frustrated with your interactions with health insurance carriers there are five appropriately named IIRCs ( Insurance Issue Resolution Committees ), one for each of the major carriers in Kentucky . There are committees for those who have an interest or expertise in law , ethics , quality improvement and patient safety .
For medical students and young to mid-career physicians , there is the opportunity to develop leadership skills and to enhance your resume . All physician members can use GLMS ’ s influence to get on the Boards of community organizations . As a member , you can be proud of , and get involved in , any of the many signature programs that got its start with GLMS : Supplies Over Seas , The Healing Place , Wear the White Coat , Surgery on Sunday and numerous mission trips .
So , with access all of these opportunities and benefits , in my view , membership does not cost too much . If fact , I will go so far as to say that if you do not think it is worth it , then you are not involved enough .
Dr . Roberts is a neonatologist with the University of Louisville Physicians and the Vice Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Continuing Medical Education at the University of Louisville School of Medicine .
NOVEMBER 2016 5