Cover Story by CHAD RODGERS , MD
Change : Looking Back , Looking Ahead
Before the pandemic , we had certainly become accustomed to the rapid changes in health care and to the idea that change is a new constant . It has felt like it has come in waves with the adoption of electronic health records , HIPPA , health care expansion , new ICD codes , electronic prescribing , increasing telehealth , and so on . Then came the tidal wave .
Almost 20 years ago as I was beginning practice , a close colleague and friend was doing disaster preparedness for an insurance company . I had not known much about the Spanish flu of 1918 , but to wrap my mind around another potential pandemic was just not possible . I was busy taking care of patients and trying to tend to the business and politics of medicine . But he stated that there will be another pandemic , lots of people will get sick , and lots of people will die .
I became president of the Arkansas Medical Society just as the pandemic and “ lockdown ” were beginning . I have been honored to serve on the AMS board and executive committee through the years because I believe we do good work to deliver the best medicine in our rural state , meet the challenges of delivering that care , and to always make patients our priority . It was my time to serve , and I am thankful to you all .
“ I have been surprised not only by the many things that we have worked on for decades that came to fruition but also by the many things we have worked to protect that have been threatened .” – Chad Rodgers , MD
AMS President
One of the first changes I encountered was in my practice and had to do with trying to respond while protecting myself , my family , my staff , and my patients . Masks became the new standard . The AMS worked to deliver millions of pieces of Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ) to clinics around the state – even to practices of doctors who were not currently members . They did this because it was the right thing to do and it was desperately needed .
Financially , we were all hit hard as we postponed visits and procedures . We had to quickly respond and decide how best to keep our practices viable . The Society sent out weekly and sometimes daily information to members to inform us of current guidelines and best practices .
Telemedicine is something I had resisted , although really , many elements I had done for years as friends and family called to ask medical questions . I still believe strongly in a Patient Centered Medical Home and having a personal relationship with my patients and their families . There is no substitute for the human interaction that occurs between a doctor and patient in the exam room . It is my favorite part of medicine . But with ever-increasing technology , the capability for quality virtual visits has improved . I have enjoyed getting to see patients in their home settings – with other family members and the family dog – and patients appreciate the increased virtual “ touch ” that we can provide using this technology . The pandemic moved us more in the direction of virtual care . We have all changed the way we see patients and have adapted to the virtual visit . It is not a substitute for care , but it is a tool and a piece of that care .
The issue of racism and inequity in our society is very important to me personally . We all watched the centuries of their impact come to a head amid the pandemic . It intensified our awareness of the inequalities of our health care system , and we recognized the impact it has on our country and state . The AMS has worked to be a part of the solution and not part of the problem .
There were many changes in our nation and our state . I feel like I have stayed the same , but the lawmakers and the ideologies changed . I have been surprised not only by the many things that we have worked on for decades that came to fruition but also by the many things we have worked to protect that have been threatened . We still have the same amazing AMS staff and legislative team . They have fought a difficult battle .
It has been an honor to serve as your president . There is much more work to do . I want to thank the wonderful AMS staff . They are a passionate , thoughtful , knowledgeable , and hard-working group . I plan to continue my involvement with AMS and look forward to the new leadership . I can never stress enough to doctors I talk to about the importance of being involved . Many times , the response I get is that they are too busy , or they do not think they bring enough to the table . Well , we are all busy . Just be at the table . Together , we can do so much more .
248 • The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society www . ArkMed . org