The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Med Journal May 2020 Final 2 | Page 9

ance, and legal counsel. However, the highest sions, and provision of a community of peers
value, as reported by members in recent AMS for socializing and networking.
research data, is legislative advocacy for pro-
fessional interests.
In 2019, AMS went through an official inde-
pendent third-party to carry out membership
research that included an Appreciative Inquiry
Report for Arkansas Medical Society (May 2019)
and an Arkansas Medical Society Nonmember
Focus Group Study (Ariel Strategic Communi-
cations, September 2019) to better learn what
our most engaged physicians think we do best
and what others think we can do better. Ad-
ditional insight was gained through a month-
long survey to members about communication
habits and preferences. Through the course of
the research, discussion was collected from
members and nonmembers related to what is
valuable to physicians, both inside and apart
from AMS membership.
Physician members professed valuing The
Society’s advocacy at the Capitol, engagement
with members, ability to represent the views of
physicians and patients during policy discus-
Among nonmembers, physicians pro-
fessed to need more of things like camarade-
rie, policy updates, results, and advocacy or
“someone to fight for them.” (source: Focus
Group). “One [nonmember] said she wants
good feedback so she knows what is happen-
ing, what the issues are, what is being done,
and – if efforts aren’t successful – what’s next
for the professional members of that organiza-
tion,” read the report.
Another nonmember said, “Physicians get
taken advantage of a lot because our prima-
ry goal is to take care of the patient. So we’re
going to do everything we can for that, and if
we have to take on more work, it’s not going to
be not taking care of the patient. Somebody’s
gotta push back … If I’m going to pay a mem-
bership fee, I expect those people to really fight
for me.”
These nonmember comments were among
the same things that AMS members noted that
AMS can and does provide. As part of the recent
“Value is in everything we do.
We make doctors’ lives easier and
more fulfilling, but also we help
facilitate a great community for
physicians where they can come
and feel a part of something
bigger than themselves.”
– Laura Haywood,
Membership and
Communications Specialist
Appreciative Inquiry, member stakeholders
were interviewed about the attributes they
perceived as positive of the organization. Their
comments about why they are active and com-
mitted included things like, “They’re in the
struggle,” referring to legislative advocacy;
“Collegiality and the sense of community;” be-
ing “part of” a group; “confidence and the abil-
ity to reach out to political leaders;” “guidance
[that] came with encouragement;” “passion
… for us and our patients and health care;” a
“sense of hope;” and so on.
>>Continued on page 250.
Did You Know?
Your Arkansas Medical Society membership
rate hasn’t increased since 1988.
“Historically, AMS has fared much better than most other states,” said Wroten,
sharing information from a 2019 State Membership Survey Handout (available by
request from The Society). “Only five other states have a higher percentage of phy-
sicians who are members of their state medical societies. We are tied for first with
Tennessee for the highest percentage of young physician members (34%). I believe
the reason we have done so well is a product of strong advocacy efforts at the Capi-
tol and the collegiality, or community relationship among Arkansas physicians.
“We take pride in the fact that AMS membership dues have not been raised
in 32 years. That’s unheard of. AMS dues of $400 rank among the lowest in the na-
tion – $100 below the average, with only five states with lower dues (highest, $757;
lowest, $300). AMS has been able to do this because of several factors including
membership growth, revenue from educational programs and other ‘non-dues’
sources, our strong relationship with State Volunteer Mutual (SVMIC) and running
an efficient organization. As long as these factors continue at their current levels,
we see no justification for a dues increase in the foreseeable future.”
Volume 116 • Number 10
MAy 2020 • 249