President's Message

This is the last article I will be writing in the Bulletin, for the year, as your President, for our organization.

I want to reflect in this article, on the actions, success and failures during this year.

It was an honor to represent the Polk and Warren county physicians through the year, 2004. It was challenging and rewarding. I had the pleasure and the privilege to work with my friends and colleagues in the Executive Council. Our work would not be done without the guidance and help of the Executive Director, Kathie Lyman, Special thanks to her.

It was a year full with action but our main concern this year and the year to come is the escalating cost of the malpractice premiums. There were good and disappointing results of our concerted efforts, along with Iowa Medical Society and the lobbyist. With the hard work of our lobbyist, Frank Severino, Sr., and organized medicine working together, the Iowa legislators passed the CAP, but unfortunately it was vetoed by our Governor. The challenge next year is to keep the issue alive and continue with our political work. We should also explore other avenues to help in this regard. It was a year where we witnessed the largest demonstration of Iowa physician and health care providers on the steps of Iowa capital to help press the issue of tort reform and escalating malpractice insurance premiums.

This year, we made two trips to our nation capital, Washington D.C., along with my colleagues in the Executive Council and the Executive Director, to lobby on your behalf for our issues of interest with our Congressional Delegation.

Our organization can’t sit on the issues which affect our professional practice, our patients and our livelihood. We have to be the advocates for these issues and make our political representatives aware of the problem.

One of the disappointments this year is that nothing was accomplished on the level of national legislative issues, in the fall sessions. It was an election year; so many of our issues will again be hot next year with the new Congress.

It was a year rich in learning of the political medicine. I learned if we don’t get involve in these issues which are important to us, nobody will help us. That is why it is essential to have more of our physicians involved in lobbying. I encourage all of you to support your organization, Polk County Medical Society, financially and physically.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who helped me and helped our organization during this year. Special thanks to our Executive Director and the Executive Council members for their time and advice.

The holiday season is upon us and I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to everybody and thanks again for allowing me to provide leadership to our local professional organization in 2004.

HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY this Christmas season and the New Year.