APMA News - February 2011 - (Page 40)

I Young Members Update I State Advocacy: Just Do It By ElizaBEth hEWitt, dPM The State Advocacy Committee is planning its biennial State Advocacy Forum, an event that fosters a nationwide infrastructure to help strengthen the podiatric medical profession. Attendance at the forum is limited to two state advocacy liaisons per state, so obviously many young members won’t have a chance to attend. So why should we be interested in this event? State advocacy is about building grassroots relationships—with fellow podiatrists, with other health-care professionals, and with legislators. These relationships will be key to our future success as a profession and as individuals, so the outcome of this event is of paramount importance to all of us. The State Advocacy Forum, slated for April 8–9 in Arlington, Va. (right outside Washington), brings together podiatrists from across the country to draw on each other’s experience. Participants will not only learn from the experiences of podiatrists from other states, but will be able to assess the profession’s progress in their own states based on what is happening around the country. The preliminary agenda for the forum includes success stories from states that have worked closely with APMA; policy issues including scope of practice and insurance nondiscrimination; information about how to engage members to promote the legislative agenda; fundraising; advice for working with other stakeholders, including state medical societies; and perspectives from other health-care practitioners and elected officials. Attendees will hear an 40 update from APMA about the many resources our association makes available to us, including a new model fee-parity law that state associations can use with their legislatures to help ensure equitable reimbursement for podiatrists (see more on the model fee-parity law on page 18). Among the many exciting sessions planned is training on Capwiz, the online resource that allows APMA Most of us have completed three-year surgical residencies, and all of us work alongside MDs and DOs in our daily professional lives. These relationships are central to the success of our cause. members to conveniently find and contact their state legislators via e-mail. Capwiz allows members to engage in the legislative process and stand up for podiatric medicine from the comfort of their homes or offices. The forum also will educate attendees about the importance of working closely with state medical societies. We hope to include MDs and DOs on the agenda to offer us their perspectives about how their state advocacy bodies are approaching the hurdles we are all facing as medical professionals. As young members, we have a responsibility to represent our profession not only to our patients and communities, but also to our osteopathic and allopathic colleagues. Most of us have completed three-year surgical residencies, and all of us work alongside MDs and DOs in our daily professional lives. These relationships are central to the success of our cause. Discrimination stems from ignorance. Ignorance of our surgical training, scope of practice, or medical education is at the root of many state-level scope-ofpractice issues. Parity will come from familiarity with our profession. As APMA members, our everyday interactions with MDs and DOs play an integral role in fostering familiarity and achieving parity. Ultimately, that’s what the State Advocacy Forum is all about: playing our role in achieving the goals of our profession. The practice of podiatric medicine has evolved a great deal in a short time. Some podiatrists remember a time when they had to fight for hospital privileging. Now podiatrists complete residency training prepared to provide the highest level of care for foot and ankle injuries, from fracture care to complex rearfoot reconstructions and total ankle replacements. I love what I do, and I appreciate the podiatrists who came before me and advocated for the profession. They afforded me these luxuries in practice. As young members, we have a duty to continue that tradition of advocacy. Log on to www.apma.org/stateadvocacyforum for more information and watch for the June issue of APMA News for coverage of the State Advocacy Forum and more information about best practices for advocacy at the state level. Then get involved! My best advice for state advocacy: Just do it. n Dr. Hewitt is with the Step Lively Foot and Ankle Center in Columbus, Ohio. She is the young member liaison to the State Advocacy Committee. APMA News l February 2011 http://www.apma.org/WorkingForYou/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1579

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - February 2011

APMA News - February 2011
Contents
In Short
President’s Message
A New Era in APMA Communications
Model Fee-Parity Law Now Available
Looking Forward to 2011 with ASPS
Nadia Sadeghi: A Long Road to Podiatric Medicine
Destination Boston: 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Form
Insurance Advisor
2011 Call for Awards Nominations
Members Who Know Media
CPME Update
Federal Advocacy Forum
Young Members Update
Coding Update
Talking Practice Enhancement
IT Consultant
New Members
Death Notices
In Memoriam: John Carson
Worthy of Note
Resolutions Submissions
Development Update
APMAPAC Update
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index

APMA News - February 2011