The nation’s broadest representational assembly of physicians will gather in Chicago next week to shape the health care agenda of the American Medical Association, the country’s largest physician organization.
 
The AMA’s House of Delegates is the policy-making body at the center of American medicine, bringing together an inclusive group of physicians and medical students representing every state and specialty. Delegates will speak on behalf of their peers during a democratic forum that will create a national physician consensus on issues affecting the practice of medicine.
 
More than 200 policy proposals will be considered on emerging issues in science, ethics, government, public health and business. Physicians will vote on which proposals will guide the AMA’s health care agenda.
 
Among the proposals to be considered for the AMA’s health care agenda include:
 
Maintaining support for individual responsibility for health insurance, or adopting an alternative strategy for expanding health insurance coverage.
 
Establishing ethical guidance for physicians on stewardship of health care resources.
 
Requiring federal agencies to demonstrate the benefit of health care-related regulations.
 
Adopting a residents’ and fellows’ bill of rights.
 
Encouraging federal requirements for vendors to demonstrate the efficacy and effectiveness of EHR and CPOE systems.
 
Improving usability of EHRs by standardizing features.
 
Developing a universal set of hospital emergency paging codes.
 
For a comprehensive list of the items to be considered by the House of Delegates, please visit the AMA website.
 
WHAT: Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates
 
WHERE: Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 East Wacker Drive, Downtown Chicago
 
WHEN: Saturday, June 18, through Wednesday, June 22
 
CREDENTIALS: The AMA House of Delegates is open to credentialed members of the press. To arrange for press credentials, please contact AMA Media Relations at (312) 464-4430. Press credentials are available at the AMA press room located in Riverside Center Exhibition Hall on the lower level of the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
 
INTERVIEWS: The AMA will have spokespeople available upon request to discuss the issues that have been voted on during the meeting. To schedule an interview, please contact AMA Media Relations at (312) 464-4430.
 
AGENDA: A media summary has been prepared for the upcoming meeting.
 
DAILY EVENTS: All events will take place at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Times and room locations are subject to change. Please contact AMA Media Relations to receive updates.
 
Saturday, June 18
 
Opening Session of the AMA House of Delegates
2:00 pm (CT) in the Grand Ballroom
The AMA’s primary policy-making body convenes its annual meeting.
 
Sunday, June 19
 
Committee Hearings
8:30 am to 6:00 pm (CT) - please contact AMA Media Relations for specific times and room locations
Open hearings are convened to review and debate proposed policies.
 
Monday, June 20
 
Overcoming Challenges in the Adoption of Health IT for the Small Group Practice
8:00 to 9:00 am (CT) in Crystal Ballroom C of the Hyatt Regency Chicago
This session will review barriers to the adoption of electronic health records by small group practices, identify the most important challenges and discuss options for adopting and implementing health IT. The session will be led by Steven J. Stack, M.D., AMA board member and chair of the AMA Health Information Technology Advisory Group.
 
Physicians Under Fire: Surgery and Medicine in a Combat Zone
8:00 to 9:30 am (CT) in Regency Ballroom B of the Hyatt Regency Chicago
A panel of three recently-deployed physicians from a variety of specialties will share their experiences on the front line and discuss the professional and personal impact of deployment.
 
2011 National Health Insurance Report Card
9:00 to 10:00 am (CT) in Regency Ballroom A of the Hyatt Regency Chicago
The AMA will reveal results from its fourth annual “National Health Insurer Report Card” showing how each of the nation’s largest health insurers is performing in terms of timeliness, transparency and accuracy of claims processing. A panel of experts will present the findings of the National Health Insurer Report Card.
 
Disaster: A Year in Review with a Focus on Acute Radiation Syndrome
9:30 to 11:00 am (CT) in Regency Ballroom B of the Hyatt Regency Chicago
A panel of experts will discuss and summarize the recent year in disasters, with an emphasis on the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. An update will also be provided on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and recent domestic responses to this year’s deadly tornado season. The session will also include a review of the clinical and public health management of a radiation emergency. 
 
Voting Session of the AMA House of Delegates
2:00 to 5:30 pm (CT) in the Grand Ballroom
Delegates convene for the first day of voting on proposed policies.
 
Tuesday, June 21
 
Voting Session of the AMA House of Delegates
9:00 am to 3:00 pm (CT) in the Grand Ballroom
Delegates convene for the second day of voting on proposed policies.
 
Inauguration of the 166th AMA President
5:00 pm (CT) in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Chicago
Peter W. Carmel, M.D., a neurosurgeon from Newark, N.J. will accept the highest elected office of the American Medical Association.
 
Wednesday, June 22
 
Voting Session of the AMA House of Delegates
9:00 to 11:00 am (CT) in the Grand Ballroom
Delegates convene for the final day of voting on proposed policies.