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ASCRS must embrace leadership role …continued from page 1
global scale by providing resources
and additional information to achieve
desired ends. As Albert Einstein has
said, ‘the significant problems we face
cannot be solved with the same level
of thinking that created them.’”
Dr. Wolff pointed to the rising level of
uninsured Americans as a glaring example
of why the Society must ally itself
with others and continue applying pressure
to elected officials to address what
he called “a national disgrace.”
“There are still 45 million uninsured
in this country. They are receiving
very expensive medical care as poor,
or nonexistent, preventive strategies
lead to crisis medical management,”
he explained.
Reimbursement is another issue where
Dr. Wolff said it is difficult to have
an impact, although he believes the
Society is at the forefront of addressing
the problem. For example, Dr.
Anthony J. Senagore is “one of only
15 physicians on CMS’ Physician
Payment Advisory Council, which
gives us considerable influence.”
Dr. Wolff referred to other pressing
challenges that require innovative
solutions, including:
• Rising medical practice costs –
Since 1991, practice costs have
increased by 41%, while payments
to doctors have risen just 18%.
• Tort reform – Median liability
awards have jumped 110% from
1994 - 2002, with the average award
reaching $3.9 million in 2001.
Professional liability premiums have
gone up 37%. In addition, 45% of
hospitals report that the professional
liability situation resulted in a loss of
physicians and/or reduced coverage
in emergency departments.
“We must enlist patients as our allies and
we must commit ourselves fully to the
crusade to improve patient safety and
reduce medical errors,” Dr. Wolff said.
• Loss of professional stature –
Administrators and insurance companies
now refer to physicians as
“providers” or “units,” without any
real concept of what it takes to care
for a sick patient.
“By adhering to the Seven Principals
of Professionalism, by examining our
outcomes and improving our results,
by renewing our
oath of Hippocrates,
being genuine and
spending time with
our patients, we
will ultimately
regain our lost
professional
stature,” Dr. Wolff
proclaimed.
Pressing challenges
facing surgeons:
◆ Rising Practice Costs
◆ Tort Reform
◆ Perceived Loss of
Professional Stature
In spite of all that’s “wrong” with
medicine today, Dr. Wolff reported
that ASCRS’ future looks bright.
“Our standing in the surgical community
has increased,” Dr. Wolff said.
“Of 1,276 board-certified colon and
rectal surgeons, 600 now list academic
affiliations. Most university teaching
programs have, or are actively seeking,
a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon
to add as an essential member of
the faculty.
“We have over 2,600 members in
our Society and this number continues
to grow. More emphasis in the future
will be placed on including the allied
health members with whom we work,
and we must develop specialized programs
for them,” he added.
Dr. Wolff offered evidence that the
need for fully-trained colorectal surgeons
will continue to grow. As the
Baby Boomer generation ages, experts
project a 35 - 46% increase in the
number of colon and rectal procedures
that will be required. Member participation
in other major surgical societies
is also on the rise.
“Colon and rectal
certification training
programs are coming
to pass in many
areas of the world.
Others look to this
Society and to our
Board for aid and
advice,” Dr. Wolff explained. “We are
very pleased to provide assistance to
our international colleagues in their
efforts to establish this subspecialty
abroad.”
Ending on a philosophical point, Dr.
Wolff urged the audience to remember
why they got involved in the specialty
in the first place.
“I ask you to try to think about who
you have helped on a daily basis. We
have become so caught up in the technology
and business of medicine that we
have lost, dismissed or ignored the art
of medicine.
“We don’t stop and consider that we
are engaged in the noblest profession
of mankind; that we have the unique
ability – unknown to any other species
– of fixing things. And if you think
about it, all else pales in comparison
to this primal goal.”
Dr. David Schoetz to succeed Dr. Herand Abcarian at ABCRS
Dr. Herand
Abcarian,
Chicago, IL,
announced at the
annual business
meeting that Dr.
David J.
Schoetz, Jr.,
Dr. David Schoetz Burlington, MA,
will succeed him next year as
Executive Director/ Secretary-
Treasurer of the American Board of
Colon and Rectal Surgery (ABCRS).
Dr. Abcarian has held the position
since 1986.
The Executive Director/Secretary-
Treasurer oversees the Board’s operating
and administrative activities.
Dr. Schoetz is scheduled to assume
the position in September 2006.
The ABCRS Administrative Office
is located in the suburban Detroit
community of Taylor, MI. Irene
Babcock serves as the organization’s
Executive Assistant.
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