Re: ACOG
From: Charlie Chambers (ricechaz@earthlink.net)
Wed May 30 12:25:03 2007
Lynn
I think your criticisms are "spot on". Just look at our current state
with malpractice insurance, quality assurance sham processes,
"expert" testimony. Our college has done nothing to help in those
critical areas.
As to ABOG, I also like how the people that are mandating these
changes probably are "grandfathered" in. Do you think that Dr. Gant
has to do annual recerts? Part of the problem is that so much of what
is mandated from the top is done so by academicians who represent a
minority of the practicing M.D.'s.
I'm not sure what we need to do, but something needs to be done.
On May 30, 2007, at 9:24 AM, Lynn Montgomery wrote:
> I feel I must vent here a little and y’all are my sounding board.
> I have been a member in good standing of ACOG since my second year
> of residency. Over the course of the years, I have paid my dues,
> totally expecting that this is “my” organization and it would look
> out for my best interest as a practicing obstetrician in the
> trenches. I continued my membership despite practicing with a
> grand old partner who never belonged and was freely professed that
> he would never give money to an organization who would do nothing
> for him. I was proud when I passed my boards and could now be
> officially known as a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics
> and Gynecology.
>
> All that said, I must have missed the memo regarding ACOG’s
> initiative with ABOG regarding the re-vamping of the boards and
> recertification program. In the recent pamphlet I received from
> ABOG there is an extremely hard to follow description of the new
> recertification process. In that pamphlet, it clearly states that
> both ABOG and ACOG cooperated in designing this process. I, as a
> “fellow” certainly was not allowed to have a say in changing this
> process. If this is a collegial organization, why is the
> “membership” asked whether or not they desire a change in any
> certification process. Maybe these are mandates set forth by the
> collective medical boards, but could not our organization have
> communicated the proposed changes, requested input and then
> described what the changes will entail. I am certainly not alone
> in this in that several months ago, I inquired of this list if
> anybody was aware of the changes coming and got no response.
> Further, my young partner had no idea regarding the changes until
> recently.
>
> So, I currently spend my approximate $600/year for fellowship dues
> and my approximate $600/year for recertification so that Norman
> Gant can have a fancy building in Dallas for testing – when every
> other “board” entity is moving toward computer testing held in
> multi-use “testing centers” located across the country. Further, I
> attend obstetric medical management meetings and continually hear
> how OB/GYN is behind other specialties in coding initiatives (I am
> familiar with this acutely in MFM coding, while Neo has all of
> their codes). In addition, I repeatedly see reports regarding
> excessive charging on the part of medical liability insurance
> companies and the reporting groups are not ACOG, but rather other
> interest groups.
>
> Rather than deal with the issues that directly reflect on my day-to-
> day practice, ACOG spends its time coming up with “immediately
> available”, mandating prenatal testing for ALL pregnant patients,
> mandating hep B vaccination for ALL pregnant patients, mandating CF
> testing for ALL obstetric patients. How about mandating some
> protections for me…
>
> I know it has been said here before, but I must say it again –
> “ACOG, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?” Maybe we should start
> with some financial accountability – how much of our dues goes to
> the top and for what…
>
> Lynn
>
> Lynn D. Montgomery, M.D.
>
> Obstetrics & Gynecology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine
>
> The Birth Center/Rocky Mountain Women's Health
>
> 1211 S. Reserve St.
>
> Missoula, Montana, 59801
>
> 406-549-0978
>
> fax 406-549-0987
>
> e-mail: apgar10@thebirthcentermt.com
>
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Charlie Chambers
Hood River, OR
cchamber@alumni.rice.edu
"No matter where you go...
there you are."
Dr. Buckaroo Banzai
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