Re: ACOG
From: Joe (forcep@intercom.net)
Wed May 30 20:25:50 2007
Just stick around for 10 years ,gang. ACOG won't be here. Join the
American College of Nurse-Wifery and get your couses in dermatology
done. Joe C
Charlie Chambers wrote:
> 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 <mailto:apgar10@thebirthcentermt.com>
>>
>
> *************************************************************************
> Charlie Chambers
> Hood River, OR
> cchamber@alumni.rice.edu <mailto:cchamber@alumni.rice.edu>
>
> "No matter where you go...
> there you are."
> Dr. Buckaroo Banzai
> ************************************************************************
>
>
>
