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ASSOCIATIONS

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South Florida Cover Story: Dr. Ronald Giffler Preparing for FMA Presidency
Hospital News Continued from page 1 Medical Association is to help physicians means the patient has to endure addi-
Regarding the latter, he commented that practice medicine. We have more than tional suffering before you're permitted
and Healthcare when he becomes president, he has a list 25,000 members, the largest medical to prescribe a more effective drug. "That
Report... of legislative priorities that deal with a organization in the state by far, but we hurts our ability to practice because it
also affects the patients. And almost
need more members. Membership is
variety of items relating to health insur- probably the most important thing for every doctor eventually will be a patient,
ance. The first involves prior authoriza-
• Real Estate Update – tion. "We feel it is too much of a burden any organization. Not every doctor has so you can't totally distinguish whether
to have to get so many things approved, joined and we want to make membership an issue is for a doctor or a patient."
New Ideas –
when a doctor should be able to know a priority." In addition to his responsibilities for
New Projects what's best for the patient and have it He asserted that Americans generally the FMA, Dr. Giffler will maintain his
ordered. The other thing is where physi- are no longer joiners, and also said there current position as CEO and president of
•Alzheimer’s Care, cians want to prescribe a drug, but insur- are numerous competing organizations, FirstPath, which provides state-of-the-art
ance companies want you to try a differ- as well as time and money limitations. pathology and laboratory services for
Organizations
ent drug first because it's cheaper. We Nonetheless, he emphasized that the physicians and patients of South Florida.
& Facilities, Resources don't believe the insurance companies Florida Medical Association is the only He is also regional medical director of
should be dictating what medications the and the largest medical society in the laboratory services for Broward Health –
• Addiction/Mental patients should take based on their for- state that represents all of the physicians. with four hospitals and multiple clinics,
mulary. We want the physicians to be "It's very important for advocacy, and the one of the largest public hospital systems
Health/Recovery Focus
able to practice independently using more members we have, the better it is to in the country. He admits the added
their own professional abilities." get our message heard. It's important, responsibilities are a challenge. "Many of
• Financial Community He said his responsibilities as president because every physician has an interest the meetings take place on weekends,
will also include quite a bit of traveling in the things we're fighting for. but it does take away a lot of your leisure
& Healthcare –
throughout the state on behalf of the "When we get legislation or some reg- time."
Innovations & Trends Florida Medical Association to attend ulation passed, it's not just for our mem- Dr. Giffler has lined up quite an agenda
different events hosted by county med- bers, it's for all doctors. Those who don't for when he steps in as president of the
For more information ical associations and other entities. pay in are really getting something for Florida Medical Association: Legislative
on advertising and Along with this, Dr. Giffler wants to nothing. They should contribute, too." priorities. Building the Foundation.
build up the association's Foundation for He said the burdens on physicians' Increasing membership. "I think that's
editorial opportunities, call
Healthy Floridians to make it better able practices also affect patients. In the mat- enough for one year," he declared.
(561) 368-6950 today! to provide more funds for education, ter of prior authorization and having to
health care, indigent programs, physician first try a less expensive drug, he said For more information on the Florida
wellness programs, hurricane relief, and you have to document that you tried it Medical Association, call (800) 762-0233
the like. "The mission of the Florida and it didn't help the patient, which or visit www.flmedical.org.

10 August 2019 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News