Page 5 - SFHN 1207 pages.qxd

Cover Story:

Dr. Spier Prepared to Deliver

Solid Leadership to BCMA
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Continued from page 1 “But we still have a long way to go to
to meet a growing demand for services make these technologies accessible and
with ever diminishing resources.” affordable to the average physician,” PDGH HDV\
While healthcare becomes a key issue Spier said. “However, I believe this must
during presidential election campaigns and will happen in the next five years if
and then seems to move to the back physicians demand it. If there is a silver
burner when the voting is over, Spier bullet that can fundamentally change the
sees a different situation this year. economics of healthcare this is it. This
“There is a palpable sense of urgency, has to be our moon-shot.”
precisely because so much of our econo- Spier, who earned his Medical Degree
my is affected by the healthcare dollar at McGill University in Montreal,
and where it is spent, and it is limiting Canada and who is board certified by the
our ability to compete on the world American Board of Obstetrics and
stage,” he said. “I think there is more Gynecology, also reaffirmed his belief
than a sense of simply doing ‘the right that it is “absolutely vital” that physi-
thing’ for the sake of scoring political cians be engaged in the political process
points this time around. It’s a matter of and advocacy for medicine and health-
economic survival.” care.
In creating a more efficient and effec- “As is often said, ‘If you are not sitting
tive healthcare system with its own self- at the table, chances are, you’re on the
sustaining economy, Spier said one of the menu!,’” he said. “It is increasingly diffi-
best ways to achieve that goal is to mod- cult for physicians’ views to be heard in
ernize the process with greater use of Tallahassee or Washington D.C. when
information technology. other special interests with far more
“Every other service industry has ben- money and power have an ever growing
efited tremendously from the efficiencies influence on policy decisions. Some of
afforded by the use of information tech- the common sense solutions we have
nology since the 90’s,” he said. “Some been advocating for so long have been
claim that healthcare is different because beaten down so many times that I fear
of the sensitive nature of the informa- some physicians have simply given up.
tion. I would argue, however, that the “But we can’t afford to do that,” he
banking industry deals with information continued “We must remember that
that is perhaps no less sensitive and when we advocate for healthcare policy
functions today almost entirely on elec- it is not simply for ourselves that we do
tronic transactions and data exchange. this, but for our patients. Patients are our
There is no reason healthcare can’t do greatest ally and we must do a better job
the same. The difference, again, is that of educating the public, as well as our
the banking industry recognized the own community, on how healthcare pol-
benefits of a collaborative effort and icy affects them. But physicians can only +HDOWK3OH[ LV D VWDWH RI WKH DUW IDFLOLW\ WKDW RIIHUV \RXU
there was a universal push to change the do that when we band together, stand up SDWLHQWV VRPHWKLQJ H[WUD FRPIRUW DQG FRQYHQLHQFH /RFDWHG
environment. In healthcare, by contrast, and speak out for what is right for us and
we are still playing a game of monopoly. our patients. Membership in medical WZR VKRUW PLOHV ZHVW RI WKH +RO\ &URVV +RVSLWDO 0DLQ
Everyone is looking around to see who associations at the county, state and &DPSXV +HDOWK3OH[ RIIHUV HDV\ SDUNLQJ DQG SURPSW VHUYLFH
will be the next Microsoft.” national level is critical if we are to have
Some efforts like CCHIT (Certification any voice at all.” LQ D IULHQGO\ LQWLPDWH HDV\ WR QDYLJDWH HQYLURQPHQW 2XU
Commission for Healthcare Information KLJK WHFK IDFLOLW\ SURYLGHV DOO W\SHV RI DPEXODWRU\ VXUJHU\
Technology (www.cchit.org/index.asp), For more information, contact Cynthia S.
are beginning to make an impact to Peterson, Executive Vice President, Broward D&2/$ DFFUHGLWHG FOLQLFDO ODERUDWRU\ DQGDZLGHUDQJH RI
change that culture and work toward County Medical Association, at FXWWLQJ HGJH GLDJQRVWLF LPDJLQJ FDSDELOLWLHV :H DOVR RIIHU
universal standards, he said. (954) 714-9477 or bcma1@msn.com.
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South Florida Hospital News hospitalnews.org December 2007 5