Page 6 - 2023-May-June-Journal

from
the President

Bluebonnets, the Spirit of Texas

very year the magnificent sight
of bluebonnets blooming
Ealong our paths inspires
optimism and hope. Within a short
period of time, Texas wildflowers Photo credit: Dr. David Fleeger
transform the landscape into a rolling
sea of bright colors. The appearance
of our Texas state flower signals the
end of winter and a new season of
growth and opportunity. Families
venture outside to enjoy the mild practice concerns to maternal and harvest for the benefit of Central
temperatures, blissfully forgetting child health and more. Central Texas Texas patients.
that the heat of summer is looming. politicians welcomed the insight May is Mental Health Awareness
Folk stories are shared about the and expressed their gratitude for the Month and an opportune time for
flower’s history, and most seem to real-world examples of how certain us to remember that, as physicians,
agree that the bluebonnet flower’s bills could impact our practices, our we must first take care of ourselves,
spiritual meaning is one of bravery patients, and their constituents. It was our families, and our staff, so that
and sacrifice. The flower has become also wonderful to see our resident we can ultimately take better care
a symbol of the spirit of Texas and and student colleagues (the future of our patients. As we emerge from
its people. of our profession!) engage with the the COVID pandemic, it is readily
It is fitting that the Texas issues and share their perspectives. apparent that as a community, we
Legislature is in session as the state And we weren’t alone. We were continue to struggle with the various
flower blooms and germinates. I accompanied by Travis County emotional phases of a disaster that
recently attended a “First Tuesdays Medical Alliance members, some has impacted health care workers and
at the Capitol” session with TCMS with expertise in governmental hospital employees on the front lines.
colleagues and was delighted and affairs, who provided valuable These emotional phases
impressed to see how diligently coaching and perspectives on include the: Pre-disaster phase,
medicine’s concerns were being educating legislators. Who knew that Impact phase, Heroic phase,
represented to our legislators. It not everyone outside of medicine Honeymoon phase, Disillusionment
certainly took commitment and some was familiar with medical jargon like phase, and finally the Reconstruction
bravery for physicians to tackle PCP, preauthorization, and GME? phase. Many experts believe that
crucial conversations and share But now, looking back on the sowing, we are still working through the
examples from their personal watering, and even weeding that we penultimate phase of Disillusionment
experiences to educate elected did this legislative session, we can and are not yet in the Reconstruction/
officials. A wide range of topics see that many of our ideas landed on Recovery phase. During this phase
was openly discussed from scope of fertile ground, resulting in a bountiful of Disillusionment, we need to be

6 2023 May • June TCMS