AAPM&R National Grand Rounds: Empowering Tomorrow: AAPM&R's Advocacy Initiatives and How You Can Get Involved (enduring)-Session Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The Academy's National Grand Rounds, titled "Empowering Tomorrow: AAPMNR's Advocacy Initiatives and How You Can Get Involved," hosted by Dr. Susan Hubble, discussed the importance and modes of advocacy, particularly focusing on healthcare professionals' role in instigating change across various sectors. Advocacy, rooted in history, serves to represent and support causes by amplifying individual and collective voices. The session highlighted different advocacy types, emphasizing systems advocacy for systemic policy changes benefiting larger groups, which is pertinent to the Academy's priorities. The Academy identifies advocacy wins, not only by immediate impacts but also by long-term, cumulative results in healthcare policies and practices.<br /><br />Dr. Antigone Argerio and Dr. Prakash Ojeo Balan joined the discussion, focusing on various advocacy levels, including local, state, and federal roles, and sharing personal experiences in advocating for PM&R. They highlighted key advocacy priorities such as scope of practice, payment reform, and issues like physician burnout, emphasizing the need for ongoing engagement and participation at all levels. Advocacy efforts extend to legislative reforms like the Gold Card Act and initiatives supporting long COVID research. <br /><br />The doctors encouraged involvement through resources like joining local and state societies and leveraging platforms like voter voice campaigns to emphasize advocacy at a personal and professional level. They asserted that active participation in advocacy can influence major policy decisions and enhance the quality and scope of patient care. The session concluded by urging physiatrists to join organized medicine, stressing that collective efforts are essential for impactful change.

Keywords

Advocacy

Healthcare

Policy Change

Systemic Advocacy

Physician Burnout

Payment Reform

Gold Card Act

Long COVID Research

Voter Voice Campaigns

Organized Medicine