Your editorial of Nov. 28 on the American Medical Accreditation Program (AMAP) is not just wrongheaded–it’s wrong.
Several years ago, the American Medical Association (AMA) recognized that it needed to do more to set quality standards for physicians. That’s the essence of professionalism–and that’s what AMAP, just going on-line after extensive planning, is designed to do.
AMAP is not, as your editorial inferred, an AMA solo act. Its governing body includes representation from other medical societies, consumers, employers, patient groups, hospitals, HMOs and the federal government. The rigorous standards (available on the AMA web site) were developed after extensive review and comment from more than 1,300 organizations and individuals both within and outside the medical profession.
AMAP will benefit the public in several ways:
– It will lower the administrative cost of health care. Today, every health plan and hospital collects the same data about every doctor. That’s massive duplication and waste. AMAP will collect this data, verify its accuracy and thoroughly review the physician’s office every two years. We’ll then share the results with any health plan or hospital that needs it. Eliminating duplication will reduce cost. These savings should be passed on to consumers as lower health insurance premiums or expanded benefits.
– AMAP will provide patients with more information about their doctors. The AMA has already opened up its physician database to the public. On our Web site, consumers can find verified information about the background of almost any physician, AMA member or not. With AMAP, patients also will know that an accredited doctor has met rigorous standards, that his or her office is a safe place for patient care and that medical records are complete and secure. Those standards are on the Web site too.
– AMAP will improve the quality of medical care. Once all the components of AMAP are fully implemented, we’ll give doctors information about their performance that they simply can’t get today. And we’ll challenge them to find ways to improve. Isn’t this really what most people want and expect? Don’t people deserve a physician who is not only qualified but also continually getting better?
We believe that this is exactly what a medical profession association ought to do: Set standards for the profession, recognize doctors who meet those standards and let people know who they are. Although AMAP is new, its standards today far exceed those of any other public or private group. And in the future, the program will grow even stronger as a force for quality. We hope that you and your readers will encourage and support this effort.
