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PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
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Incentivizing employees by decreasing their health insurance premi- and engaged in many media interactions on Zika, the TMB and
ums is in turn making employees healthier and happier. vaccine safety.
Can we implement Cleveland Clinic’s Healthy Choice program BCMS continues to support many active committees serving its
in all health care systems throughout the U.S.? Can we incentivize membership, including legislative and socio-economic, physician
patients and change their behaviors? At some point, with health health and rehabilitation, public health, emergency preparedness,
care costs skyrocketing and the Medicare system not able to handle communications and publications, caduceus, medical-legal liaison,
the cost, is it fair to ask citizens to pay more for their healthcare if as well as mediations and censors. A new leadership committee was
they do not choose to participate in healthy lifestyle choices? Once formed to encourage and mentor physicians to participate in the
consumers of healthcare buy into this incentive system, people’s be- governance of TMA and BCMS.
havior will change and that will also change the food industry. The
food industry will ultimately have to change and provide more The BCMS Foundation gave $15,000 in scholarships in 2016 to
healthy choices at affordable costs. graduating high school senior entering healthcare.
In the same way CMS has developed incentives for physicians to BCMS held many events throughout the year including CME
participate in quality measures, is it possible for CMS to develop in- events, New Member Welcome Social, Women in Medicine Event,
centives for patients to follow healthy lifestyle choices? The future general membership meetings, the annual automobile show, the an-
of healthcare will require the redesign of primary care and develop- nual installation of new BCMS officers, and a variety of seminars
ment of incentives for healthy behavior. and socials. Some of these events were fundraisers and contributed
to BCMS’ overall financial success and helped to keep the cost of
And now some of the accomplishments in 2016 at BCMS: dues reasonable.
Probably the most significant accomplishment of 2016 was the
completion of the new BCMS building on Loop 1604. The building BCMS continued the information flow to its members through
was dedicated in May 2016 and was named “Project of the Year” by the San Antonio Medicine magazine, The Weekly Dose newsletter, reg-
the American Subcontractors Association. The BCMS building ular email updates and announcements, and has added social media
houses the society’s staff and is used for all society committee and to physicians and the public with at least five posts per day. The
board meetings, special events, community events, health fairs and number of users that friended BCMS in 2016 is now over 330.
automobile show, but is also used by several physician and commu-
nity groups and organizations. Feedback about the new building re- BCMS will continue to face challenges as the delivery of health-
ceived from BCMS members, their friends and supporters has been care changes. I am confident that BCMS has a solid foundation and
extremely positive. BCMS also prepared a historical souvenir booklet will continue to deliver future leadership to strengthen organized
about the history of BCMS buildings in Bexar County and provides medicine. I would like to thank the Executive Committee, the Board
some basic information about BCMS services and membership. of Directors, CEO Steve Fitzer, and all the staff at BCMS for their
BCMS members all contributed to the new building and many outstanding support throughout this year.
community businesses contributed as well – thank you!
Advocacy on behalf of physicians and medicine is always the num- Thank you,
ber one initiative of BCMS, and it was no different in 2016. During With warm regards and wishing you a Happy Holiday Season!
the year, BCMS participated in over 20 legislative meetings and Dr. Jayesh Shah
events, responded to several calls for action advising federal and state
agencies on issues such as MACRA, the TMB, and the VA system, Cleveland Clinic program reference:
http://www.mauldineconomics.com/frontlinethoughts/how-to-
rebuild-healthcare-right
10 San Antonio Medicine • December 2016
