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A MESSAGE TO MEMBERSLocal Forums to Seek Physicians’ InputBY DAVID E. HAMMOND, MDKCMS PresidentThe KCMS Board has asked the KCMS Members to provide input on two issues through confidential surveys. Online surveys were conducted.Survey One was seeking members’ input and understanding on Maintenance of Certification challenges and KCMS’ work to update Senator Peter MacGregor on the issue and challenges for physicians. Results indicated that physicians prefer to be involved in future sessions.Communication with local officials is ongoing, but at a standstill with the summer break. The KCMS board hopes to host a forum with physician members and local legislators on challenges that disciplines have in maintenance of certification.Survey Two was seeking members’ input and understanding on the recent news stories regarding the proposed reorganization of Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners (GRMEP). Since this topic has sparked much curiosity and many suggestions, I am dedicating the remainder of my letter to it. The survey results indicated an overwhelming interest (69%) in learning more in a forum.Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners began as Grand Rapids Medical Education Research Committee (GRMERC) in 1973 as a vehicle to coordinate MSU College of Human Medicine (MSU-CHM) education in Grand Rapids and participants included MSU-CHM, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Blodgett Hospital and Butterworth Hospital. KCMS archives indicate KCMS and the Kent Medical Foundation had participated in the early stages of the development. The organization later became Grand Rapids Medical Education Committee (GRAMEC). In 2000, it was reorganized as Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners and at that time included Spectrum Health and Saint Mary’s. The leadership of both organizations publicly declared that medical education is a community good that should be done in a cooperative way outside of the growing competitive rivalry health care locally. MSU-CHM continued as a member and Grand Valley was invited to participate as a partner. Ferris State University School of Pharmacy joined later. There was great pride in the community-wide collaboration around the training of future physicians. The ability to use our state-of-the-art medical facilities as a shared learning environment was unique and served as a model for other communities across the region.Inherent in this model were cost savings through centralized administration. The economies of scale helped to provide exceptional quality of education and a significant value for our West Michigan community.We are concerned that this collaborative effort may disintegrate and the result may be higher costs for GME, and lead to higher costs for the community. The potential duplication of administrative functions may increase costs. These costs are transferred from training institutions and hospitals to insurers, and, ultimately, to employers and individuals.Sometimes an investment is worth the end result; however, there has been a concerning lack of community input into whether this additional cost is a wise use of our resources.Many of our members are involved in our community boards, committees and new initiatives. We live in a dynamic and thriving community where certain phrases are routinely used by local leaders, such as “community engagement,” “collaboration,” “avoid duplication,” “responsible distribution of talent and resources”—especially as local business leaders and patients continue to seek affordable and accessible health care.The lack of transparency in the GRMEP reorganization creates speculation in the process and potential outcome. The physicians in our community who have generously given of their time and talents to train our new physicians should be considered as major stakeholders as decisions are made. Hopefully, the leadership of our teaching institutions will continue to focus on the highest quality and best practices in GME. As Bill Manns, president of Mercy Health St Mary’s so eloquently wrote in a letter that was shared with the Grand Rapids Business Journal, “West Michigan has a long history and strong tradition of people and organizations combining strengths for the greater good of the community.”A forum will be held in the early fall. Please feel free to invite resident physicians as well as non-member physicians and local business leaders. Watch your mail and email for your invitation.8 KCMS/KCOA BULLETIN SUMMER 2015KCMS