Falling Short?
Dr. Meloinks has posted a real challenge for the TBR12. I find myself staring at my computer screen and not really having an idea of what to put down.
When I passed the boards, I was so excited in joining the PMA, thinking that I’m joining the brotherhood of doctors.
I do get some notices of their elections. But sometimes I am just too lazy to go vote, especially since I really do not know the candidates. This is unlike in our specialty society, wherein I more or less know about the candidates and thus I can really make an informed decision.
PMA serves as the “voice” of the doctors. This is a difficult job, and I guess the PMA heads do try their best. But sometimes we are left wondering if the PMA is even listened to. I sometimes feel that it’s the same thing for doctors in general…people just don’t listen to us when we want to air our side.
I was told that the PMA would offer legal help to its members. Although I would appreciate this, I certainly do not want to find myself in the position of needing such legal help.
PMA and its component societies also hold some lectures and talks once in a while. Maybe this is the curse of being a specialist, but most of those topics are not exactly related to my practice. I personally think that PMA should sponsor talks that are less medical (since the specialty societies and the different hospitals handle those mostly anyway) and more oriented towards practice management. You know…things like taxes and BIR, HMOs, investing…these should benefit all doctors, struggling doctors and doctors who are a little bit more experienced alike. Let the older doctors teach us something they didn’t teach us in Medical School — how to set up a profitable but ethical practice.
For now, PMA membership for me is little more than a prerequisite to being a Philhealth health care provider. And that is so sad. Because PMA could be so much more.
Our sentiments are similar, Joey. Figures.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:46 amLast time I voted, the candidates were running unopposed. I felt that I shouldn’t have made the trip to the polling place. Or at least they should start online voting or accept those by mail.
BTW, call for entries for TBR 14 is now up.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:10 pmagain, those at the top tier of the pma are perched on the, what else, lofty top tier. parang pa-cute-cute lang. pa-convention-convention. pma should be at the forefront of propaganidizing our issues.
parenthetic personal issues. sometimes, i do wonder if i’m in the right profession. i’m not really a business-oriented person. A pragmatic business sense is de riguer for a medical practice to happen. i don’t feel milking people who are already miserable and ill. guess i’m just trying to find my niche where i don’t feel a sense of guilt.
tbr 14 noted, doktora. anyway, napansin ko lang po maxadong tight ang mga schedule ng mga TBR. JA observed it. Ako kasi, in my young age, i’m prone to doing endless tours of duty. i’ll just post TBR12 next week.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:05 pmMegaMom, Doc Em & Meloinks — I really wish I could FEEL the presence of PMA, but unfortunately, I don’t feel it until I have to renew my Philhealth accreditation and I pay 3 year’s worth of fees. What rankled me last time is that I wanted to vote (about 1 week after I paid my membership) and they didn’t let me, because I should have been a member a few months before. Does that matter, since I retroactively paid for my membership dues already for the past 3 years before the election? Haynaku!
June 16th, 2008 at 11:24 amThe Blog Rounds 13th edition is up too, in my newly “uncluttered” site, The Orthopedic Logbook. Read the some sort of survey, here.
And please don’t forget to vote ( yep, the poll beside my tag board widget, on the second column of my sidebar) about TBR’s round up frequency.
The Blog Rounds 12.75 Edition is also up at Meloink’s Blog, The Philippine Daily Idiot. Lets get the nosebleed out of PMA!
Lastly, Em Dy’s deadline for the 14th edition for TBR (paging Doc Hollywood) is fast approaching. Don’t forget to submit your post s for this TBR edition.
June 18th, 2008 at 5:58 pmBone Doc — Your post somehow ended up in my spam folder, buti nalang I checked it. Anyway I’ve answered the survey and visited your site already!
July 5th, 2008 at 2:50 pm