From advocacy and medical economics to physician services and day-to-day decision-making, the Texas Medical Association Board of Trustees’ five-pronged strategic plan is in full play in all facets of TMA’s operation.
Last month, Texas Medicine looked at the first of that plan’s goals, championing physician leadership. This month, Texas Medicine outlines the second goal, which includes strategies to help medicine build healthy communities through physician relations so patients and physicians can achieve peak wellness.
“As physicians, we are natural leaders of the health care team and often that extends into our communities,” said Ray Callas, MD, TMA president-elect. “It’s important we work toward creating the best health care systems for the people in our communities and state. That also means taking care of our own [physician] health.”
To achieve that goal, TMA’s strategies are:
- Access to care: Remove barriers to the best care for all Texans;
- Public health crisis/public health response: Respond to Texas’ health care needs with available, evidence-based resources to guide policy and develop solutions;
- Physician wellness: Provide resources to enhance physician well-being; and
- Workforce: Support development and funding of a robust, diverse, and competent workforce.
TMA already is achieving this goal through year-round advocacy to ensure patients have access to their physician. During the 2023 legislative session, TMA won sustainable solutions that expand access to care in the short term while shoring up Texas’ physician workforce in the long term. These 2024-25 investments are in graduate medical education, physician residency programs, and medical school tuition loan repayment.
As the COVID-19 pandemic wound down, so, too, did TMA complete a three-year comprehensive, rapid-response effort during the public health crisis to help physicians through the turmoil, and the association continues to provide trusted and timely information related to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
With the stress brought on by the pandemic, among other challenges, TMA also launched Anticipate Joy, a new program to provide confidential, online counseling services to physicians licensed in Texas and their immediate family. Physicians can choose from a diverse network of therapists to address work stress, anxiety and depression, relationship issues, and more.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues to achieve strong and healthy communities that improve the health of our member physicians, their families, and their patients,” Dr. Callas said.