AAHPM Winter Quarterly 2011 : Page 7

WINTER 2011 7 in their recommendations policies to expand access to pal-liative care and hospice for all Americans. AAHPM mem-bers left a copy of the letter with congressional offices they visited during the fly-in, as it explains how these valu-able services deliver both higher quality and lower cost. The need for constituent-based advocacy continues even after Academy members return home from Washington. “To be an effective advocate, it is not about who you know, but who knows you or your organization,” says Hart. “Your time in Washington and communicating with your representative and senators at home builds individual rela-tionships as well as elevates the visibility of the Academy.” Academy members can access resources for effective advocacy on the AAHPM website, including a grassroots communication training audio recording and slides. Find your lawmakers, track their votes, and contact them via e-mail using AAHPM’s Legislative Action Center. Click “Take Action” on aahpm.org. Following their participation in AAHPM’s Capitol Hill Days, some Academy members shared their thoughts: Ronald J. Crossno, MD CMD FAAFP FAAHPM The nature of palliative care is such that everyone involved in hospice and palliative medicine has a stake in the decisions made by policymakers. Failing to pro-vide input or be involved in health policy advocacy is like trying to practice hospice and palliative medicine without ever doing advance care planning. Not doing either is a decision to allow others to make those deci-sions. And we all know how that works out. Paul E. Tatum III, MD FAAHPM The members of Congress of both parties are really approachable and eager to hear physician input about health care. It is going to take local relationships and connections regardless of party or other politics in order to improve the health care of the seriously ill. Every voice counts. Drew A. Rosielle, MD The FDA yanking morphine concentrate elixir off the market a couple years ago was a huge wake-up call for us as a community—that we needed to have a voice and a seat at the table to advocate for what our patients and professional community need. There are real, emerging changes in our healthcare system, and hospice and palliative medicine needs to be an impor-tant part of those changes. We won’t be, unless we advocate for ourselves. Steven M. “Skip” Radwany, MD FACP FAAHPM While I feel we are all obligated to be advocates for our field in our own unique ways as opportunities arise, organized, informed advocacy magnifies our impact and moves our specialty and our patients forward. David Wensel, DO The staff of my representatives are hungry for good, reliable information. We need to offset some of the false information that is spread by the media. I am hopeful that my contact with them will encourage my representatives to visit our hospice and palliative care programs the next time they are back home. Laura Cunnington, MD We are all affected by the legislative process. We should let our elected officials know what we want. There will always be problems in the medical field. It’s time to be part of the solution. R. Morgan Bain, MD This was my first opportunity meeting Congressional leaders and their staffers to advocate for our field. They were very welcoming and eager to listen about topics regarding palliative care education. My representative even invited me to see legislation in action through a vot-ing session the evening we met. Overall, my experiences were enlightening, inspirational, and life-affirming for the career I have chosen in hospice and palliative medicine. VOL. 12

Following their participation in AAHPM’s Capitol Hill Days, some Academy members shared their thoughts:

Ronald J. Crossno, MD CMD FAAFP FAAHPM The nature of palliative care is such that everyone involved in hospice and palliative medicine has a stake in the decisions made by policymakers. Failing to provide input or be involved in health policy advocacy is like trying to practice hospice and palliative medicine without ever doing advance care planning. Not doing either is a decision to allow others to make those decisions. And we all know how that works out. Paul E. Tatum III, MD FAAHPM The members of Congress of both parties are really approachable and eager to hear physician input about health care. It is going to take local relationships and connections regardless of party or other politics in order to improve the health care of the seriously ill. Every voice counts. Drew A. Rosielle, MD The FDA yanking morphine concentrate elixir off the market a couple years ago was a huge wake-up call for us as a community—that we needed to have a voice and a seat at the table to advocate for what our patients and professional community need. There are real, emerging changes in our healthcare system, and hospice and palliative medicine needs to be an important part of those changes. We won’t be, unless we advocate for ourselves. Steven M. “Skip” Radwany, MD FACP FAAHPM While I feel we are all obligated to be advocates for our field in our own unique ways as opportunities arise, organized, informed advocacy magnifies our impact and moves our specialty and our patients forward. David Wensel, DO The staff of my representatives are hungry for good, reliable information. We need to offset some of the false information that is spread by the media. I am hopeful that my contact with them will encourage my representatives to visit our hospice and palliative care programs the next time they are back home. Laura Cunnington, MD We are all affected by the legislative process. We should let our elected officials know what we want. There will always be problems in the medical field. It’s time to be part of the solution. R. Morgan Bain, MD This was my first opportunity meeting Congressional leaders and their staffers to advocate for our field. They were very welcoming and eager to listen about topics regarding palliative care education. My representative even invited me to see legislation in action through a voting session the evening we met. Overall, my experiences were enlightening, inspirational, and life-affirming for the career I have chosen in hospice and palliative medicine.

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