[June 1996; Vol. 23 No. 2]
Maryland psychiatrists and MPS are establishing more ties with Med-Chi, Maryland’s state medical society. As we report this month, Med-Chi has elected Tom Allen, M.D. as President-Elect. He will become the 150th president of Med-Chi next year. Other Maryland psychiatrists who are MPS leaders have been active in Med-Chi and in their county medical societies. For a few examples: Dr. Allen rose to be President of Baltimore County Medical Association, as did Mayer Liebman, M.D. Marianne Benkert, M.D. has taken leadership positions in BCMA and in Med-Chi, with peer review activities.
MPS has also worked with Med-Chi in Annapolis, and in the past few sessions Med-Chi support has been an important factor in passing bills protecting patients’ interests. These have included bills on managed care gag rules, managed care appeals mechanisms, and point-of-service insurance options. In addition, Med-Chi and MPS have teamed up to work on patient access, Medicaid reform, and patient confidentiality.
MPS peer review and ethics proceedings are now strengthened because we use Med-Chi as a partner, while retaining our autonomy as a specialty society. Maryland’s Board of Physician Quality Assurance has been able to hold psychiatrists accountable to the same standards of practice as other physicians. Both these changes have been accomplished in partnership with Med-Chi. And, The Maryland Psychiatrist is produced and published with the help of Virginia Carter of Med-Chi.
In short, MPS and the practice of psychiatry in Maryland benefit greatly from our connections with Med-Chi, and physicians increasingly view psychiatry as an integral part of the medical world. All Maryland psychiatrists gain from this. It is only appropriate that we also contribute to the work of our medical colleagues. While many MPS members also belong to Med-Chi, more than half of us do not. Consider joining Med-Chi and your county medical society; it can be good for you and your profession.