The Nebraska Medical Association (NMA) is proud to launch the Your Care Is At Our Core Campaign in partnership with the American Medical Association (AMA) to strengthen America’s bond between physicians and patients.
Over the past few years, physicians have faced growing reputational challenges ignited by partisan battles over the COVID-19 pandemic, science and evidence-based care, and the prevalence of mis- and disinformation. These factors have distracted us from what matters most – America’s physicians and the care they provide to patients.
“Physicians are compassionate healers who are committed to being their patients’ strongest ally in getting the care they need,” said AMA President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, M.D., M.P.H. “Physicians train for years to help patients live longer and healthier, not fight against bureaucracy and red tape. Prioritizing quality time between a patient and their physician is essential to providing better care, and it’s time we get back to that.”
The data speaks for itself – nearly all (96%) Nebraskans believe that it is important that a physician be involved in their diagnosis and treatment, and nationally 79% of patients agree that red tape bureaucracy makes it harder for physicians to provide the best care to patients.
Unfortunately, decisions made by third parties like insurance companies and others in health care are dramatically limiting the time physicians can spend with their patients. Physicians understand that time spent listening to, responding to, and treating patients is essential to providing the quality care patients deserve. Health care can be an especially vulnerable space for patients, and establishing a meaningful relationship is necessary to build trust and provide the most effective care and treatment.
“Physicians should be doing what they do best, providing comprehensive medical care for each person they serve,” said NMA President John Trapp, M.D. “This care is best done within a physician-patient relationship built on mutual trust and respect. Providing access to effective, high-quality, and safe health care is at the core of being a physician.”
Physicians are physicians because they want to treat patients: to understand their health care needs, how to best help them, and provide the care they need to get better. That’s why physicians in Nebraska are working to spend more time with patients so that patients and physicians have the time together to make the best health care decisions. It’s important to keep physicians at the center of patient care.
Learn more at nebmed.org/yourcareisatourcore.
