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Record attendance at ACP Internal Medicine Meeting, Tom Daschle gives keynote

BOSTON ─  Today’s opening ceremony began with applause as Steven E. Weinberger, MD, FACP, executive vice president and CEO of the ACP, announced that this year’s meeting is the largest attended internal medicine meeting hosted by the organization, which is celebrating 100 years.

Steven E. Weinberger

Attendees can choose from over 200 educational sessions and have the opportunity to earn 50 Maintenance of Certification points by attending sessions, completing multiple choice question modules and participating in workshops in the Herbert S. Waxman Clinical Skills Center. Both Weinberger and ACP President David A. Fleming, MD, MA, MACP, encouraged the audience to attend as many sessions as possible, and connect with old friends and colleagues.

Keynote address

As part of the ceremony, former Sen. Thomas A. Daschle, D-SD, provided the keynote address. On behalf of millions of Americans, Daschle expressed his gratitude to the ACP and its members for their service over the last 100 years and their commitment to the health of our nation.

David A. Fleming

“… Your advocacy, research, dedication to your profession and amazing commitment you’ve made to improving the quality of health for all Americans has not gone unnoticed and is deeply appreciated,” he said. “It can be said that you have improved the quality of life of millions of Americans and saved the lives of many more.”

In his speech, Daschle addressed the current state of health care in the U.S., as well as the changes and challenges we face.

“As we celebrate this centennial, it is also accurate to say that we are now experiencing the greatest transformation in health that this organization and our country has known in the entire existence of the ACP, and therein lies great opportunity, great uncertainty and, in some cases, even great peril. What can be said is that those advocates of the status quo are very unlikely to survive; this is a transformational moment that effects the lives, the outlook and the future of all of us.”

Changes abound

Citing the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, Daschle said evidence of health care’s transformation can be seen all around us. As of Jan. 1, patients are no longer denied health insurance for preexisting conditions, women will pay the same insurance premiums as men, lifetime annual limits are a thing of the past, and young people under the age of 26 years can gain access to health care under their parents’ plans. However, there is more work to be done in terms of costs and lack of collaboration, as well as good access to and quality of care.

“I would argue that there’s a common goal as we look at what unite us as Americans, what unites the parties and philosophies. I don’t think you’ll get much disagreement around the assertion that our goal is to provide a high performance, high value health care marketplace with better access, better quality and lower costs. That’s really what we’re trying to do,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Daschle remains optimistic and predicts the advent of more health care delivery systems, shared risks and savings, improved chronic disease management and improvements in infant mortality in the future.

In closing, Daschle paraphrased Nelson Mandela, stating, “We have what many have viewed as an impossible task these last many years.” However, he said “The actions of leadership and commitment, and the dedication that you’ve already shown … [demonstrate that] this too can be done.” – by Stacey L. Adams

For more information:

Daschle TA, et al. Opening Ceremony. Presented at: ACP Internal Medicine Meeting; April 30-May 2, 2015; Boston.