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Presidents' Message

Andrew Sherman, M.D., President, FSPMR

March 2023

Andrew L. Sherman, MD, MS, President FSPMR

Dear Fellow Members:
Good afternoon. As we end winter (OK it is Florida so winter is relative) and enter spring, I thought I would offer a different kind of dissertation this quarter. This will be in the form of “updates” of the specialty

Our first discussion centered on the need for organized medicine, the importance of FSPMR to Florida Physiatrists and a call to action to join. I am pleased to report a near 30% increase in membership. We have five “partner” organizations who have 100% membership of their physiatrists now in FSPMR. Baptist Health Miami, Memorial Healthcare System, R&E Rehabilitation & Electrodiagnostic, Brooks Rehabilitation, and University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. We are in discussions with several other Universities, and private practice groups to join this supportive club. This club affirms the commitment of each organization to FSPMR and the future of physiatry in Florida. We hope the other groups and Universities we are in discussion with will join the club and be recognized on our website.

Our second article outlined the view of myself and Dr Mark Rubenstein about the meddling, upside down profit motives of health insurance companies and HMO’s that were created to promote wellness but have done anything but that over the years. On that front we will continue to fight the “good fight” with the FMA to support only good clinical practices.

What of the State of Physiatry today? What has been done by other organizations? As I write this article, I am heading off to the AAP annual meeting in Anaheim. The AAP has posted a few of its recent endeavors: Enhancing the world for patients living with SCI, celebrating women in medicine, and addressing continued challenges to fix the problems with DEI and underrepresented minorities still in academic medicine. We were reminded that published studies have shown that a diverse and inclusive physician work force results in better health outcomes for diverse populations.

In addition, the AAPMR has listed out its highest priorities as the organization sends representatives to Washington D.C.

• Long COVID/PASC
• Physician Burnout
• Reimbursement Advocacy
• Scope of Practice
• Pain Management
• MOC Advocacy
• Telehealth Advocacy
• PAC Reform

Do these priorities align with what physiatrists need here in the State of Florida? I guess that remains to be seen. Certainly, I can’t argue against the merits of each of these priorities.

As far as the FSPMR goes, are there other priorities that are more uniquely Florida that may have been missed? The graying of America for instance? The increasingly difficult time we are having getting our elderly patients approved for their inpatient Rehabilitation Benefits despite evidence based medicine that shows clear efficacy over sub-acute, or SNF in certain conditions and profiles? How about hurricane preparedness and the effects of hurricane damage specifically on the disabled population? What else is important to physiatrists in Florida that is uniquely Florida? I encourage you to consider this, let us know at FSPMR, send emails, write, and contribute articles for our quarterly newsletter. Attend our Annual Meeting in July in Tampa, and finally, encourage your colleagues to join and then the FSPMR too can have a voice in the priority conversation of the FMA, the AAP, and the AAPMR and other organizations.

As far as the FSPMR goes, are there other priorities that are more uniquely Florida that may have been missed? The graying of America for instance? The increasingly difficult time we are having getting our elderly patients approved for their inpatient Rehabilitation Benefits despite evidence based medicine that shows clear efficacy over sub-acute, or SNF in certain conditions and profiles? How about hurricane preparedness and the effects of hurricane damage specifically on the disabled population? What else is important to physiatrists in Florida that is uniquely Florida? I encourage you to consider this, let us know at FSPMR, send emails, write, and contribute articles for our quarterly newsletter. Attend our Annual Meeting in July in Tampa, and finally, encourage your colleagues to join and then the FSPMR too can have a voice in the priority conversation of the FMA, the AAP, and the AAPMR and other organizations.

Well that is all for now. Until next time…

Andrew L. Sherman, M.D,
President FSPMR