PRESIDENT’s MESSAGE

FSPMR Newsletter December 2023

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                Back from a successful AAPMR national meeting in New Orleans.  Was amazing to see so many participants at the FSPMR cocktail hour. Physiatry in Florida is strong!  As we move forward as a state, many key elements came out of the meeting.

                First is the concept of collaboration between the top Rehabilitation departments in Florida.   High level discussions were seen occurring between multiple state leaders.  The overriding theme was that the demand for PM&R services is increasing yearly, beyond the capacity of programs to deliver them.  The other theme continues to be how to advance the ideals of the AAPMR Bold to continue to grow the specialty of physiatry within Florida. It does not hurt to have four of the top 50 rehabilitation hospitals in the US in Florida. Finally, was how to leverage the influx of prior national AAPMR and AAP and department chairs into Florida in leadership roles such as Deans of Medical schools.

                Balance the optimism with multiple challenges that lie ahead.  Inpatient rehabilitation oversight and regulation continues to threaten the access to care the disability population needs.  Limits and frank elimination of proven helpful interventional spine procedures such as facet joint intraarticular injection in the elderly by the FL Medicare carrier has occurred and must be fought and overturned. Finally, a projected future undersupply of physiatrists is countered by new PM&R residency programs that have opened throughout the state.

                Given the ever-increasing numbers of PM&R trainees, it is heartening to see new learning opportunities coming online. Recently the FSPMR and FSIPP organizations partnered to sponsor the first annual young attending physician/fellow/resident interventional pain hands-on conference outside of Orlando. This was a great success as over 62 attended.   For PM&R residents and fellows, transportation and tuition were paid entirely by the FSPMR via your dues payments and funds obtained from industry.  This is how FSPMR is putting those dollars to work, giving back to elevate the skills and quality of care delivered by young physiatrists. Any member interested in starting an event that would serve to elevate the knowledge base in any way for physiatrists in Florida please contact FSPMR through Executive Director Lorry Davis, myself, or any member of the board for sponsorship and potentially financial support.

                That’s all for this quarter!  My warmest wishes to all physiatrists in Florida, their families and loved ones in the holiday season. May all your holiday dreams come true and here is hoping for an even better 2024!

 

                Sincerely,

             Andrew Sherman, MD, MS

                Andrew Sherman, MD, MS

                Professor, and Interim Chair, University of Miami Miller
                              School of Medicine Dept of PM&R

                President FSPMR