What will happen to our patients and our profession if physicians lose their voice? For the last 170 years that question has not been an issue because the doctors who supported the Wisconsin Medical Society have provided one unified voice to policy makers and citizens of the state. Today, as the physician/patient relationship increasingly comes under assault from outside interests, the need for a unified voice has never been stronger.

We are the only organization, at 12,000 members strong, that had the clout to challenge the state of Wisconsin’s raid on the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund in 2010–and win. Together we delivered a victory to patients, their families, and the profession of medicine. That success continued in August 2011, when the state returned $234 million to the Fund, including interest.

From maintaining a stable medical liability environment to leading efforts on health care reform and access, the Society is there, at the table, representing the voice of physicians. And with your feedback, we are innovating ways to help physicians manage day-to-day demands through risk management services and education, time management tools, and timely health care industry updates.

The Society focuses every day on efforts like these to ensure you can focus on what matters to you—caring for your patients.

Member Benefits

Advocacy for you and your Patients
We follow hundreds of legislative bills each session, ensuring that the physicians’ voice is represented at both the state and national levels. Earlier this year, the Society lobbied successfully for passage of legislation (2011 WI Act 2) that eases concerns for physicians for felony criminal charges if medical errors occur.

Today we are working with lawmakers to drive passage of the Physician Apology Bill—legislation aimed at promoting better conversation between a physician and patient or patient’s family following an adverse medical outcome. (AB 147/SB 103)

Physician Representation
The Society works to elevate the physician perspectives in key discussions with a seat at the table in the following organizations and government agencies/entities: Medical Examining Board, Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO), Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund Board, Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ), Wisconsin Health Information Technology Extension Center (WHITEC), and Wisconsin State Health Information Network (WISHIN).

Risk Management Services and Education
The Society provides a number of legal resources to members including

• A Physician’s Guide to Health Law: A Collection of Frequently Asked Questions—From employment contracts to medical records release, to HIPAA compliance and more, this online resource provides members-only access to information on a variety of key legal issues affecting health care. (Member login required.)
• Legal hotline—If an answer to members’ legal questions isn’t included in our health law FAQs, members can contact our legal hotline for general answers to their practice-related questions.
• Major case summaries and other health law information—Our staff legal experts prepare articles and summaries of key court decisions and other legal issues that will impact physician practice, in addition to providing an attorney resource list for members seeking the services of a private attorney. (Member login required.)

Member Insurance Plan Discounts and Enhancements
The Society’s insurance agency is dedicated to the unique needs of Wisconsin physicians, clinics and hospitals. Offering a full line of insurance products, Wisconsin Medical Society Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. provides solutions to minimize insurance exposures. Members insured with ProAssurance may qualify to earn premium discounts on their medical professional liability insurance in addition to policy enhancements.

New for 2012, groups insured through the member benefit program can receive a credit to be used towards the purchase of education and performance improvement programs offered through the Society. Please call us at 866.442.3810 for more information.

Health Care Updates
We keep members informed about key health care issues and legislative topics through our website and publications:

• WMJ—Published six times a year by the Society, WMJ is our peer-reviewed, indexed scientific journal. An important resource for staying abreast of medical trends in the Midwest, it’s also an excellent venue for physicians and other health care professionals seeking to publish their work.
• Medigram, our weekly electronic newsletter, features timely news and information on key health care issues and practice management topics including government regulations and legislative updates, legal issues and more.

Professionalism
The Society supports the profession by making physicians leaders in health care discussions and champions of the overall well-being of the people of Wisconsin.

In 2010, the Society launched the Center for Medical Practice Research and Education after Society-led workgroups examined Wisconsin Health Information (WHIO) data and identified variations in the way physicians diagnose and treat health conditions. The Center’s focus is on analyzing these variations and using best practices to reduce health care costs without compromising the quality of patient care.

In addition to providing scholarships, student loans, grants and summer fellowships, the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation brings together medical professionals, students, public health organizations and others to improve community health through its new CHAMP teams (Community Health Action via Medical Partnership).