Healthcare is a massive industry, so the abundance of reputable professional societies for physicians to join is no surprise. You can easily fill a bowl of alphabet-soup listing organizations – think AMA, AAPS, ACP and AMWA. There are so many, in fact, that picking an association to join may seem like an inconsequential matter.
A recent study said otherwise, however. The Practice Profitability Index, a joint study conducted by QuantiaMD and CareCloud, discovered that 41% of physicians view professional societies as a valuable source of information for improving practice operations. Only ‘fellow physicians’ and ‘conferences’ ranked higher.
This means the professional society of your choice may have a very direct impact on your practice. Therefore, it’s important to know how to decide if one of these organizations suits you.
Proximity
It’s useful to be part of a respected organization with thousands of members aiming to better the profession. Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean much if you aren’t deriving personal benefits from it.
The best way to receive direct benefits is by joining a professional society with local and/or state-wide presence. For example, the American Association for Family Physicians has chapters in every state, the District of Columbia, various U.S. territories and even Canada.
Local and regional chapters provide the chance for meetings and conferences that serve as an important networking opportunity with fellow physicians.
Specialization
Some organizations have a broader approach, while others focus on particular specialties. Although the far-reaching interests of organizations like the American Medical Association certainly have a place on the national scene, it may help to join an organization focusing on a particular specialty and/or geographical area.
The reason is obvious. Different specialties have different sets of issues and areas that need attention. Such differences are evident when perusing through the above-mentioned PPI, which demonstrates EHR adoption rates vary widely from specialty to specialty.
There are also organizations focused on certain physician demographics, such as the American Medical Women’s Association. Healthfinder is a good place to start when looking for a more specialized professional society.
Conferences and CME credits
One of the greatest benefits of joining an association is access to various conferences exclusively available to members. Besides the aforementioned networking opportunities, conferences usually feature expert panels, roundtables, and other activities dedicated to helping physicians perfect their craft.
Before becoming an official member of an organization, research what conferences you will gain access to with membership. Also, ensure you’ll receive Continuing Medical Education credits for attending since odds are your state requires them. And keep in mind – some societies offer other CME resources for their members.
The most important thing is to get as much information about an organization as you can before joining. Including the word, “physician” doesn’t make the professional society in question the best fit for you. A hasty decision could result in a waste of time and money.
Check out our Complete Guide to Practice Marketing for information about another overlooked aspect of practice management.
