J Korean Med Assoc.  2016 Dec;59(12):963-968. 10.5124/jkma.2016.59.12.963.

Empowerment of Korean Medical Association with KMA Policy system developing

• Lee E
• Lee JC
• Kim SY
• Choi JW

• KMID: 2364061
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2016.59.12.963

Abstract

Recently, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) launched the KMA Policy system based upon the American Medical Association (AMA) Policy system. The KMA's official positions on health issues and medical ethics, as well as its constitution, bylaws, and directives, will be included in the KMA Policy system. The AMA's organizational structure and decision making process provided essential information for developing the KMA Policy system. Through the KMA Policy system, hereafter, the KMA should introduce a procedure not only to decide upon positions on various health issues but also a means to open them to the public. In addition, the KMA can expect the continuity and transparency of work, enhanced benefits to members, public credibility, and growth of its social reputation by means of KMA Policy. Furthermore, the system would be beneficial for both KMA members and the public, as they can easily access KMA Policy, and, in turn, access the healthcare systems of Korea and its medical knowledge. To achieve a successful KMA Policy system, the definite authority and responsibility should be granted to the organizational bodies of the KMA, for example, the House of Delegates and Board of Trustees, and the regional societies and other sections. These various groups must then efficiently divide up their work and cooperate systematically. Moreover, it is crucial that each individual member of the KMA pay much more attention to health issues and participate in the decision making process on KMA Policy.

Keyword

American Medical Association; Policy; Decision making; Governance; Medical ethics

MeSH Terms

American Medical Association
Constitution and Bylaws
Decision Making
Delivery of Health Care
Ethics, Medical
Financing, Organized
Humans
Korea
Power (Psychology)*
Trustees

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The AMA Policy-making process. Reproduced from American Medical Association. AMA Section on Medical Schools. The AMA and SMS: what we do and how we do it. [Internet]. Chicago: American Medical Association; 2014.

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  Fig. 2 Categories of KMA Policy.

Reference

1. Korean Medical Association. Articles of Korean Medical Association. Seoul: Korean Medical Association;2016.

2. American Medical Association. House of Delegates reference manual: procedures, policies and practices [Internet]. Chicago: American Medical Association;2014. cited 2016 Nov 1. Available from:http://www.mag.org/sites/default/files/downloads/ama-hod15-refmanual.pdf.

3. American Medical Association. AMA Section on Medical Schools. The AMA and SMS: what we do and how we do it. 2014 [Internet]. Chicago: American Medical Association;2014. cited 2016 Nov 1. Available from: https://www.amaassn.org/sites/default/files/media-browser/public/about-ama/who-we-are/i14-sms-simons.pdf.

4. KMA Policy Special Committee. Result report of KMA Policy Special Committee. Seoul: Research Institute for Healthcare Policy;2016.