Seeking Opinions on AMA Membership

The AMA is just a club. It's a big club. (It's the largest medical association in the country.) And it's a club with a lot of political clout, but it's only a club. ANYONE who is a doctor can join as far as I know. And membership doesn't mean a thing with regard to a doctor's skill. The primary function of the AMA involves political efforts. If they are anything like the ABA, they also provide training, etc. for medical professionals and members of the AMA get a discount for taking their training. My guess is that the AMA also provides some advertising for and credibility to their members.

The analog for lawyers is the ABA (American Bar Association). I'm required to be a member of the Washington Bar Association to practice law in this state, but membership in the ABA would NOT give me a license to practice anywhere in America. (I would have to become a member of each individual state.) Although the ABA is the largest organization (club) in the world and is VERY well known, membership in the ABA does not mean anything except that someone is a licensed attorney who paid a fee to join the ABA club! (So even the absolute WORST lawyers can join without any problem!) I am not a member of the ABA because I don't want/need the advertising and I don't want to pay the dues, etc. I do enroll in some of the classes offered by the ABA, but I just pay full price. Neither my legal practice nor my professional reputation is harmed in any way by my decision not to join the ABA (and I may very well join at some point in the future . . . but it darn sure won't be before my kidlets are grown!).

Good luck with your surgery! Board certification and a positive recommendation by a former patient means a heckuva lot more than being a member of the AMA!

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Julie does a great job explaining it. What I would be more concerned about is wheter or not he's a board certified neurosurgeon.

Board certification requires testing, not just paying a joining fee.

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I concur with the other moms who advise to check out real qualifying agencies for this person, but not to worry about the AMA. I am also a doctor but cancelled my AMA membership years ago because it cost a great deal and their political agenda was not my agenda. I, do, however, keep up my board certifications and licensing requirements.

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If this surgeon is working out of a hospital he has to be licensed. I would be more concerned about the state of his license, how long he's been practicing & where he went to med school. Membership in the AMA is not mandatory. Think of it as membership in AARP: just cause you're over 50 doesn't mean you need to join.

prayers for your swift recovery!

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My husband is a physician and not a member of the AMA....membership in the AMA is optional and has nothing to do with qualifications or licensing. It is more a political or lobbying arm of medicine plus there's a not so small fee to join. Perhaps you could look at your doctor's certifications or qualifications in neurosurgery. Best Wishes, EM

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A lot of people here do a good job of explaining it the fact that there is no correlation between the skills of a surgeon and a membership in the AMA. Being a physician, and prior member of the AMA, let me assure you that just about anyone who is a physician can join the AMA if you are willing to pay thier fee. (Even if you aren't board-certified, which is more important). This is not a honor society, credentialling society, or much more than a club for physicians who choose to join to support thier interest in a polictical realm. The fact your surgeon is not a member should not concern you at all. With all the societies a physician can join, each subspeciality having a society, then state, and regions, etc. and each costing hundreds and hundreds of dollars, you end up needing to be selective on which clubs you chose to join.

The things to look for are if your surgeon is board-certified, and if his license is in good standing with your state medical board (i.e. no infractions, complaints, etc.) Some states have this info available on line through the department of professional licensing.

My best to you and your future health.

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I used to work for an affiliate of the AMA. The AMA is, by and large, a political lobbying organization and advocacy group for doctors and healthcare quality in general, not one that polices or provides professional training to physicians. Many very skilled physicians and surgeons do not belong to the AMA.

What you should be looking for is whether the surgeon is board certified or board eligible in his or her specialty. Board certification denotes a higher level of training.

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Trust your intuition and do your own due diligence. If you and your hubby felt good about him, then just check up with the neurosurgery licensing board and make sure he's on the up and up. I recently read "Protecting the Gift" and learned how important it is to trust your intuition, and then do all the research you can until you feel one way or the other, then go with it.

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The AMA is a professional organization, or "club" so to speak. They can get perks for belonging, but it is not required.

It is not a reflection of his LICENSE. If you are concerned about credentials & such, check with the licensing board, not sure of it's official name.

You might talk to the staff at the hospital where he does the surgeries too, they might give you helpful information.

Hope all goes well for you with your surgery.

Ang

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B.,

A Neurosurgeon who is not a Member of the American Medical Association would concern me, and I would certainly ask him why. I'm wondering which hospital he practices at? Furthermore, I would look on the AMA website and find out what their membership requirements are, and what the perks are. I would do a lot of research before I let any Neurosurgeon touch me. I have a pretty extensive personal experience regarding the Neurosurgery Unit and the Neuro ICU at Harborview Medical Center. But not at any other hospital in the area. University Medical Center and Harborview are partners. UW Physicians work for Harborview. I am not as familiar with Neurosurgeons at Virginia Mason (have some experience there...all good), but none at Swedish or any outlying hospital.

Do a lot of research before you allow anyone to operate on you, especially neurologically. I'm sure his accreditations are good, but it never hurts to double, triple and quadruple check. You are hiring this doctor. He will be working for you. You have every right to know everything you need to know about him.

Good Luck & God Bless,

D. P.

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I would be more concerned if your neurosurgeon wasn't board certified by the neurosurgeon association. Check with the Washington State Medical Association, see if there are any complaints filed with regard to this physician's practice. Many neurosurgeons are associated with a hospital or medical center. Call your primary care physician if you're uncomfortable asking this doctor about his associations. I maybe naive, but when I had my craniotomy I never checked my n.s.'s memberships, I was concerned about where he practiced and his education (UW Medical Center, asst. dean) I wish you well.

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I am a physician. Being an AMA member is not important. Your rapport with the surgeon and his previous record is most important. The AMA is mainly an organization that lobbies for physicians. It doesn't do any regulatory oversite of physicians. Good luck with your surgery.

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Definitely ask the neurosurgeon himself to explain why not.

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