Physicians are at the center of the healthcare universe with regard to health access, coverage and reform. We are all familiar with the “power of the pen” (prescription pad / order form) as the starting point for all healthcare services and dollars.

But where is the physician amongst the multitude of loud voices waxing eloquently about how to revolutionize healthcare? The present chorus is filled with insurance executives, healthcare economists, politicians, hospital operators and health advocacy groups.

One of the reasons that physicians’ voices are not heard is that many are demoralized and figure that they don’t’ have a voice and that they will just have to figure out how to cope with the changes that are being imposed by others.

Even the once prestigious American Medical Association (AMA) has lost significant membership and clout. In fact, only one in four physicians are currently members.

However, most physicians are continuing to do what they love to do – take care of their patients.

While the winds of change blow strongly overhead, physicians are finding that their voices may in fact be able to sound an alarm and that they might be able to help shape their own destinies.

One of the factors in their new found empowerment is based on the old law of supply and demand. Richard Cooper, MD in his article in Health Affairs (2002) predicted a 50,000 shortfall of physicians by the year 2010 and almost 200,000 by 2020.

The biggest shortage will occur among family practice physicians and general surgeons.

These current and predicted shortages will give physicians more power / leverage in salary demand, reimbursement negotiations with payors, clout with politicians regarding regulatory changes, etc.

Once physicians get a taste of their new power, they are expected to become emboldened based on the current sense of outrage at Medicare cuts, commercial payer contract squeezed, continued pressures of employee costs and practice expenses.

Physicians are also “fed up” with medical manufacturers CEO’s and insurance executives making millions of dollars on the backs of the physicians.

Today new physician driven organizations and foundations are being started to try to give some new perspective and voice to physicians. The Internet has also open doors of communications and information sharing – WebMD, AskDrWiki, Sermo, etc

However, individual physicians are still faced with time constraints and the pressures of trying to operate their own private practices and likely with find little time to organize or network.

The true voice of the physician is most loudly hear and is most appreciated within their own practices – as the chief architect and builder of their patient’s current and future health and wellness. They are rightly known as Health Advocate Physicians.

If you would like to know more about how to become a Health Advocate Physician, visit Health Advocates Physicians