Purpose and Priorities
TMA's Purpose
The Tennessee Medical Association is a professional organization for doctors created to enhance the effectiveness of physicians throughout the state to protect the health interests of patients. Its primary purposes are to define and promote:
- Quality, safe and effective medical care;
- Public policy to protect the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship, improve access to and the affordability of quality medical services;
- Ethics and competence in medical education and practice;
- Open communications between the medical profession and the public, fostering a better understanding of the capacities of medical practice.
TMA's Priorities
- Keep organized medicine healthy, flexible and relevant in today’s changing medical and healthcare environment. The TMA has undergone dramatic change in its 130-year history and must continue to stay vital and influential in all arenas of healthcare.
- Foster strong relationships and maintain a strong advocacy role within the Insurance industry. Our physicians are dealing with a constantly-changing, complex insurance landscape, both governmental and private. We are committed to smoothing the way for our profession and our patients when it comes to what insurance covers and how. (Insurance Industry)
- Build and strengthen the association so we can continue to effect positive change for the good of Tennessee patients and their physicians. The more unified the voice of Tennessee physicians, the more impact we have on issues that matter to the health of Tennesseans. (Membership)
- Regularly and effectively communicate the priorities, goals and concerns of Tennessee physicians to policymakers, patients and the public, and provide ways for physicians to connect with each other. (Communications)
- Unify the House of Medicine by cultivating collegial, mutual interest and advocacy partnerships with medical specialty groups. (Specialty Society Relations)
- Raise up new generations of physician leaders to point the way to good medicine in the future. The TMA is dedicated to investing in and developing a culture of leadership to identify, train and equip doctors who will inspire their colleagues and take the profession where it must go. (Cultivate Leadership)
- Continue the fight for a more equitable and less hostile medical liability climate in the State of Tennessee. The TMA achieved a victory with a new law establishing a certification process for medical liability lawsuits, but there is more to be done to reform the current system. The TMA is committed to monitoring the changes and lobbying for additional reforms. (Medical Liability Reform)