President’s Message
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situation. Large hospital systems are also not immune to the devastation of this virus. From a health care standpoint, the system could be crippled if the numbers of infected patients outpace the available medical resources. Already many of us are seeing shortages of fairly standard things such as cleaning supplies, masks, gloves, goggles, etc. Even the large medical institutions face a tremendous economic crisis with the current pandemic. Due to limited access for patients in our offices, it is imperative that we have the ability to utilize telemedicine as an option to take care of our patients. However, Pennsylvania is one of a handful of states that still do not provide full coverage for telemedicine. The PSG is working hard to try to push for insurance coverage for this very important tool in treating our patients.
Although the PSG is almost 40 years old, we have always strived to maintain relevance and advance the needs of our members as we adapt to the changes in medicine. We are fortunate here in Pennsylvania to have a very robust specialty society for gastroenterology. I do not take for granted the hard work of my predecessors who had built our great organization to what it is today. Our team continues to strive to grow the organization and remain impactful. The field of medicine is constantly changing. Our field of gastroenterology, in particular, is no exception and is undergoing rapid changes. In the current environment, there has been increased consolidation of medical practices, hospitals and health systems within our own state. As mentioned in our previous communications, private equity investment has been a relatively new player in healthcare.
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Over a short period of time, there has been a large expansion of private equity across our country. Indeed, Pennsylvania is one of a select number of states that has seen more recent private equity investment in gastroenterology. It is highly likely that this influence will continue to grow in our state and across the USA. The PSG will keep you updated with these changes and other news as it relates to GI in our state. As healthcare providers in the field of gastroenterology, we need a strong voice to represent our interests as well as our patient’s interests. The PSG is that voice and we will continue to advocate for legislation that aims to optimize our ability to take care of our patients in an efficient and compassionate fashion. However, we cannot do it alone. We need your support and your input more than ever. What we are experiencing currently as it relates to the pandemic is frightening, and we must work
