As we put a bow on 2016, and kick off a new year, let's take a minute to celebrate the strides we've made -- thanks to the wonderful support of our members. We still have a lot of work to do, but let's measure our progress by the distance we've traveled.
Top 10 Highlights of 2016
1. We doubled in size. Thanks to your support, AID expanded and added staff. In March, we moved into dedicated office space and added a second full-time employee. We all owe a big thank you to our founders for letting AID use the offices of Thomas, Zurcher & White, until we could fly on our own. AID Executive Assistant April Spencer brought to the cause a background of more than 12 years of experience in medical marketing for physicians. We also fortified our intern program, and now have a steady rotation of health administration student interns from the University of Central Florida and Rollins College.
2. We celebrated two more anti-trust victories. Working closely with the Federal Trade Commission, AID helped enforce antitrust laws in two well-publicized hospital merger cases this year. In June, after reading one of AID's editorials, the FTC's head of litigation called and asked for our help in blocking the merger of two large health systems in Central Pennsylvania -- Hershey Medical Center and Pinnacle HealthSystems. The FTC knew of our prior success in helping to unwind the merger of a large hospital system and a 45-doctor medical practice in Idaho. So, as in the Idaho case, AID wrote and filed an amicus brief, or friend-of-the-court opinion, arguing that the mergers would raise costs, harm patients, and seriously reduce competition. A month later, at the FTC's request, we wrote another amicus brief to help halt the merger of Advocate and NorthShore Health Systems in Northern Illinois.
In both cases, the respective U.S. Courts of Appeals ruled in our -- and the FTC's -- favor. So we are now three for three with the FTC. As a result of our good working relationship, our founders Tom Thomas and Carol Zurcher met with several FTC Bureau of Competition attorneys in Washington, DC, last July, to give them a first-hand account of how the hospital consolidation of medical groups is harming patients, communities and America. AID Executive Director Marni Jameson Carey followed up with a second FTC meeting in December, and explored more ways we can stop hospital-medical group mergers. We look forward to working with this agency further in 2017.
3. We broke the halfway mark. In August, AID added its 26th state, Ohio, officially putting our members in more than half the country. Since then we have expanded to 31 states, significant when you consider that we started the year with members in 13 states. Today we maintain chapters (where we have a concentration of 15 or more doctors) in Florida, Maine, Los Angeles, and South Carolina.
4. We spread the word. Twice this year, AID embarked on a national media campaign to educate consumers on the importance of choosing an independent doctor. This public service announcement (pictured) continues to go to media outlets nationwide asking patients to choose an independent doctor to save money, then refers them to AID's growing online directory.
5. We got covered. Having landed a place on the national stage, AID has been interviewed by or written for dozens of media outlets this year. Providing a voice for independent doctors that has long been missing from the discussion, AID representatives have offered an authoritative voice in such outlets as Medical Economics, Becker's Healthcare, Medscape, and Physicians Practice, and many local newspapers around the country. We continue to have a monthly column in Florida MD and Triangle Physician, which serves doctors in North Carolina. In addition, we keep an active social media presence on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. (If you don't already, please like and follow us.)
6. We spoke up and out. AID presented at many conferences in 2016. Marni Jameson Carey spoke twice this year on Capitol Hill at the National Physicians Council on Healthcare Policy. In addition, she spoke to the American Bar Association, in Chicago; the National Society of Certified Healthcare Business Consultants, in Palm Springs; The American College of Private Physicians, in Las Vegas, as well as at regional physician meetings in South Carolina, Florida and Vermont.
7. We forged partnership. AID partnered with three sponsor companies this year welcoming Kareo, a medical billing company; Allyne Health, a healthcare consulting group, and Michael Saunders & Co. Commercial - Gail Bowden Team, which specializes in medical office space. These partners all teamed up with AID because they share our vision for helping independent doctors and work with members to offer benefits.
8. We held our first conference. Marking another major milestone, in November AID hosted its first -- of what will be more -- conference, Independence in Action 2016, at Walt Disney World's Swan Resort, in Orlando. More than 125 doctors and health professionals from across the country attended the conference, which featured world-renowned speakers and proved a fantastic networking opportunity.
9. We stayed in touch. During the rest of the year, we kept members informed and involved not only by listening to and interacting with our growing membership but also by sending frequent member updates. You should have received 53 Member Updates from AID last year sharing news about our activities and relevant industry reports.
10. We formed a network. Recognizing that other groups are fighting to preserve doctors' independence, and stop government, hospitals and insurers from their burdensome intrusions and regulations, AID has collaborated and formed ties with other physician groups to leverage our message. We have formed a consortium and speak regularly.
Not bad for a three-year-old organization. As the nation undergoes what is sure to be a dramatic change in health care this coming year, AID is honored and ready to be part of that change.
All of us at AID wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy new year.
