allowed our relationships with each other to disappear. We must retake control of the care of our patients and how our identity is defined. Certainly, there are financial aspects to the health care system that we cannot overlook, but we need to refocus the delivery back to what is truly needed for our patients and for our physicians. So how do we do it? First and foremost, we need to stick together. We need to continue to build our tight community of physicians working together to a better end. We need to connect and reconnect with our peers for support and strength. We need to encourage them that it is not time to give up, but time do something about it. We need to stay true and stand up for issues that are important to the physicians and patients of Louisiana. Too often I see outside states and societies tell us what they think should be our best practice. Let the physicians of Louisiana stay united that we may decide what is best for Louisiana without pressure or prejudice as we give other states that same courtesy. Secondly, we need to value the relationships that we have with our patients because that relationship is the cornerstone of healthcare. We need to put a stop to noncompete clauses in employment contracts where physicians are cast aside as a failed business commodity instead of a valuable healer to their patients and their community. We need to ensure that there is proper oversight of extended providers. There is a proven vetted medical curriculum and training that is necessary to safely diagnose and treat patients. Extended providers are certainly assets in the healthcare system but not as replacements for physicians and not delivering care alone. Thirdly, we need to help physicians navigate the bureaucracy and business of medicine so that we can focus on the relationship that means the most. We must protect the medmal cap and PCF fund that helps control the cost of malpractice insurance allowing us to continue to deliver affordable healthcare. We must continue to advocate for our patients by supporting policy and legislation that simplifies the process and mandates coverage of necessary health insurance benefits. We must not tolerate any corporate healthcare entity that limits their competition for the purpose of financial gain through deselection or diversion especially when it is not in the best interest of the patient. We must develop resources that allow physicians to maintain independence by simplifying the business of medicine through such programs as IPAs that help with tedious contract negotiation and management services for newly independent physicians.
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