Abstract
The Kansas Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery maintains an active participation in the Academy's BOG, and locally works hard to keep its members involved and informed of Academy activities, federal, state, and local legislative issues, and maintains very active liaisons with Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance carriers.
Representatives are appointed to liaison committees for the 3 major payers and report back to the membership, along with the BOG representatives, at semi-annual meetings of the membership. These are typically attended by about a fourth of the Society's 50 to 60 active members. About 90% of the state's practicing otolaryngologists are Society members. Modest annual dues support these meetings, quarterly fax updates to all members, the Society's 24-hour fax and voice mail, a broadcast fax network, and the Society's web page.
Several members have been actively involved in the state's legislative proceedings, and with the help of a very supportive state medical society and its lobbyists both track and offer input on selected bills that might impact the specialty, as well as introduce legislation at the request of the membership or the Academy. This strong network, with much appreciated help from Academy representatives, has succeeded during the last 3 years in the passage of infant screening and prompt payment legislation following guidelines developed and recommended by AAO-HNS.
Duties in carrying the Academy's message about the role of otolaryngologists to the public have been directed by the BOG representatives, but shared by a number of members in both academic and private practice, with frequent presentations to both physician and lay audiences throughout the state, in addition to interviews with newspaper and television reporters in many communities. These educational efforts are of course aided by the very visible public involvement in legislative efforts and carrier relations discussions, always as an advocate for the patient.
Because of the important role communication plays in maintaining member involvement in its activities, recent educational efforts have centered on computer and Internet proficiency. In the last 3 years, the number of members online has gone from less than 30% to almost 80%, and the broadcast fax network, which replaced mailings at about that time, is being converted to an Internet-based distribution system. Presentations on ENT Link and COG*ENT have been given at both of this year's meetings and were well received, with KSO-HNS members at recent count comprising almost a third of the participating Academy members nationwide in the latter program.
The Kansas Society of Otolaryngology demonstrates how, with effective leadership and encouragement, even a small society can be a very effective force in educating the public and legislative representatives about our specialty, and, more importantly, in improving our ability to serve our patients better.