Acronym

The first day of the 2010 Healthcare Association Conference in Chicago ended with an Oxford-style debate. Two opposing teams of three represented each side of the argument that the successful implementation of healthcare reform is dependent upon healthcare associations speaking with one voice.
While the views that each team member weren't necessarily reflective of their personal or organizational opinions, each participant took to the stage to passionately argue in favor of their team's stance.

The proponents of speaking as one argued that the healthcare community must work as a strong unit to improve care for the individual patient. One loud voice, they argued, makes legislators listen and it's the duty of a collective of healthcare associations to work for healthcare reform before it's too late. "The power of associations is our diversity and the power which we represent. We come together strongly. When we speak together, we can solve problems," said Paul Pomerantz, CAE, worldwide executive director for Drug Information Association.

On the flip side of the discussion, debaters argued that diverse discourse is the key to making changes to the flawed healthcare reform bill. There is no piece of legislation is perfect when it is passed and spirited debate is how you make improvements.

Murray Sagsveen, CAE, general counsel for American Academy of Neurology, likened the issue to being a CEO. As a CEO, he said, you should accept diverse opinions and not just praise for good ideas, which can be disingenuous. "That kind of robust discourse always leads to a better decision, in my opinion. In healthcare reform it should lead to a better fine-tuning of the current law. We all represent diverse interests, and we should not abandon the diverse interests of our members to speak with one voice."

Countering Sagsveen was Frank S. Wilton, CAE, IOM, senior vice president, membership and marketing for AdvaMed, who said that the work with healthcare reform is not done and that "we have an obligation to show leadership. To talk to our members, to listen to our members ... . What if the leaders in this room through ASAE came together and agreed on one principle? ... And say we stand for patients? We represent our members and this is what we stand for. I think we should think big."

Moderator David M. Romanelli, instructor/director of debate at Loyola University of Chicago took questions from the audience for the panels during the debate and ended with taking a standing vote to determine the winners. When it comes to creating alliances with other associations to impact politics or public opinion with one voice, which side would you stand for?