plan, many rural communities are building offices or small hospitals and equipping them with modern medical apparatus as inducements for young doctors. In Kansas, for example, this procedure attracted 67 new doctors to communities of 2,500 or less persons in only two years. Many of these towns had not had a doctor for years.We have been and will continue to be concerned when patients tell us they have difficulty in reaching a doctor in an emergency or during night hours. In 1948 there were only 60 night and emergency telephone centers sponsored by county medical societies. Last year this total had grown to 650. And these centers are continuing to increase. Every medical society in the country should initiate and finance this type of service.Likewise, every family should select for itself a family physician in whom it has confidence and whose advice will be followed in emergencies and when seeking the services of specialists. In establishing this family-physi¬ cian relationship there should be no hesitancy in discus¬ sing fees. Every patient should feel perfectly justified in requesting a frank discussion of fees with his doctor. Mutual understanding of the economics of medical care is most important, and I would like to encourage both patient and physician to develop such an understanding.I have told you tonight of some of our activities in public service to the nation and of the great progress made in American medicine. Time will not permit a more detailed description of our activities, but these are a matter of record available for the perusal of all.We shall continue to support all programs for the good of the public health, as we have done over the years. With but one exception there has been no major federal health law enacted that was not sponsored or supported by the American Medical Association, and the one exception turned out to be such a failure that Congress refused to renew the act when it expired.We shall fight with all of our strength matters that are not in the public interest. The American Medical Association throughout its history has been a champion of sound progress in medicine. It has had to fight many battles against quackery, against political interference, and against slipshod medical training and practice. An organization cannot be a strong, fearless leader without creating bitter enemies and staunch supporters. We have both today.If anyone can present a plan of medical care or a way of life that is an improvement on the American way, we shall listen with attentive ear. But we will not compromise American freedom and ideals. Nor are we disposed to support anything but the best in medicine. In our care is the health of the American people. Its improvement is our sole and constant goal. We shall be true to this trust.407 Madison Ave.
