Local Facility Celebrates National Day of Recognition for Long Term Care Physicians—
March 20
[CITY, STATE] — [FACILITY NAME] recognized the role of physician leaders in quality, personcentered care by celebrating the annual National Day of Recognition for Long Term Care
Physicians on March 20. This initiative started as an effort by the Georgia Medical Directors
Association, a state chapter of AMDA – Dedicated to Long Term Care Medicine (AMDA),
honoring the memory and work of AMDA founder and Georgia native William Dodd, MD, CMD.
The U.S. Congress formally designated the special day in 2010.
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“The national recognition of the valuable role physicians play in long term care facilities and in
the care of our nation’s growing elderly population was an important milestone. AMDA is
pleased that [FACILITY] has taken this opportunity to honor physicians and the good work they
do every day,” said 2012-2013 AMDA President Matthew Wayne, MD, CMD. He added, “The
dedication of these physicians to providing excellent patient care goes above and beyond the
ordinary. Their passion is inspiring.”
Dr. Dodd was a community physician who recognized that residents of nursing homes were
patients with complex medical problems and that physicians needed to be involved in
establishing the standards of management and clinical care for the frail elderly and other long
term care facility residents. A pioneer who espoused the value of teamwork and personcentered care, Dr. Dodd once said, “We promote peer education, assistance, and consultation
among physicians on nursing home staffs. We assist non-medical providers and consultants of
nursing home care in maintaining high standards of patient care. Those we assist include
owners, administrators, nurses, paramedic personnel, social service personnel, dietitians,
rehabilitation personnel, government agency personnel, and all auxiliary personnel. We assist
in establishment and maintenance of high standards of care for patients of all ages in nursing
homes. We assist the family and laymen in understanding and accepting nursing home medical
patient care.”
AMDA is the national professional association representing medical directors, attending
physicians, and other professionals practicing long term care medicine. The organization has
established a special page on its website for this event:
http://www.amda.com/about/nltcd.cfm. Future issues of Caring for the Ages, AMDA’s news
magazine, and other AMDA publications will feature stories about how [FACILITY] and others
across the country celebrated this special day and honored their physicians.