[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 119 (Thursday, September 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING NATIONAL OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE WEEK

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                        HON. CHARLES W. STENHOLM

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 2002

  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National 
Osteopathic Medicine Week, October 6-12, 2002, a week when the nation's 
49,000 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) are particularly dedicated to 
increasing the public's awareness of access to care issues.
  For almost 25 years now, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) 
and its members have celebrated the osteopathic medical community's 
unified effort to educate the nation about issues influencing the 
American health care system. I am especially pleased the theme of this 
year's NOM Week is ``Access to Care.''
  Access to care promotes appropriate entry into the health system and 
is vital to ensuring the long-term viability of rural health care 
delivery. Without access to local health care professionals, rural 
residents are frequently forced to leave their communities to receive 
necessary treatments.
  When D.O.s, student doctors and supporters of osteopathic medicine 
travel to Las Vegas, NV to attend the AOA's 107th Annual Convention and 
Scientific Seminar, nearly 8,000 will receive the latest information on 
access to care issues such as professional liability insurance (PLI), 
uninsured children, bioterrorism and mental health. I applaud the 
osteopathic medical community for emphasizing patient access issues, so 
important to the 17th District of Texas and the Nation.
  Take for example, access to children's health care. While nationwide 
participation in the State Children's Health Insurance Program has 
increased since its 1997 inception, many parents whose children qualify 
for the program have not yet enrolled them.
  And let's not forget the access to care barriers facing our minority 
populations. It is a proven fact that America's many racial and ethnic 
groups are frequently at a disadvantage on a wide-range of measures, 
including effective patient-physician communication, overcoming 
cultural and linguistic challenges, and availability of health care and 
insurance coverage.
  Access to health care can be established only when medical 
professionals are available to provide quality health care. Over the 
past few years, medical liability premiums and payments have escalated 
out of control causing health care quality, access, and cost problems. 
While some states have passed professional liability insurance (PLI) 
system reforms, not every state has effective laws in place. The 
osteopathic medical community recognizes many states face critical PLI 
system problems.
  For more than a century, D.O.s have made a difference in the lives 
and health of my fellow citizens in Texas as well as all Americans. 
Overall, more than 100 million patient visits are made each year to 
these fully licensed physicians able to prescribe and perform surgery. 
D.O.s serve the needs of rural and underserved communities and make up 
15 percent of the total physician population in towns of 10,000 or 
less.
  D.O.s are certified in nearly 60 specialties and 33 subspecialties. 
D.O.s complete and pass: four years of medical education at one of 20 
osteopathic medical schools; a one-year internship; a multi-year 
residency; and a state medical board exam. Throughout this education, 
D.O.s are trained to understand how the musculoskeletal system 
influences the condition of all other body systems. Many patients want 
their health care provider to have this extra knowledge as a part of 
their health care.
  In recognition of NOM Week, I would like to congratulate the over 
2,500 Texas D.O.s, the 453 students at University of North Texas Health 
Sciences Center at Fort Worth, and the 49,000 D.O.s represented by the 
American Osteopathic Association. Your contributions to the good health 
of the American people are commendable.




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