The California Medical Association (CMA) is proud to launch the Your Care Is At Our Core Campaign in partnership with the American Medical Association (AMA) to strengthen the patient-physician relationship during a time of eroding trust in science and medical institutions.

In recent years, mis- and disinformation, as well as battles over the COVID-19 pandemic, science, and evidence-based care, have created challenges for physicians and health care workers. These factors have chipped away at the patient-physician relationship, which forms the foundation of providing quality care.

“Caring for our patients is at the heart of why so many physicians choose medicine,” said CMA President Shannon Udovic-Constant, M.D. “We deeply value the trust our patients place in us, knowing that earning and maintaining that trust is essential to delivering high-quality care. That’s why it’s critical to address the growing challenges to medicine — from declining trust in science to administrative bureaucracy that pulls us away from patient care — so we can continue to provide the best possible treatment.” 

“Physicians are drawn to medicine to heal and to change lives for the better,” said AMA President Bruce A. Scott, M.D. “Too often these days administrative burdens, red tape, and obstacles like prior authorization eat into our time with patients and create barriers in the patient-physician relationship. Building and maintaining this relationship is critical for establishing trust and achieving positive health outcomes in our communities, and we must make that our focal point.”

The data bear this out – 89% of patients say that the doctor-patient relationship is central to health care, and 79% of patients say that bureaucratic red tape hinders physicians’ efforts to provide the best care to patients.^[1] Despite patients’ desire for more attention and access, third party actors in the health care system, including health insurance companies, pharmacy benefit managers, hospitals, and others are severely limiting the amount of time physicians can spend with their patients, as well as curtailing access to treatments physicians can provide to treat and comfort their patients. Patients who need care can often feel vulnerable, and establishing a meaningful patient-physician relationship is necessary to building trust and providing them with the most effective care and treatment.

Physicians across the country are advocating for less bureaucracy and more time with their patients. CMA will continue to highlight and amplify these efforts through the Your Care Is At Our Core campaign.

^[1] Results from a National Online Survey of 1,000 voters conducted March 8-10, 2023 on behalf of the AMA. 

 About the California Medical Association

Representing more than 50,000 physicians, the California Medical Association (CMA) mission is to promote the science and art of medicine, protect public health, better the medical profession, and achieve health equity and justice. For over 165 years, CMA and its component medical societies have represented California’s physicians as the recognized voice of the medical profession. Keeping pace with the changing realities of the practice of medicine and the business of health care, CMA elevates physician voices to ensure that the real-world experience and diverse perspectives of California physicians and patients are heard and the interests of physicians in all practice settings are protected.

About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physician’s powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises, and driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.