MMS Mission and Strategic Priorities

Our Mission

The Massachusetts Medical Society was established as a professional association of physicians by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in an Act of Incorporation, Chapter 15 of the Acts of 1781. Section 2 of that Act states:

"The purposes of the Massachusetts Medical Society shall be to do all things as may be necessary and appropriate to advance medical knowledge, to develop and maintain the highest professional and ethical standards of medical practice and health care, and to promote medical institutions formed on liberal principles for the health, benefit and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth."

Our Vision and Strategic Direction

"The Massachusetts Medical Society will continue to be a proactive organization. We will advocate for the shared interests of patients and our profession. We seek to unite all physicians and serve the common interests of the profession. Our goals are to enhance and protect the physician-patient relationship and to preserve the physician's ability to make clinical decisions for the benefit of patients. The Society will continue to encourage the development of standards for high quality care. We will continue to promote our code of ethics to physicians, patients, and the public. We will work collaboratively within the profession and with the public. The Society will address the professional needs of physicians and take a leadership role in the development of health care policy. We will promote medical education, training, research, and the continuing education of physicians. We will communicate clearly and effectively with our members and the public to build awareness of and support for our goals."

MMS House of Delegates, November 8, 1996

Strategic Priorities 2011-2012

The MMS strategic priorities for 2011–2012 are the following: improve health care quality, access, equity, and cost-effectiveness for the Commonwealth and promote a sound public health system. The purpose of the Society is to strengthen and support physicians in order to better care for patients.  The goals for our strategic plan, rooted within the long-term objective of quality improvement and the effective control of health care costs, include:

• Advocacy and physician outreach: regarding payment reform, and practice and health reform initiatives at the state and federal levels
• Patient care advocacy: physician-led efforts regarding ensuring data is available to them for quality improvement initiatives and performance measurements on physicians that are scientifically valid, reliable, and meaningful, with data that are accurate and reviewable.
• Physician community expansion: enhance the Society’s value to all physicians regardless of their employment structure, by implementing new modes of education and communication, including growing the number of physicians in all areas of the state.

Strategic Priorities for 2011–2014

The Massachusetts Medical Society’s strategic priorities for 2011–2014 are the following: improve health care quality, access, equity, and cost-effectiveness for the Commonwealth and promote a sound public health system. The goals for our strategic plan rooted with the long-term objective of quality improvement and the effective control of health care costs include:

• Playing a leadership role in developing a sustainable model of health care delivery that will preserve the integrity of the doctor patient relationship and ensure the best care for patients.
• Advocating for practice viability, including appropriate payment reform efforts, professional liability reform, a sustainable physician workforce and an optimal practice environment.
• Remaining fully engaged in the health reform debate and communicating issues to the membership.
• Ensuring that the performance measurements are valid, reliable and data are accurate and shared with physicians in a transparent and meaningful way with the right to appeal.
• Promote public sharing of clinical and practice data, including evidence-based guidelines and knowledge through effective educational interventions, and collaborative efforts.