The digital age has come to the AMA’s House of Delegates.

Last month’s Interim Meeting of the AMA in New Orleans was the first to use “virtual reference committee hearings” to air debate about topics brought before the house. In the weeks leading up to the meeting, AMA members could go online and submit comments about the reports and resolutions. These virtual reference committee hearings served as an extension of the live reference committee hearings that are held at every policymaking meeting of the House of Delegates; reference committee hearings allow any AMA member and some invited guests—regardless of whether they are delegates—to offer opinions about items being considered by the house.

The virtual hearings were hosted on the AMA’s Web site and were intended to promote participation of AMA members who could not be present at the live meeting, while also expediting business at the live meeting.

Psychiatrists who are AMA members are encouraged to participate in the virtual hearings prior to the next meeting of the AMA House of Delegates in June 2012. As that meeting approaches, Psychiatric News will provide information about how to do just that. Stay tuned.