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Monmouth County, NJ - Dr. Joseph Clemente is nervous...nervous for the medical profession, nervous for medical practices everywhere, and most of all, nervous for the patients. The cardiologist, who practices at Medical Health Associates, Middletown, can no longer remain silent about changes he believes will deal a devastating blow to the entire healthcare system - the advent of the new healthcare bill mandating government-managed healthcare. "Nobody ever asks us - the working physicians who advocate for our patients on a daily basis - what we think," Clemente said. "The government wants to pass a healthcare bill before anyone even knows what's in it. We have no say. After all, running a medical practice is running a business. Prices are going up, and many doctors are on the verge of going out of business. We need to take back our practices now," he added.

Clemente, who noted sadly that many patients already feel that physicians don't spend enough time with them - is fighting back and is enlisting the help of his fellow physicians as well as the general public. Capitalizing on the ‘strength in numbers' philosophy, he recently founded www.Doctors4Change.net, a membership-based, non-profit, political action organization which will provide physicians with a forum to communicate, opportunities to educate both themselves and the public about the potential effects of healthcare legislation, and to contribute financially to political candidates. Clemente noted, "While doctors are not passive, they just don't have the time to organize. In general they are just used to complying, and this is why I have started the organization." He believes that if healthcare is to be run by the government, then the right people need to be elected.

Membership in www.Doctors4Change.net is open to any physician for a monthly fee, part of which will be used for website maintenance. The majority of monies collected will be dedicated to the organization's political action committee (PAC), which will fund pro-doctor candidates, according to Clemente. "We will assess the candidates by questionnaire and by polling our membership. Funds will then be released to the candidates," Clemente said. He explained that the organization will provide further support to endorsed candidates by hosting fundraisers, hiring telemarketers to communicate with the candidates' constituents, by creating infomercials, by purchasing advertising, and by writing editorials. He hopes to reach the over 60,000 physicians who practice in New Jersey and explained that the web portal will feature a forum for physicians to exchange ideas and to express opinions. "The goal is to recruit and inform doctors as well as the patients," Clemente added, "and to find real solutions from physicians by asking important questions." Plans are being developed for a ‘sister' website which will allow members of the public to participate.

Clemente is optimistic that the organization will grow and become a resource to both the medical community and the public-at-large. He foresees the formation of a statewide chapter and hopes to expand to a national level. Information on membership in www.doctors4change.net is available by viewing the website or by contacting Dr. Joseph Clemente at (888) 901-5267.

(VIDEO) - Dr. Joseph Clemente, founder of Doctors4Change.net, speaks to NJ physicians, political public servants and Bayshore Courier News at his home on Saturday May 8.