Prepare your favourite candidate for the election CMAJ 1997;156:1371 With the future of health care promising to be a central issue in the upcoming federal election campaign, it will be important for every candidate to sound like an expert on health care management. One way political candidates can do this is to learn about medicare and funding issues from the people who know. The CMA's MD­MP Contact Program (800-682-MDMP) provides physicians with critical information and advice that they can use to teach politicians about the reality of the problems facing the health care system. Alternatively, if the learning curve is too steep or time is a concern, candidates can use buzzwords that will give a ring of decisive, knowledgeable authority. A helpful member of the CMA Publications Committee suggests that political candidates who are too busy on the hustings to learn about health care issues should simply pick any word from each of columns 1, 2 and 3 to create a convincing phrase. These buzzwords will make them sound like they know what they're talking about. Even if no one knows what is being said, who would admit it? Column I Column II Column III integrated consultative methodologies universal evidence-based decision aids portable accessible algorithms blended nontraditional paradigms equitable single-payer delivery systems vertically responsive technologies comprehensive population-based analyses complementary transitional contingencies alternative incremental options publicly multidisciplinary innovations administered     Send a letter to the editor responding to this article Envoyez une lettre à la rédaction au sujet de cet article | CMAJ May 15, 1997 (vol 156, no 10) / JAMC le 15 mai 1997 (vol 156, no 10) | | Election '97 / Élection 1997 |