NCMS Sections

Message from the Chair

By James E. Hill, Jr., PA-C, MEd

Physician Assistant (PA) members of the NC Medical Society can look to two recent successful activities which will affect PAs throughout the state.

In the first, Jim Hill viewed the NCMS Doctor of the Day program as one in which PAs could add value to their supervising physicians while extending their awareness throughout the state legislature. Physician members of the NCMS volunteer to serve a day in the state legislature, providing basic first aid to legislators and visitors at the Legislative Building. Since more serious medical events are handled by local emergency medical personnel, all physicians are encouraged to participate, no matter their specialty. In return, those physicians are introduced in both the House and Senate chambers, are offered floor privileges and have the opportunity to attend committee meetings and visit with local legislators.

Jim first sought the support of the NC Medical Board for PAs to practice with their supervising physicians at the state legislature without additional paperwork. The NCMB opinion was that while PAs could practice with their supervising physician and not have additional intent to practice forms completed, the NCMB would require that a note be sent to them (addressed to Lori King) informing the Board that the PA would be practicing with his/her supervising physician at the Legislature for that one day event. Jim then lobbied the NC Medical Society Board of Directors for approval to have PAs be part of the Doctor of the Day program with their supervising physician. Jim’s request to the NCMS was worded as below:

“I'd like to extend the Doctor of the Day opportunity to those NCMS physicians who volunteer and include his/her PA. This would highlight the physician/PA team concept to other physicians and to legislators and would encourage additional physician/PA memberships in the NC Medical Society (another benefit of membership). The privilege would be extended only to those physicians and PAs who have a formal supervisory relationship with the NC Medical Board and who are both members of the NC Medical Society.”

Linda Carter, Executive Assistant to NCMS Executive VP and CEO Bob Seligson, sent Jim the following approval:

Jim,

Bob wanted me to send the approved wording of the action taken by the NCMS Board of Directors on your request concerning PA participation in Doctor of the Day Program. Below is from the NCMS Board of Directors Minutes:

The Board received a request for PAs to participate in the NCMS Legislative Doctor of the Day Program. After discussion, the Board concluded that it was appropriate for PAs to participate in the Doctor of the Day program along with their supervising physician who was serving as Doctor of the Day and encouraged their participation under this guideline.


Linda J. Carter
Executive Assistant to EVP, CEO
North Carolina Medical Society
lcarter@ncmedsoc.org
919-833-3836 (ext. 135)
919-833-2023 (fax)


The hours for the Doctor of the Day program are as follows (when the Legislature is in session):

Monday – 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Tuesday to Thursday – 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

For those PAs wanting to sign up with their supervising physician, please call Jean Lewis at (800) 722-1350 or email jlewis@ncmedsoc.org to schedule a day or to seek further information.

In the second initiative, Jim Hill, Mickie Adams and Bud Shelton, representing the NCMS PA Section, volunteered for the NCMS “White Coat Wednesday” on April 25 in Raleigh, visiting and speaking with about 10 legislators to support the Medicaid physician cost adjustment amendment which had been taken out of the original Medicaid funding approval. Senator Purcell, who is also a physician, introduced Jim, Mickie and Bud during the hearing session.

On a final note, The NCMS PA Section Teen Suicide Prevention project has come to an end after a successful multi-year initiative. The PA Section is considering a project involving adolescent and adult obesity, the next “health epidemic” on the horizon. The NCMS Annual Conference, to be held in Charlotte October 18-21, intends to include one of its CME topics on obesity pending other more detailed plans by the PA Section. If you would like to help with this project, please e-mail Jim Hill at jehilljr@mindspring.com.

Remember my personal daily philosophy as you continue to serve patients in NC: Learn Something New. Do Good. Have Fun.

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