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About NCMS

Accomplishments

This past year has proven to be a year of growth, challenges, and change for the North Carolina Medical Society and its more than 12,000 members. Throughout the year, the NCMS made a significant impact on the following areas for the benefit of its members:

Regulatory and Legislative Efforts

  • Continued to work with health care leaders on improving the health care system through meaningful reforms.
  • Tackled the impact of health care reform legislation by hosting a successful ACO Summit and educational sessions on LEAN Healthcare, as well as created a robust web page focusing on all relevant issues pertaining to the Accountable Care Act. The Medical Society also continues to post a series of articles in the weekly Bulletin newsletter focusing on specific topics found in the Accountable Care Act that will impact patients and practices. In addition, an ACO Task Force was created to explore the concept of accountable care and the impact it can have on health care delivery.
  • Expanded the Physician Hospital Issues Committee to address issues facing physicians in their relationships with hospitals, including updating the Model Medical Staff Bylaws to incorporate MS .01 .01 .01.
  • Partnered with medical practices throughout the state to host sit-downs with legislators to discuss important health care issues and build relationships between physicians and their legislators.
  • Forged a more powerful physician presence at the General Assembly and strengthened physician-legislator relations through the record physician/PA attendance at the White Coat Wednesday advocacy program.
  • Advocated on behalf of physician members with regulatory bodies such as the Medical Board and among third party payors. The NCMS scored a significant win for physicians from the State Health Plan due to swift and sharp response on the SHP's initial plan to pursue reimbursement from physicians who treated patients who were later determined to be ineligible for the SHP. This input from the NCMS resulted in the SHP deciding not to seek payment from physicians on this issue.

Public Health and Quality of Care

  • Developed educational programs and materials for health care providers on the new advance directives laws and MOST form, positioning the NCMS as a leader in the state and the nation on end-of-life issues.
  • Focused on Quality of Care and Performance Improvement by working with BCBSNC and other payors to develop physician-driven, payor-funded quality programs for specialty care, beginning with orthopaedics.
  • Continued to work on strengthening the mental health care system of North Carolina with renewed efforts on substance abuse.
  • Worked with public health officials to improve our readiness for disasters and infectious disease epidemics.

Leadership & Service

  • Inducted 19 new scholars to the Leadership Scholar Program, an effort created by the NCMS Foundation to train physicians and physician assistants in leadership skills that will help shape the future of medicine within the state. Scholars are active in many ways: serving on NCMS committees or as component society officers; becoming involved in local professional activities; and spearheading community service projects that will benefit North Carolina patients and physicians.
  • Assisted medically underserved areas through the Community Practitioner Program, which places physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in rural or underserved areas in exchange for loan repayment. You can help the CPP Program by supporting the NCMS Foundation today.

Practice Management Assistance

To ensure that North Carolina physician practices thrive, the NC Medical Society Foundation's PractEssentials initiated several new services focusing on practice management.

  • The PractEssentals Practice Management Center provides a wide range of resource materials and tools for physicians, medical directors and practice managers. These resources cover the full spectrum of business issues associated with running and working in a successful medical practice. The PractEssentals Practice Management Center provides a wide range of resource materials and tools for physicians, medical directors and practice managers. These resources cover the full spectrum of business issues associated with running and working in a successful medical practice.
  • The Doctor to Doctor Blog promotes communication among NCMS members on the latest news affecting medical practices.
  • The PractEssentals Educational Series and LunchTime Lessons webinars offer opportunities throughout the year to gain more knowledge in creating an efficient and successful practice. Check out the Calendar of Events for the latest sessions.
  • The Member Resource Center is your online FAQ clearinghouse. Have a question regarding your practice and don't know where to turn? View our FAQs and if you don't find the information that you are seeking there, submit your own question and our Member Resource Specialist will find the answer for you. Since this program's inception in 2006, the Member Resource Center has responded to over 3, 900 requests for assistance.
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