NCMS Spotlight: Dan McKearney, PA-C
This month we feature Dan McKearney, PA-C, for his thoughts on why and how to improve the state’s Controlled Substance Reporting System (CSRS). Learn more about this 2017 Leadership College alumnus’ research on one way to alleviate the opioid abuse epidemic in our state.
For more information on Mr. McKearney's Leadership College project, watch his MEDTalk.
Next month’s Spotlight will focus on John L. Reynolds, MD, our 2018 NCMS President. Meet Dr. Reynolds, learn about his leadership style and his goals for his year as NCMS President.
MEDTalks 2017: Richard Bunio, MD, Anne Cotter, MD & Miriam Schwarz: Opioid Prescription Practices Western NC
Miriam Schwarz and Drs. Bunio and Cotter share their Leadership College project on "Opioid Prescription Practices in Western North Carolina."
MEDTalks 2017: Nada El Husseini, MD on Self-Managed Time Off
Dr. Nada El Husseini, a vascular neurologist at Wake Forest Baptist Health, delivers her MEDTalk on "Faculty Perception of Self-Managed Time Off: Experience from a Single Academic Medical Center".
MEDTalks 2017: M. Lynn Silkstone, MD on Implementing Screening Tools
Dr. Lynn Silkstone, a pediatrician in Winston-Salem, shares her findings from her Leadership College Project: "Implementing a Screening Tool for Identifying Psychosocial Concerns in Children".
MEDTalks 2017: Cormac O'Donovan, MD & Susan Melin, MD on Physician Burnout
Dr. Cormac O'Donovan, a neurologist at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Dr. Susan Melin, an internal medicine physician at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, surveyed the spouses of WFUBMC residents to gauge their perception of burnout in their physician partners.
MEDTalks 2017: Connette McMahon, MD, on Long Acting Reversible Contraception
Connette McMahon, MD, FACOG, MBA, an OB-GYN physician in Fayettville, shares her Leadership College project findings: "Influencing Patients in Private Practice with the aid of the Choice Project YouTube Videos to Choose Long Acting Reversible Contraception."
MEDTalks 2017: Daniel McKearney, PA-C, on Barriers to Effective Use of the NC CSRS
Daniel Mckearney, a family practice physician assistant in Raleigh, researched barriers that prescribers and pharmacists face when utilizing the NC Controlled Substance Reporting System and offers recommendations on improving its usage.
Thank you for making the 2017 M3 Conference a huge success!
This year’s M3 – Merging Medicine and Management – Conference was a huge success, bringing together more than 280 physicians, PAs, medical students, medical group managers and practice administrators to learn, to socialize, to be inspired by colleagues and to just have a good time. John L. Reynolds, MD, was sworn in as the North Carolina Medical Society’s 164th president; awards were given and the 2017 Leadership College scholars graduated to go forth and lead. Read this Wednesday’s Bulletin for all the M3 details or visit www.ncm3conference.com for some highlights.
Bowtie Briefing for Sept. 1, 2017: NC Med Board News; 'Garbage Juice' Bill Developments
Helpful Links:
House Bill 770 - Various Clarifying Changes
House Bill 576 - Allow Aerosolization of Leachate
House Bill 403 - Behavioral Health and Medicaid Modifications
M3 Conference
Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) extends its thoughts and prayers to those affected by Hurricane Harvey. We are in touch with our colleagues at the Texas Medical Association (TMA) and they recently provided information on how we can help, both by volunteering and by donating to the TMA Family of Medicine Disaster Relief Program. Below are links to some ways you can help those who have been caught in the wake of Harvey's devastation.
Donate Your Time: Physicians Wishing to Volunteer in Texas
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has temporarily suspended all necessary statutes and rules to allow health care providers employed by a hospital and licensed and in good standing in another state to practice in Texas to help with Harvey disaster response. E-mail health care provider information (provider's name, provider type, state of license, and license identification number) to: [email protected].
Expedited permit information for out-of-state physicians not affiliated with a hospital.
Volunteer Your Time Via Telemedicine:
North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) member Karyn Hargett, MD, a pediatrician in Jacksonville, sent information about her work with R.O.W.E., a Houston-based telemedicine network of 60 physicians in 21 states. Dr. Hargett, as a part of the ROWE network, is seeing patients -- both in and out of Houston shelters -- virtually and without charge. As noted above, the Texas Medical Board has allowed temporary medical licenses for physicians seeing patients affected by the hurricane. That includes out-of-state physicians who would like to see patients virtually. RoweDocs is working closely with the Houston Mayor's office and is a part of the disaster relief efforts.
If you would like to help by see patients virtually, please email: [email protected] or [email protected] -- indicate "HARVEY help" in the subject line.
Support Disaster Relief Funds
Red Cross: You can make a donation by texting HARVEY to 90999 to help the Red Cross or visit their website to make a gift.
Salvation Army: Support the Salvation Army by texting STORM to 51555 or visit their website to learn more and make a donation.
Related Articles:
NPR: Here's How You Can Help People Affected By Harvey
Huffington Post: Hurricane Harvey's Public Health Impact Extends Beyond Flooding
NY Times: Where to Donate to Harvey Victims (and How to Avoid Scams)
Bowtie Briefing for August 4, 2017: Special Session Re-Cap
Chip Baggett, JD, provides a quick re-cap of the special session that took place at the NC General Assembly yesterday.
NCMS Takes Firm Stand on Federal Health Care Legislation
As the debate over the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) aka Obamacare continues to unfold in Washington, DC, you can be assured that your medical society has been working diligently on Capitol Hill and with local and national stakeholder groups to make sure any legislation protects — and enhances— your patients’ access to affordable, high quality care.
North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) President Paul R.G. Cunningham, MD, NCMS CEO Robert W. Seligson and longtime NCMS member and past president of the North Carolina Pediatric Society and the American Pediatric Society David T. Tayloe, MD, were on Capitol Hill last Thursday, meeting with Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, when Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) unveiled revisions to the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). The BCRA subsequently has been removed from consideration having failed to gain enough support among Republican Senators to bring it to debate.
Our top priority is to maintain or improve upon the number of North Carolinians who have affordable, meaningful insurance coverage. We asked the Senators to reconsider any per capita cap on Medicaid funding to states and cuts to the ACA Prevention Fund, which includes money for the NC State Health Department, a preventative health block grant, immunization programs, and heart disease program.
Just after Senate leadership unveiled its revised plan to repeal and replace the ACA, the NCMS and the North Carolina Hospital Association (NCHA) sent a joint letter to Sens. Burr and Tillis outlining our opposition to the proposal. Read the letter. When the initial legislation was introduced several weeks ago, the NCMS joined with nine other state medical societies throughout the country in a letter to Senate Majority Leader McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Shumer (D-NY) opposing that version of the legislation. Read the Coalition letter.
“The whole approach needs to change,” NCMS President Dr. Cunningham said after the BCRA failed to be deliberated by the full Senate. “If this whole exercise is important, it will require patience and persistence by somebody in leadership. And who is leading this — doctors, health care organizations, insurers, third party providers?”
The AMA, many state medical societies and health care organizations as well as insurers opposed the BCRA for reasons similar to the NCMS — loss of state funding to care for the most vulnerable citizens and reduced coverage for many.
While the lawmakers in Washington, DC, have yet to decide whether or how to pursue changes or repeal of the ACA, the NCMS remains in communication with our Senators and Congressional Representatives on a regular basis with personal visits, and ongoing meetings with legislative staff and phone calls. At the most effective time, we will call on you to contact our Senators and Representatives.
Please feel free to add your comments below.
Bowtie Briefing for June 30: Session Adjourned
Chip Baggett, NCMS Senior VP for Advocacy and Advancement, provides the final Bowtie Briefing for this session, summarizing the outcomes of this legislative session that impact the profession of medicine.
NC Medical Board’s Opioid Prescribing CME Requirement Takes Effect 7/1
The North Carolina Medical Board’s (NCMB) new CME requirement for physicians and physician assistants who prescribe controlled substances of any kind takes effect July 1. For details on the requirement as well as a list of CME offerings to fulfill it, visit the NCMB’s website.
Last Call for Photo Submissions for This Year’s Contest!
The deadline for submitting your entry into the 2017 NCMS Photo Contest is this Friday, June 30th. Be sure to look through your pics and choose your favorite to send in. Review the rules and prize information for the contest.
Bowtie Briefing: Surprise NCGA Health Care Bills and Reaction to US Senate 'Better Care' Reveal
It's been a week of transformation at the NCGA, as two health care bills that started out with one purpose have now morphed into bills with completely different goals. Chip Baggett gives you the details on these two proposals and how they may impact you and also shares the NCMS' thoughts on the newly released Senate 'Better Care Reconciliation Act.'
NCMS Statement on Senate 'Better Care Reconciliation Act'
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) has significant concerns with the portions of the recently released Senate health care plan that would revamp the way federal funds are allocated to our Medicaid program. Financing through a block grant as proposed would considerably limit North Carolina’s ability to make up funding shortfalls to support our nearly 2 million Medicaid beneficiaries without reducing eligibility, curtailing benefits or cutting provider payments. While states would be given more flexibility in setting eligibility and benefits for Medicaid patients, the funding shortfalls would negate any advantage to the state and leave our neediest patients with limited or no coverage.
While the NCMS continues to support bipartisan improvements to the Affordable Care Act, this latest plan would be detrimental to our state’s most vulnerable citizens and their access to basic primary care.
MEDTalks -- Angela Meredith, PA-C on Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking
Angela Meredith, MS, PA-C, presents her 2016 Leadership College project on the topic of "Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking in the Healthcare Setting"
MEDTalks: Predrag Gligorovic, MD on Generational Change Among Providers
2016 Leadership College Scholar Predrag Gligorovic, MD presents his project on Generational Change Among Providers.
Bowtie Briefing for June 16, 2017: Breaking Developments
Chip Baggett highlights two bills that moved this week, including a proposed Senate Committee Substitute for HB 403 "LME/MCO Claims Reporting/Mental Health Amendments," which passed through the Senate Health Committee despite some unappealing changes to the original bill that would affect Medicaid Reform provisions set in 2015. Chip breaks down the specifics for you and urges you to contact your legislators on this issue.
Related Links:
Proposal Would Make Major Changes to Medicaid Reform Provisions
Proposed Senate Committee Substitute H403
Submit Online Nominations for NCMS Board Positions
To make it easier for you to nominate your colleagues for North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) leadership positions, this year we have an online process. Simply go to this link, create an account and make your nomination. The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 7, 2017.
This year, the open positions are:
NCMS Board of Directors:
- President-Elect
- NCMS Secretary-Treasurer
- Board of Directors, Region 3 Representative
- Board of Directors, Region 4 Representative
- Board of Directors, At-Large Member
Nominating & Leadership Development Committee positions for election:
- Region 2 Representative
- Region 3 Representative
- Region 4 Representative
To review who currently serves on our Board of Directors and see the geographic location for each of our regions, visit our Board of Directors webpage.
Bowtie Briefing for June 9, 2017: All About the Budget (and a Special Session)
This week was all about the budget at the General Assembly. Chip Baggett sums up the developments on this front and also touches on Governor Cooper's call for a special session on redistricting.
Bowtie Briefing for June 2, 2017: House Budget Passes; NCMS Board Strategizes
Related Articles:
NCMS Prioritizes Improving North Carolinians’ Health and Expanding Professional Leadership
House and Senate Budget Comparison
Optometrists Seek to Perform Surgery
STOP Act Seeks To Curb Opioid Poisoning Epidemic
Bowtie Briefing for May 26, 2017: House Budget Reveal
Chip Baggett shares some more details on the recent NC DHHS hearings on Medicaid reform, his brief analysis of the just-released NC House budget and the current status of a few scope-of-practice bills.
NCMS President Paul Cunningham, MD - NC DHHS Medicaid Listening Session
Paul R.G. Cunningham, MD, president of the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) spoke at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) listening sessions in Greenville and Raleigh. In his remarks below at the Raleigh session, he addresses several of the key points on which NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, had asked for input.
Michael Stoiko, MD Speaks At NC DHHS Medicaid Listening Session
Michael Stoiko, MD, a pediatric intensivist with Coastal Children's Services in Wilmington, spoke at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Medicaid listening session held in Raleigh on May 16. Dr. Stoiko told the heartrending story of a 5-year-old with asthma who arrived brain dead at the emergency department because the parents had no access to regular primary care for her. He said it is not possible for the state to become stronger or compete on an global level if our kids are sick and urged the state to make children a special carve-out within the Medicaid program.
Jennifer Van Vickle, MD - NC DHHS Medicaid Listening Session
Jennifer Van Vickle, MD, a diagnostic radiologist in Raleigh specializing in the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer.
She told the audience that the best way to improve quality of care is to improve access to care in North Carolina.
James Foster, MD - NC DHHS Medicaid Listening Session
James Foster, MD, a Raleigh cardiologist, called for expanded coverage for those low-income North Carolina residents who don't currently qualify for Medicaid benefits. He recounted the many patients he has seen over the years with heart failure, stroke or end stage renal disease, which might have been prevented if they could have afforded regular care for chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes.
Elizabeth Campbell, MD - NC DHHS Medicaid Listening Session
Elizabeth Campbell, MD, a Wake County oncologist, said that expanding Medicaid would help health care facilities throughout the state stay open by providing additional funding. Regardless of income level, if the local hospital is forced to close, citizens loose access to care, she said.
David Tayloe, Jr , MD - NC DHHS Medicaid Listening Session
David Tayloe, Jr., MD, a Goldsboro pediatrician, termed the move to Medicaid managed care "the worst thing the North Carolina General Assembly has ever done." He went onto say that "if we have to live with it then we have to make sure we hold onto some things that are in Community Care of North Carolina going forward."
Charlie Rhodes, MD - NC DHHS Medicaid Listening Session
Charlie Rhodes, MD, a family physician from Mount Pleasant, NC, and the president of the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, urged that primary care be the foundation of Medicaid reform and that administrative burdens must be minimized or eliminated and require the state to use the existing care management infrastructure.
Bowtie Briefing for May 19, 2017 - Medicaid Hearing Wrap-Up
Chip Baggett provides a wrap-up of the recent Raleigh Medicaid Reform hearing by NC DHHS and also sums up the rest of the week's developments.
Related links:
- To submit your comments on Medicaid Reform, email: [email protected].
- Senate Budget Summary
- Membership Mixer details
MEDTalks: Kim Vuong, MPH on Pediatric Nephrology Co-Management
Medical Student Kim Vuong, BS, MPH, presents her 2016 Leadership College project on "Pediatric Nephrology Co-Management at UNC"
MEDTalks: Setting Patient Expectations with Dr. Zoe Stallings
MEDTalk featuring Dr. Zoe Stallings' 2016 Leadership College Project
"Setting Patient Expectations: Patient Orientation and Patient Satisfaction Scores"
MEDTalks: Physicians & the ACA - Drs. Patel, Barzana, and Lisson
MEDTalk featuring the 2016 Leadership Project of Dr. Bhavik Patel, Dr. Scott Lisson and Dr. Daniel Barzana
North Carolina Physician Attitudes Towards the Affordable Care Act and the Drive Towards Value-Based Reimbursement: Are Physicians Really On-Board?
MEDTalks: Physicians & the ACA - Drs. Patel, Barzana, and Lisson
MEDTalk featuring the 2016 Leadership Project of Dr. Bhavik Patel, Dr. Scott Lisson and Dr. Daniel Barzana
North Carolina Physician Attitudes Towards the Affordable Care Act and the Drive Towards Value-Based Reimbursement: Are Physicians Really On-Board?
Bowtie Briefing: Senate Budget Highlights
Chip Baggett summarizes the NC Senate budget and its impact on health care.
Bowtie Briefing: The Calm after the Crossover Storm
Chip Baggett revels in the post-Crossover calm but shares the importance of remaining ever-vigilant on the issues still facing health care professionals.
Related Links:
US House of Representatives Pass Revised American Health Care Act
Legislative Update: Staying Vigilant after 'Crossover'
Bowtie Briefing: Special Crossover Update
It was Crossover week -- meaning it was a long, hectic week filled with late nights and lots of policy talk down at the General Assembly. In this special report filmed at the Legislative Building, Chip Baggett sums up crossover results and shares some other important announcements.
Bowtie Briefing for April 21, 2017: Crossover's Coming
Get ready for Crossover! Chip Baggett explains how next week's important deadline will impact the legislative landscape. In addition he highlights an insurance bill on which he urges NCMS member action and also a new NCMS task force dedicated to medical team issues.
Tell Your Legislator That You Oppose S629 - Health Care Services Billing Transparency
The NCMS is strongly opposed to SB 629 – Health Care Services Billing Transparency [Primary Sponsors: Sen. Ralph Hise (R – Madison), Sen. Wesley Meredith (R – Cumberland)], which calls for a benchmark fee for any service provided to a patient by an out-of-network provider if an in-network provider is available to meet the patient’s needs without unreasonable delay. This proposal would hinder the ability of any doctor to negotiate a fair contract with a health insurance company.
The bill states an out-of-network provider’s total payment for care or for emergency services is reasonable if it is equal to the benchmark amount. An out-of-network provider would be required to send a bill to the insured individual who is responsible for paying in-network cost sharing, but the patient would have no legal obligation to pay the remaining balance when the benchmark applies.
This bill further states that no provider would be able to bill insured individuals for services at a greater rate than the benchmark amount nor would the insurer be required to make any direct payment to the provider.
The benchmark would be calculated as the smallest amount among the following:
- 100 percent of the current Medicare payment rate;
- Health care provider’s charges;
- Median concentrated rate for the same service in a similar area.
Those providers who fail to comply would be deemed engaging in unfair and deceptive trade practice.
We ask that you send this ACTION ALERT to your legislators asking them to oppose this proposal.
Bowtie Briefing for March 31, 2017: Cohen confirmation, STOP Act developments and more
Chip Baggett highlights several legislative developments this week, including forward movement on the confirmation hearings for DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, updates on the opioid STOP Act, and more.
View Senate Health Committee Confirmation Hearing with Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH
View the 3-29-2017 House Health Committee Hearing where the STOP Act revisions were presented.
Karin R. Minter, MD, MPH, Named 2017 NC Doctor of the Year
As part of the NC Doctors’ Day celebration on March 30, Karin R. Minter, MD, MPH, FAAP, was named 2017 NC Doctor of the Year.
Dr. Minter is a pediatrician with Burlington Pediatrics in Burlington, NC, where she has practiced medicine since 2006. She shares, "I always knew I wanted a career in medicine, but the decision of which field to enter was difficult. It comes down to my fundamental belief that all children are good. So I chose to commit myself to children. It’s fulfilling to provide the best, most thoughtful care that I can to young patients and their families. I strive to make it a personal experience." This approach seems to be working for her, as she received the most online votes of the 10 NC Doctor of the Year Award finalists, making her the winner.
The award comes with a $5,000 prize to be used to further a professional or community project of the winner’s choosing. Dr. Minter plans to split the funds among two worthy charities: Alamance County Partnership for Children and Reach Out and Read of Alamance County. As she explains, "They (Reach Out and Read) make such a big impact to promote literacy by distributing books to kids through pediatricians, and they are really deserving."
NC Doctors’ Day, spearheaded by the NCMS, is the homegrown celebration of National Doctors’ Day. Starting in February, patients, colleagues, family and friends nominated doctors who exemplify the best qualities of caring, compassion, clinical expertise and community involvement. Numerous doctors were nominated through the NC Doctors’ Day website (www.ncdoctorsday.org). In mid-March, 10 finalists were selected from among the nominations to participate in an online voting contest. These extraordinary physicians represent various specialties and are from across North Carolina.
The nomination for Dr. Minter caught the finalist selection committee’s attention, with several nominators singing her praises as a clinician, physician leader and a compassionate community advocate. As one supporter shared, “Karin is a devoted, impressively intelligent pediatrician who is passionate about her patients and the health of the community at large. She has a beautiful sense of humor that puts you at ease, and a formidable feistiness that serves her well when needed. Karin is compassionate and goes to all lengths for her patients.”
There were a total of 22,588 online votes cast to determine this year's winner; many thanks to all who took part in this process!
Bowtie Briefing for March 24, 2017
Chip Baggett sums up a busy week at the legislature and shares his thanks on physician, PA and student involvement in advocacy.
NCMS Board of Directors Considers STOP Act
At their regular bi-monthly meeting held Saturday, March 18 in Greenville, the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Board of Directors discussed pending legislation before the General Assembly including the STOP (Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention) Act, HB243/S175, aimed at curbing the state’s opioid poisoning epidemic.
Rep. Greg Murphy, MD, (R-Pitt) a sponsor of the STOP Act, co-chair of the House Health Committee and the only physician in the General Assembly met with NCMS Board members over dinner on Friday night before the Board meeting. Watch Dr. Murphy discuss why it is important for physicians to support this legislation.
The Board expressed concern about provisions in the bill including the mandate that physicians or their delegate check the state’s Controlled Substance Reporting System (CSRS) before prescribing a controlled substance; the drugs covered by the mandate; the daily limit for first prescriptions related to acute, post-operative pain and the requirement to use e-prescribing.
NCMS Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Chip Baggett, explained that the STOP Act is the result of broad, bipartisan work by legislators and the State Attorney General’s Office. The multi-faceted effort to curb the opioid abuse epidemic includes holding physicians accountable as prescribers. It is highly likely to be passed by the legislature this session. The NCMS is supporting the STOP ACT and working with legislators to make changes to achieve the bill’s intent while ensuring that its implementation is realistic in practice and not overly burdensome to physicians.
“We are working to make sure that when these new mandates become operational they do not have a huge negative impact on your practice,” he said. “But they will affect your practice.”
Based on feedback from members on how these new policies might play out, the NCMS is working to:
- Clarify what specific drugs and drug schedule(s) would be covered by the mandate. Currently, it appears controlled substances like Adderall and Ritalin are included in the bill language. The NCMS is asking that drugs not currently identified as contributing to the opioid poisoning crisis be excluded from the mandate to query the CSRS before prescribing and certain other bill provisions.
- Refine the language around e-prescribing since small practices may not currently have the necessary e-prescribing technology nor the financial resources to acquire it.
- Ensure the CSRS is functioning properly and is interoperable with other states’ prescription drug monitoring systems before the mandate would take effect.
- Time the mandate to coincide with the connection of the CSRS with the NC Health Information Exchange (HIE). This will enable prescribers to access the most current information in their electronic medical record and the CSRS simultaneously.
The bill has been discussed in the House Health Committee, and will likely be brought up again as the changes are negotiated over the next few weeks.
The NCMS Board will meet next in May in Chapel Hill. If you have a policy matter you’d like them to address, you may submit a Board contact form.
Bowtie Briefing for March 10, 2017
Both federal and state legislative developments are highlighted in this week's Bowtie Briefing. Get Chip's take on the GOP proposed health care plan, as well as the new STOP Act addressing the opioid crisis in NC.
Bowtie Briefing for March 3, 2017 - HB36 Update and New Opioid Bills
Chip Baggett focuses on two major legislative developments this week: testimony before the House Health Committee on HB36 (optometry bill) and the release of two new bills addressing opioid prescribing that will potentially have a big impact on physicians.
Helpful Links:
View Dr. Cunningham's Testimony at the House Health Committee, March 1, 2017
Learn more about HB 36
Learn more about the opioid bills
Video Testimony of NCMS President Paul R.G. Cunningham, MD on HB36
On March 1, 2017, the House Health Committee received testimony on House Bill 36 - "Enact Enhanced Access to Eye Care Act," a bill that the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) and the North Carolina Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (NCSEPS) both oppose.
Read Dr. Cunningham's complete testimony below.
God morning. My name is Dr. Paul Cunningham. I am the President of the North Carolina Medical Society. I have been a General Surgeon for 38 years and training students to become physicians and surgeons for 8 years as the Dean of the Brody School of Medicine.
Thank you Mr. Chairman and members of the committee for the opportunity to speak with you about this important patient safety issue. As the President of the NC Medical Society, I speak to you on behalf of all the physicians and surgeons of the state.
Though we would all like to think otherwise, there is no minor surgery. The trust bestowed by a patient to their surgeon is unlike any other. The State has a compelling obligation to ensure that those entrusted to perform surgery are well qualified. The right to perform surgery in North Carolina can be granted only by you. Citizens trust that you will insist that those who are granted the authority to perform surgery are only those to whom you would entrust the care of your own children and closest loved ones. As someone who has spent a lifetime training others in the practice of medicine and surgery, I can assure you that 32 hours of continuing education does not provide the foundation necessary to manage surgery or the potential complications that might arise during the course of or as a result of surgery. For medical school graduates we insist on years of training and actually performing surgery under the supervision of highly seasoned and experienced professionals in order to be comfortable holding those graduates out as qualified to perform surgery on our fellow citizens. It is only after years of training that a person can possibly have the skills and dexterity to perform surgery safely.
I have had the great pleasure of working closely with optometrists during my general practice in Windsor. And while I hold their proficiency for the delivery of care of the eye in high regard, I believe that they lack the requisite surgical training during their optometry school programs. Continuing education is only a place to refine skills, not to learn the fundamentals.
I hope and trust that you will agree with me after reviewing all the facts before you today. I would be happy to take any questions that you might have for me. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Bowtie Briefing for February 24, 2017 - Legislative Update
Helpful Links:
Action Alert - House Bill 36 - Enact Enhanced Access to Eye Care Act
Action Alert - House Bill 88/Senate Bill 73 - Modernize Nursing Practice Act
2017 Legislative Session blog: www.ncmedsoc.org/2017-session
Optometrists Propose House Bill to Perform Surgical Procedures
House Bill 36, titled “Amending the Scope of Practice of Optometry in Order to Enhance Access to Eye Care in North Carolina”, was filed by primary sponsors Rep. Justin Burr (R- Stanly), Rep. Jeff Collins (R– Nash), Rep. Josh Dobson (R – Avery) and Rep. Julia Howard (R- Davie). The North Carolina Medical Society opposes this bill because optometrists do not have the requisite training necessary to perform surgery.
Please show your opposition to optometrists performing surgery by sending an email to your legislator. Take action now by clicking through this Action Alert!