Enjoy Some Fa-La-La Fun at One of These NC Holiday Events!
Family in town? Looking for things to do? Have kids who need to be entertained?
We have help with ideas that take you right up to New Year's Day!
Check out the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources's website for holiday events happening around the state.
'Tis the Season to be ... Cautious?!
You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen; please avoid Drs. Comet, and Cupid at an Emergency Room visit (side note: it's so much better if you sing this line. Now let's try it again).
A recent AARP article lists some ways people get hurt during the holidays. Surprisingly enough, getting hit by a flying champagne cork is on the list.
Learn what else is on the list here.
WHO Warns of 'Imminent Threat'
The North Carolina Medical Society continues to keep our members updated on issues affecting the medical community. Recently, we did a story on measles as a possible threat to North Carolina, adding to the problems we are already seeing with COVID, Flu and RSV. The World Health Organization has declared measles to be an "imminent threat in every region of the world".
Due to the pandemic, WHO says nearly 40 million children missed at least one measles vaccine dose in 2021, making them dangerously susceptible to the increasing threat. The measles vaccine is one of the most effective ways to combat the spread of this highly contagious virus. It can be administered by itself or in combination with other vaccinations such as mumps and rubella (MMR vaccine). The two-dose vaccine delivers long-lasting protection, yielding about 99 percent protection against measles infection.
In mild cases, the infection produces a rash and fever, but can include encephalitis (brain swelling), blindness, and pneumonia in more severe cases.
Read the full article here.
Stephen "tWitch" Boss Dead at 40, NCMS Reminds You of 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Multiple news outlets are reporting the death of 40-year-old Stephen "tWitch" Boss, known for his work on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
NBC News reports Boss died by suicide, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation.
NBC News obtained a statement from his wife, Allison Holker Boss: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us."
“Stephen lit up every room he stepped into. He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him. He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans. To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt.
“I am certain there won’t be a day that goes by that we won’t honor his memory. We ask for privacy during this difficult time for myself and especially for our 3 children. Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you.”
tWitch and Allison celebrated their 9th anniversary last week. He leaves behind three children.
The North Carolina Medical Society has covered suicide help extensively, including training workshops. NCMS remains committed to helping our members and all North Carolinians who are considering suicide. Read our official policy HERE.
Statistics for physician suicide are shocking. Our most recent piece is available HERE.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
With Fentanyl-Related Deaths On Rise, Is It Time for Change In NC Good Samaritan Law?
(The Charlotte Observer, Kallie Cox, 12,12,22)
A coalition of advocates, including parents who have lost children to overdose deaths, is calling on legislators to expand North Carolina’s Good Samaritan Law. One key change they want is for fentanyl — the biggest driver of fatal overdoses — to be listed alongside drugs like cocaine and heroin. These advocates say North Carolina’s law is behind most of the rest of the country when it comes to saving lives claimed by drug overdoses.
Namely, due to the recent re-classification of fentanyl possession as a felony, it is not covered under the state’s Good Samaritan Law. Expand Good Sam NC, the coalition advocating for change, argues that those who use drugs are terrified to call 911 to report an overdose because of loopholes in the law that can lead to legal repercussions and arrest.
Fentanyl was recently re-classified as a felony drug in the state, meaning the law does not protect those who overdose on it. If bystanders — those who witness someone overdosing on fentanyl — are themselves in possession of the drug, they do not automatically have legal protections. A person who calls for help about their own overdose on fentanyl can also be prosecuted.
“People do not want to call 911,” said Lauren Kestner, Queen City Harm Reduction’s associate director. “So fentanyl expansion is not only required because (our law) was the weakest across the U.S. but also because now fentanyl is pretty much dominating the drug supply.”
The number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths in North Carolina has steadily increased each year since 2016 when deaths rose from 442 to 3,163 in 2021, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. In 2021 in North Carolina, dying of an overdose was nearly three times more common than dying in a car accident. That’s even when traffic deaths in the state were at an all-time 20-year high according to U.S. News and World Report. There were 3,304 overdose-related deaths in 2021 — the overwhelming majority involved fentanyl — and 1,755 traffic deaths. [Source]
Forbes: Leadership Among Top 10 Priorities in Healthcare in 2023!
Forbes recently shared the top 10 Healthcare Industry Predictions for 2023. Among those is once again, leadership, but with more emphasis on value than ever before. The future prediction holds that healthcare needs "leaders who fight to make the words in the organization’s mission statement really mean something", in line with the era of value creation, that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
The focus on value is also of importance to attract and retain employees, something that to most leaders in healthcare is a major concern. Genuine, authentic leadership has shown to inspire and motivate followers in addition to provide great leadership.
Do you know that the NCMS offers a range of different leadership programs that all build on the authentic leader? Revisit this Bulletin published during the pandemic to hear from a few of the participants in the programs and look for a new Bulletin coming soon.
Is Gig Economy Harming Your Patient's Health?
(HealthDay, Dennis Thompson)
Capitalism is thought to bring out the best in workers, but there's a dark side to tying a person's everyday efforts to their weekly paycheck.
Folks relying on short-term, freelanced office jobs, or jobs where pay is linked to hustle -- depending largely on tips, commissions and bonuses -- may often suffer poor health related to their financial insecurity, new research has shown.
Employees with fluctuating and unpredictable pay tend to have poorer sleep, more stress and miserable physical symptoms that affect their work and home life, said lead researcher Gordon Sayre, an assistant professor of organizational behavior at Emlyon Business School in France.
Those symptoms grow worse as a person’s finances become more unstable, Sayre said, and the amount of savings they might have on hand seems to provide no solace.
"There's a lot of research looking at how performance-based pay, commission-based pay, piece-
rate based pay leads to higher levels of motivation or higher levels of performance. That's been sort of fairly well-established, and that’s one of the reasons why these pay practices have become popular," Sayre said.
"But there are some costs to these types of pay arrangements, and we need to consider them in addition to the performance benefits they bring," he added. "They also have these health costs."
Millions of Americans are in jobs where they can't count on a steady salary.
About 57 million Americans -- more than one-third of the U.S. workforce -- work in the "gig economy," taking piece work as freelancers, Uber drivers, food deliverers, landscapers and temp office employees, Sayre said in background notes.
Another 4.8 million work for tips as waiters, hair stylists, taxi drivers and nail technicians, and nearly 15 million work at desks in sales jobs where commissions and performance bonuses are the rule.
The problem is that these people aren't fully in control of what they make, Sayre said. They can be incredibly talented and put in a lot of work, but their efforts can be easily undermined by a tight economy, a business dry spell or a cheapskate customer who won't tip.
o see how unstable pay might affect these workers, Sayre conducted a series of three studies.
In the first, he asked 85 U.S. workers who rely on tips to answer daily online surveys for two weeks about their total daily pay and health.
Participants said tips accounted for a quarter of their total income on average, but they only received tips 4 out of 5 work days.
"Tipped workers who experienced more volatility in their pay over the two weeks that I followed them also tended to report more physical symptoms at the end of those two weeks," Sayre said. "Things like headaches, stomach aches, backaches, eye strain. And they also reported more symptoms of insomnia."
To find out why this is happening, Sayre conducted another study of 375 workers with Amazon's Mechanical Turk, a website where gig workers are paid small fees for piecemeal tasks.
The participants completed weekly surveys for three weeks, with health findings similar to the study on tipped workers.
Sayre found that MTurk workers who experienced extreme swings in pay tended to develop what he calls a "scarcity mindset."
"That's referring to financial worry, financial rumination, worrying about having enough money to make ends meet, worried about being able to cope with unexpected bills, that sort of thing," Sayre said.
Beyond the toll taken by stress, people constantly preoccupied by financial worries tend to neglect other factors in their lives that are important to their health, he said.
"You're focused on remedying that source of scarcity, whether it's earning more money by working more, whether it's trying to find other sources of income, or whether it's focused on budgeting more to save money," Sayre said. "And you're not so worried about eating a healthy dinner or getting your hour of exercise that day because you have basically more pressing issues on your mind."
However, one question remained: Is this a phenomenon only seen in people who are scraping by, or does it affect anyone whose paycheck depends on factors outside their control?
To address that, Sayre conducted a third study involving 252 higher-income employees in finance, marketing and sales, who answered monthly surveys for three months. These people tended to be heathier when their pay was less reliant on commissions or bonuses, he found.
"The relationship is somewhat weaker among these employees that are earning more money, but for people who are highly reliant on volatile forms of pay -- in other words, their monthly commission makes up 40% or 50% or 60% of their total take-home pay -- for those people, I still see this relationship where more volatility predicts more physical health symptoms," Sayre said.
Interestingly, the amount of savings a person had no effect on the stress caused by the scarcity mindset, Sayre found.
People also weren't able to counter their pay-related worries by using techniques like mindfulness, a practice in which people alleviate stress by focusing on the present moment.
"I was surprised -- and not, at the same time -- that mindfulness didn't really impact on it," said Dr. Philip Muskin, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. "Because being mindful in your approach to things doesn't pay the bills, and paying the bills for many people is very scary."
It's not just waiters, car salespeople or ad execs who are likely to feel the effects highlighted by Sayre's research, Muskin suspects. Even professionals like doctors and lawyers are under pressure to see more patients or run up more billable hours, with their pay depending on how fast they hustle, he said.
"I think this is not just applicable to gig workers or people sort of at the lower end of income earning. I think this is throughout our society," Muskin said. "And yeah, maybe people who are earning $1 million a year and they didn't get as big a bonus, I’m not going to feel so badly for them, but I treat people like that, and you know, it makes them anxious, too."
These study results align with what's already known about "people having basic psychological needs to feel in control, to feel autonomous and to be able to sort of predict their environments," said Mindy Shoss, an associate professor of industrial/organizational psychology at the University of Central Florida.
"It's this inability to predict and control something as important as the amount of money you take home at the end of the day that really matters," she said.
Based on these results, businesses should reconsider whether performance-based pay really helps their bottom line, Sayre said. They might get more out of workers who have stable compensation.
"It matters how dependent we are on volatile sources of pay," Sayre said. "So basically, if you're working a sales job and 80% to 90% of your pay comes from a steady salary, and you get a small commission or performance based bonus that makes up the other 10% to 20%, that's not so bad. You can handle volatility when it makes up a relatively small proportion of your pay."
The real problem is when people are highly reliant or entirely reliant on this "volatile" base of pay, he said.
"Organizations could keep these pay systems if they want, but just reduce employees' reliance on them and try to increase more predictable and stable levels of pay," Sayre said.
Muskin gave the example of a New York restaurant that did away with tipping, essentially raising its meal prices and doling out the extra charge equitably among all its workers.
"That is a solution at the corporate level, where you alter the pay arrangement so that people are not as dependent upon commissions, bonuses and tips," he said. "But then you still need some sort of incentive process so they don’t say, 'well, I'm getting paid for this so I don't have to work as hard.'"
Muskin pointed to the need to be creative.
There are systems that could be created if companies chose, where employees had a vested interest in the effort they put in so their pay was guaranteed, but their level of work is also reciprocated,” he said.
The new study was published Dec. 8 in the Journal of Applied Psychology.
More information
The Mayo Clinic has more about how stress affects your health.
GenX study finds Chemours-specific chemicals in residents
(Coastal Review Online, Trista Talton)
Many people living in the Cape Fear River basin who volunteered to take part in the most recent GenX exposure study had higher levels of four highly fluorinated compounds in their blood than the average American.
While GenX was not found in the blood samples of 1,020 residents in Wilmington, Fayetteville and Pittsboro, three per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, unique to the Chemours Fayetteville Works facility were in the blood of almost everyone who participated in the 2020-2021 study.
The results of this latest GenX exposure study were discussed Wednesday evening during a public meeting hosted by Cape Fear River Watch in Cape Fear Community College’s Union Station.
Researchers with the North Carolina State University Center for Human Health and the Environment were quick to point out that while GenX was not found in blood samples, that does not mean people were not exposed to the chemical compound. That merely suggests GenX does not last in the blood for a long time.
PFAS found in blood samples from Wilmington-area residents were the same as those found in samples taken from residents who participated in the initial 2017-18 study.
Nearly everyone who participated in the study had perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, or PFHxS, and perfluoronanoic acid, or PFNA.
Help Your Disability, Low-Income Patients This Winter
North Carolina is now accepting applications for low-income household heating assistance.
Any person 60 or older or receiving disability services are now able to apply for the state’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program. All other eligible households can start applying on January 3.
The Low-Income Energy Assistance (LIEAP) is run by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. It's a federally-funded program that provides for a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills.
Households that meet the following criteria may be eligible:
- Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria.
- Meet an income test.
- Have reserves at or below $2,250.(Resources will not be counted for this year's Season from December 1, 2022-March 31, 2023)
- Be responsible for its heating costs.
Learn more about the program and eligibility here.
Cameron Crazies Could Soon Travel 'Coach K Highway'
(From The News & Observer, Mary Helen Moore, 12/08/22)
The route to Duke basketball games could soon take Cameron Crazies along “Coach K Highway.” Duke University has asked that a portion of N.C. Highway 751 be renamed in honor of longtime men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. Krzyzewski spent 42 seasons at Duke and won five national titles before retiring last year.
The three-mile section of N.C. 751 under consideration is between Duke University Road and Kerley Road. Also named Cameron Boulevard, it passes near Cameron Indoor Stadium and through Duke Forest. The Durham City Council will vote on a resolution in support of the renaming at its Dec. 19 meeting. The resolution, if unanimous, will kickstart an application to the state Department of Transportation. The NCDOT board gets the final say.
Duke agreed to pay the $2,000 that new signs are expected to cost. Duke’s rival UNC succeeded last year in getting two stretches of Interstate 40 renamed for legendary basketball coaches Roy Williams and Dean Smith. [Source]
NC Case on Congressional Districts Going Before US Supreme Court Wednesday
(This article is from Mark Sherman , The Associated Press, 12/4/22)
The Supreme Court is about to confront a new elections case, a challenge asking the justices for a novel ruling that could significantly increase the power of state lawmakers over elections for Congress and the presidency. The court is set to hear arguments Wednesday in a case from North Carolina, where Republican efforts to draw congressional districts heavily in their favor were blocked by a Democratic majority on the state Supreme Court because the GOP map violated the state constitution. A court-drawn map produced seven seats for each party in last month’s midterm elections in highly competitive North Carolina.
The question for the justices is whether the U.S. Constitution’s provision giving state legislatures the power to make the rules about the “times, places and manner” of congressional elections cuts state courts out of the process. “This is the single most important case on American democracy -- and for American democracy -- in the nation’s history,” said former federal judge Michael Luttig, a prominent conservative who has joined the legal team defending the North Carolina court decision.
The Republican leaders of North Carolina’s legislature told the Supreme Court that the Constitution’s “carefully drawn lines place the regulation of federal elections in the hands of state legislatures, Congress and no one else.”
Three conservative justices already have voiced some support for the idea that the state court had improperly taken powers given by the Constitution when it comes to federal elections. A fourth has written approvingly about limiting the power of state courts in this area. But the Supreme Court has never invoked what is known as the independent state legislature theory. It was, though, mentioned in a separate opinion by three conservatives in the Bush v. Gore case that settled the 2000 presidential election.
If the court were to recognize it now, opponents of the concept argue, the effects could be much broader than just redistricting. The most robust ruling for North Carolina Republicans could undermine more than 170 state constitutional provisions, over 650 state laws delegating authority to make election policies to state and local officials, and thousands of regulations down to the location of polling places, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law.
Luttig, who advised former Vice President Mike Pence that he had no authority to reject electoral votes following the 2020 election, is among several prominent conservatives and Republicans who have lined up against the broad assertion that legislatures can’t be challenged in state courts when they make decisions about federal elections, including congressional redistricting. That group includes former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, law professor Steven Calabresi, a founder of the conservative Federalist Society and Benjamin Ginsberg, a longtime lawyer for Republican candidates and the party.
“Unfortunately, because of ongoing and widespread efforts to sow distrust and spread disinformation, confidence in our elections is at a low ebb,” Ginsberg wrote in a Supreme Court filing. “The version of the independent state legislature theory advanced by Petitioners in this case threatens to make a bad situation much worse, exacerbating the current moment of political polarization and further undermining confidence in our elections.”
The arguments are taking place a day after the final contest of the 2022 midterms, the Georgia Senate runoff between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker. In that contest, state courts ruled in favor of Democrats to allow for voting on the Saturday before the election, over the objections of Republicans.
Jason Snead, of the conservative Honest Elections Project, said the case is an opportunity for the high court to rein in out-of-control state courts which are being pushed by Democratic attorneys to effectively create new rules governing voting, including the Georgia example. “We’ve seen a fairly pervasive attempt to use courts to rewrite election laws if those laws don’t suit partisan agendas,” Snead said in a call with reporters. “That’s not something we want to see when it flies in the face of the Constitution.”
He is among proponents of the high court’s intervention who argue the case doesn’t represent “a threat to democracy.” The justices can instead write a narrow opinion that places limits on state courts without upsetting the choices New York and other states have made to restrict partisan redistricting, a group of New York voters wrote in a court filing. The New Yorkers implicitly recognize that if the court gives more power to state legislatures over drawing congressional lines, Republicans may not necessarily benefit.
During the last redistricting cycle, states that used independent redistricting commissions rather than legislatures were largely Democratic-dominated ones. Commissions drew 95 House seats in states with Democratic legislatures and governors, as opposed to only 12 in states with GOP control. A ruling that grants legislatures ultimate power over redistricting could eradicate those commissions and let Democrats redraw a major chunk of the House map.
“The bottom line is the impact of this fringe theory would be terrible,” said former Attorney General Eric Holder, chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. “It could unleash a wave of gerrymandering from both parties.” Even less dramatic changes may not necessarily tilt the GOP’s way on a national redistricting map that was essentially fought to a draw, and where state court rulings cost Democrats about as many House seats as Republicans.
The Supreme Court refused to step into the North Carolina case in March, allowing the court-drawn districts to be used this year. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented. Writing for the three, Alito said “there must be some limit on the authority of state courts to countermand actions taken by state legislatures when they are prescribing rules for the conduct of federal elections. I think it is likely that the applicants would succeed in showing that the North Carolina Supreme Court exceeded those limits.”
Justice Brett Kavanaugh has separately written about the need for federal courts to police the actions of state courts when it comes to federal elections.
Chief Justice John Roberts’ record on this question gives both sides some hope. In 2015, he wrote a strong dissent from the court’s decision upholding an independent redistricting commission in Arizona. Roberts wrote that the Constitution does not permit “a state to wholly exclude ‘the Legislature’ from redistricting. ” But in 2019, Roberts wrote the court’s majority opinion that closed federal courts to claims of partisan gerrymandering but noted state courts remained open. “Provisions in state statutes and state constitutions can provide standards and guidance for state courts to apply,” he wrote, in an opinion joined by Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Thomas. The court’s other conservative justice, Amy Coney Barrett, has no track record in this area.
In North Carolina, a new round of redistricting is expected to go forward next year and produce a map with more Republican districts, whatever the outcome of the high-court case. In last month’s elections, voters flipped the majority on the state Supreme Court, electing two new Republican justices that give the GOP a 5-2 edge and make it probable, though not certain, that the court would uphold a map with more Republican districts. [Source]
NCMS Gets Into Holiday Spirit Early!
Happy Holidays from the staff of the North Carolina Medical Society!
On December 2, CEO Chip Baggett hosted the NCMS final staff meeting of 2022. It was a chance to celebrate the successes of the year, including the return of the LEAD Conference and the first Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala. Chip lauded the staff, Board of Directors, and NCMS members for working through the pandemic and building on our long history of supporting quality healthcare in North Carolina.
He also took time to look forward at a bright 2023 on the horizon for NCMS!
It was no prob-llama in his amazing holiday sweater!
NCMS CEO Chip Baggett getting into the holiday spirit!
The team had a raucous White Elephant Gift Exchange, where the gifts ranged from used Christmas lights, to books, to a some prized holiday decor!
We also prepared to say goodbye to Gail Stephenson, Director of Event Services, who is retiring this month. She is going off with some bling! This her response to her gift from Reeds Jewelers.
As always, everyone at NCMS is looking forward to meeting with our members and working hard!
Here's to 2023!
No Matter What You Celebrate This Season, Doctors Love These Gifts!
If you have a full staff you want to treat or a special someone you want to remember, there are plenty of great gift ideas.
This month people across the state will be shopping, wrapping, and exchanging gifts. NCMS thought we would help you get an early start with these ideas.
Some of our favorites include these syringe highlighters,
these anatomy coasters,
This "Spinal" tape,
and this hard-to-forget memory stick.
Whether you need a few or a lot, here is a great spot to start your shopping today.
Have fun!
CDC: Updated Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain
Pain affects the lives of millions of Americans every day and improving pain care and the lives of patients with pain is a public health imperative. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is releasing updated and expanded recommendations for clinicians providing pain care for adult outpatients with short- and long-term pain. These clinical recommendations, published in the CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain, will help clinicians work with their patients to ensure the safest and most effective pain care is provided. The publication updates and replaces the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain released in 2016.
“Patients with pain should receive compassionate, safe, and effective pain care. We want clinicians and patients to have the information they need to weigh the benefits of different approaches to pain care, with the goal of helping people reduce their pain and improve their quality of life,” said Christopher M. Jones, PharmD, DrPH, MPH, Acting Director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
The 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline addresses the following areas: 1) determining whether to initiate opioids for pain, 2) selecting opioids and determining opioid dosages, 3) deciding duration of initial opioid prescription and conducting follow-up, and 4) assessing risk and addressing potential harms of opioid use. The Clinical Practice Guideline supports the primary prevention pillar of the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy – supporting the development and promotion of evidence-based treatments to effectively manage pain.
The guideline is a clinical tool to improve communication between clinicians and patients and empower them to make informed decisions about safe and effective pain care. The recommendations are voluntary and provide flexibility to clinicians and patients to support individualized, patient-centered care. They should not be used as an inflexible, one-size-fits-all policy or law or applied as a rigid standard of care or to replace clinical judgement about personalized treatment.
CDC followed a rigorous scientific process using the best available evidence and expert consultation to develop the 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline. An independent federal advisory committee, four peer reviewers, and members of the public reviewed the draft updated guideline, and CDC revised it in response to this feedback to foster a collaborative and transparent process. CDC also engaged with patients with pain, caregivers, and clinicians to gain insights and gather feedback from people directly impacted by the guideline. The expanded guideline aims to ensure equitable access to effective, informed, individualized, and safe pain care.
“The science on pain care has advanced over the past six years,” said Debbie Dowell, MD, MPH, chief clinical research officer for CDC’s Division of Overdose Prevention. “During this time, CDC has also learned more from people living with pain, their caregivers, and their clinicians. We’ve been able to improve and expand our recommendations by incorporating new data with a better understanding of people’s lived experiences and the challenges they face when managing pain and pain care.”
CDC will continue to work to improve patient safety and outcomes by equipping health care professionals and patients with data, tools, and guidance they need to make informed treatment decisions. The 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline supports patients and clinicians working together to make informed, individualized decisions about safe and effective pain care.
Additional materials associated with the guideline are available for patients and clinicians.
Wake County Medical Society Enjoys NC Arboretum
On September 24, members of the WCMS enjoyed a visit to the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh.
WCMS President Ted Kunstling, MD, planned the outing, in line with his goal to connect the medical community both in and out of their practice settings.
Political Pulse for November 18, 2022
The 2022 Midterm Election leaves NC health professionals with many questions. NCMS Political Pulse has the answers.
Suicide Rates Declining for White Americans, But Not for Minorities
(HealthDay News) -- In a finding that illustrates just how deeply racial disparities permeate the U.S. health care system, a new government report finds that suicide rates dipped slightly among white Americans while they rose for Black and Hispanic Americans.
"Although the recent decline in suicide rates for non-Hispanic white persons is encouraging, the continued increase for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic persons is concerning," said study author Sally Curtin, a researcher for the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics.
"Suicide has declined recently for white persons, in total, and for those involving the three leading methods -- firearms and suffocation, including hangings, and poisoning," she added. "Rates continued to increase for Black and Hispanic persons for those involving firearms and suffocation. These differing trends deserve our attention."
Suicide rates for white people increased from 2000 to 2018, but then dropped from 18 per 100,000 people to 17 per 100,000 in 2020. But among Black and Hispanic people, the suicide rate continued to increase to nearly 8 per 100,000.
Still, the decline in suicide rates among white people appears to be short-lived, Curtin noted. Preliminary data for 2021 indicate suicide rates for all three race and ethnicity groups increased from 2020 to 2021, although the increase was less for white people (3%) compared with Black (13%) and Hispanic (8%) people, she said.
"It is well documented that COVID increased some of the risk factors for suicide, including mental health issues, substance use and financial stress," Curtin said. "However, these risk factors increased more for younger people and minority groups."
Suicide is a complex health issue, and there is never one single cause, said Doreen Marshall, vice president for mission engagement at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Minorities may be especially vulnerable to suicide, she noted, because "suicide most often occurs when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair," Marshall explained.
"Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, and it is often undiagnosed or untreated. Minority populations face multiple barriers to health care perpetuated by structural racism," she said.
Ongoing stressors, including prolonged environmental stressors and past trauma, can also play a role. "We need more research to understand how racism and prejudice experienced by minority communities might contribute to suicide risk," Marshall added.
Protective factors that can help mitigate risk include access to mental health care, limiting access to guns, community support and cultural and religious beliefs that encourage connection and seeking help, she said.
"Suicide can be prevented," Marshall said. "It requires connecting people to necessary treatment before they are in a suicide crisis, advocating for better access to health care and working to ensure that in a moment of crisis a vulnerable person has limited access to means of committing suicide."
People need to know how to identify risk and look out for warning signs, such as changes in a person's usual speech, behavior and mood, she said.
"Having open, honest conversations about what you or someone else may be experiencing and feeling can help empower our friends, family, colleagues and communities to identify when they or someone they love is experiencing worsening mental health," Marshall said.
For more on suicide, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
5 Things You Can Get Easier Than Taylor Swift Concert Tickets!
Tickets to Taylor Swift concerts are all but impossible to find.
Good news! There are other things you can get right now!
1. 
The 2023 NCMS Calendar with your membership renewal... Click here
2. Become an NCMS PAC Investor ... Click here
3. Become an NCMS Foundation Donor ... Click here
4. Your NCMS Celebrating Medicine Umbrella with a $100 Foundation donation... Click here
5. English to Spanish Medical Terms Download with your NCMS 2023 membership... Click here
NCMS Members Win in Midterm Elections
RALEIGH -- The 2022 midterm elections are, mostly, in the books. As we wait for official election results, it appears Republicans have won a supermajority in the North Carolina Senate and are one seat short of the House supermajority.
Republicans previously held supermajorities in both the House and Senate during the first half of Democratic Governor Roy Cooper’s first term. In 2020, Cooper was reelected to a second term and Republicans kept majorities but did not gain supermajorities in that election.
Three North Carolina Medical Society members won their races Tuesday.
Dr. Kristin Baker will be the House Representative in District 82. In a Facebook post, Baker says "we have articulated our values and our vision, giving our community real hope for the safety and future of our children."
Dr. Timothy Reeder will be the House Representative in District 7. Reeder says in a Facebook post that he is "excited to get to work for the citizens of Pitt County."
And Dr. Greg Murphy beat his challenger in the 3rd congressional district. Murphy, also on Facebook, says of his win: "Thank you, eastern North Carolina! I’m honored to represent you in Washington."
State Senator Michael Lee won re-election in district 07. Lee is the son of a doctor from Dunn.
NCMS wants to congratulate our member winners. We look forward to working with them and all other elected officials in the state to advance medical science and to make sure North Carolinians have access to the best health care in the country.
Does Paxlovid Reduce Risk of Long Covid?
(CNN) - Paxlovid, the antiviral pill that reduces the risk of hospitalization and death from Covid-19, also reduces the risk of long Covid, according to a new study by researchers at the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
The study, posted online Saturday, analyzed electronic records for more than 56,000 veterans with Covid-19, including more than 9,000 who were treated with Paxlovid within the first five days of their infection.
The analysis showed people treated with Paxlovid had a 26% reduced risk of developing several long Covid conditions, including heart disease, blood disorders, fatigue, liver disease, kidney disease, muscle pain, neurocognitive impairment and shortness of breath. That corresponded to 2.3 fewer cases of long Covid conditions per 100 people three months after their diagnosis. Paxlovid also reduced the risk of hospitalization or death following acute Covid-19.
Read the full study report here.
NCMS Has Hit the Road! New Billboards Across the State Promote Annual Medical Exams and Screenings
RALEIGH -- The North Carolina Medical Society has partnered with the North Carolina Business Group on Health to promote annual medical exams and screenings. We now have four billboards across the state - from both corners of the coast, to the piedmont, to the coast!
Be on the lookout for these for the next few months!
It's Movember! UNC School of Medicine, Others Promoting No-Shave November
Folks, put away those razors. No-Shave November is here.
Started in Australia in 2003, Movember — a combination of mustache and November — works to raise money for a variety of men’s health initiatives. In its nearly 20 years, No-Shave Movember has funded more than 1,200 men’s health projects around the world, according to the group’s website.
The UNC School of Medicine, The Mo Bros and Mo Sisters of Raleigh-Durham, the MoBro's and MoSista's of Charlotte and many others across the state and country are participating.
To learn more about Movember and to start your own group click here for the national movement.
CVS, Walmart, Walgreens agree to $13.8B Opioid Settlement
(Reuters) - CVS Health Corp (CVS.N), Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA.O) and Walmart Inc (WMT.N) agreed to pay about $13.8 billion to resolve thousands of U.S. state and local lawsuits accusing the pharmacy chains of mishandling opioid pain drugs, potentially bringing years of litigation close to the finish line.
CVS said on Wednesday it had agreed to pay about $5 billion over 10 years, and Walgreens said that it had agreed to pay about $5.7 billion over 15 years. Neither company admitted wrongdoing. Walmart has agreed to pay $3.1 billion, mostly up front, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Paul Geller, one of the lawyers who negotiated for the governments, said that settlements with pharmacies "will bring billions of additional dollars to communities that are desperate for funds to combat the epidemic" of opioid addiction.
"We know that reckless, profit-driven dispensing practices fueled the crisis; but we know just as surely that with better systems in place and proper heeding of red flag warnings, pharmacies can play a direct role in reducing opioid abuse and in saving lives," Geller said.
CVS general counsel Thomas Moriarty said in a statement the company was pleased to resolve the claims and the deal was "in the best interest of all parties, as well as our customers, colleagues and shareholders."
Walgreens in a statement said: "As one of the largest pharmacy chains in the nation, we remain committed to being a part of the solution, and this settlement framework will allow us to keep our focus on the health and wellbeing of our customers and patients, while making positive contributions to address the opioid crisis."
Both CVS and Walgreens said their agreements would not be final until certain non-monetary terms were worked out, and that the total amount could be reduced if not enough government plaintiffs sign on.
Walmart did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The proposed settlement, which would be the first nationwide deal with retail pharmacy companies, follows nationwide opioid settlements with drug makers and distributors totaling more than $33 billion. read more
On Point: OTC Hearing Aids, What You Need to Know by Dr. Sara Mooney
On Point submissions are individual member viewpoints and not North Carolina Medical Society policy.
With the recent FDA approval of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, individuals now have the option to purchase a new category of hearing aid without medical evaluation or professional guidance. Many people are excited about the prospect of increased access to lower cost hearing aids and the positive effects it may have on hearing health care. However, all hearing loss is not the same and the one-size-fits all model of over-the-counter products is not for everyone.
OTC hearing aids are for individuals with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss over the age of 18. Those with more severe hearing loss will still need to pursue hearing aids through a hearing care professional like an audiologist. However, most healthcare providers strongly urge everyone to complete a professional hearing exam especially before considering OTC. Research shows individuals struggle to accurately estimate their level of hearing loss. Most studies suggest that because age related hearing loss is typically slow and progressive, it is difficult for individuals to gauge their degree of hearing loss. Over or underestimating the degree of hearing loss can lead to inappropriate amplification levels which may result in further damage to the auditory system. It is also important to note some types of hearing loss can be medically managed, and others are related to more severe health conditions. These causes and conditions are likely to be missed if individuals are self-assessing their hearing loss. (Note: individuals should see their doctor immediately if they experience hearing loss that is worse in one ear, a sudden hearing loss, vertigo, or tinnitus in one ear, as these are signs of a possible medical problem)
Over-the-counter hearing aids are customizable or self-fit, meaning; consumers will be responsible for programming the devices and understanding how to appropriately use them. Although the FDA requires OTC manufacturers to provide information on how to handle repairs, manufacturers are not required to provide customer service for OTC devices over the phone. Without individualized fitting or access to support, there is concern that people utilizing OTC hearing aids will give up on hearing aids if they find little or no benefit from these devices. This is worrisome due to the many known health impacts of untreated hearing loss, which notably include increased risk of depression, dementia, and falls. Pursuing professionally fit hearing aids, such as those purchased through an audiologist, helps individuals avoid these concerns.
Audiologists are doctorate level professionals who are trained to evaluate, diagnose, and manage hearing loss. Using their professional knowledge, an audiologist programs and calibrates prescription hearing aids to a patient’s audiological needs. Continued services such as aural rehabilitation, cleaning, programing, and software updates along with continued monitoring of hearing loss help ensure increased acceptance and long-term success when utilizing the hearing aids. These services are typically included in the cost of prescription hearing aids which is one reason they have a higher price point than OTC hearing aids. Nevertheless, OTC hearing aids may be a good first step for those experiencing situational hearing difficulties and may help decrease the lingering stigma associated with hearing loss and hearing aids.
If individuals are considering OTC hearing aids, they should get a diagnostic hearing test first to ensure they are a proper candidate and rule out any medical concerns. It is also recommended to look for devices that offer trial or return periods in case OTC devices do not provide the needed or desired benefits. Finally, it is important to remember that hearing loss is progressive and requires continued monitoring and management. If difficulties with hearing and communication continue, consult with an audiologist to avoid the negative long-term effects that untreated hearing loss has on one’s overall health and wellbeing.
Dr. Mooney is the lead Audiologist at Carolina Ear, Nose and Throat in Hickory, NC
On Point: Bone Health is a Women's Healthcare Issue - by Dr. Andrew Bush
On Point submissions are individual member viewpoints and not North Carolina Medical Society policy.
Dr. Andrew Bush, MD, FAAOS, FACS, CWSP
Rates of osteoporosis and fractures associated with poor bone quality, which are known as fragility fractures, are at epidemic levels. It is estimated that osteoporosis affects approximately 200 million people world-wide. Currently, it is also estimated that 10 million individuals over age 50 in the United States have osteoporosis. Each year an approximately 2 million individuals suffer a fracture due to osteoporosis. The risk of a fracture increases with age and is greatest in women. Approximately 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men age 50 or older will experience a hip, spine, or wrist fracture sometime during their lives. Approximately 40% of individuals are unable to return to their homes following a fragility fracture and require relocation to a nursing facility. As many as 20% of individuals will die within 6 - 12 months of a fragility fracture. Also, an additional 33.6 million individuals over age 50 have low bone density or “osteopenia” and thus are at risk of osteoporosis and fragility fracture. Estimated costs of providing care for osteoporotic fractures among Medicare beneficiaries was approximately $14 billion in 2018. The cost is expected to increase to over $23 billion in 2025.
To stem the exponential rise in osteoporosis and fragility fractures and the associated human suffering and financial burden on society, it is important that our healthcare policy makers develop and implement public-wide screening and testing programs, and education programs to increase awareness of the public on the importance of bone health. Also, our leadership needs to show that it is serious in this endeavor by allocating sufficient resources to the front-line healthcare providers to appropriately address this crisis in their patient base. However, until that policy-shift happens, there are things that can be done on an individual basis to maximize bone health and to minimize the risk of fracture.
Bone health is not too different from heart health or gut health – we have to realize that all of our body systems work together in unison and often it is when that synergy gets interrupted and things are out-of-synch that we get sick. The basics of good health are pretty consistent – nutritious and balanced diet, active lifestyle, minimizing stress, appropriate exercise and plenty of rest. Also avoiding unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption and eating low-nutrition and overly processed foods. These recommendations are pretty universal. However, there are some bone-specific recommendations.
Proper nutrition is extremely important for healthy bones throughout life but in particular during the years that bone is forming – up to approximately 30 years old. After that, the amount of bone that we have in our bodies will decrease as we get older. This bone loss happens in both men and women but it happens at much more rapidly and to a higher degree in women. There are some estimates that women may lose approximately 20-30% of their entire bone mass in the 10-15 years surrounding menopause. That is why the majority of fragility fractures happen in women. Now it is not inevitable that all that bone loss has to happen and things can be done to prevent or slow down bone loss. Although the main goal of a Bone Health program is to stop bone loss, it is just as important to address bone health early - early implementation of health nutritional habits twill help maximize the bone-building process and will optimize the amount of bone that we have throughout our lives.
An additional factor that is very important in both forming and maintaining healthy bone is activity and exercise. Bone development and remodeling is driven by the applied forces that the bone “feels”. Impact (light to medium) stimulates the bone cells called osteocytes that live in the bone matrix to send out signals to the bone building cells – the osteoblasts to start responding to those forces by building more bone. Also, bone health is maintained when muscles are strong so that the bone “feels” the pull of those muscles. Strong muscles come from living an active lifestyle and doing regular exercises. There is a theory that optimal bone building comes from additional exercises – the phrase “osteogenic loading” specifically refers to exercises where bone feel additional applied forces that stimulate bone to maintain its optimal composition. It is also known, that maintaining muscle strength helps maintain a good sense of balance – and when you have good sense of balance falls and therefore breaks are less likely!
Monitoring of the bone health is the foundation of fracture prevention in the way monitoring blood pressure is to stroke prevention and mammograms are to breast cancer prevention. The early detection of any of these conditions, allows for early treatment to be institutes to prevent the long-term consequences of the disease. Bone health assessment is looking for osteoporosis. Although, some may still consider developing osteoporosis an unfortunate part of growing older, it is now understood that fracturing due to idiopathic age-related bone loss is not an inevitable part of aging but a potentially preventable disease process. Nutrition and exercise fight against osteoporosis – monitoring makes sure that they are working.
The term for bone monitoring is known as bone densitometry – the measurement of bone density. Determining bone mineral density (BMD) has been the traditional method of diagnosing osteoporosis and predicting fracture risk. The most common way to measure BMD is by using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). DXA has been around for over 30 years and has been the backbone of Bone Healthcare. It is a method of measuring BMD by using low-energy x-ray and has been considered reasonably reliable for measuring BMD and diagnosing and treating osteoporosis.
There is another method of bone densitometry that not only determines BMD but also give a measure of the Bone Quality. Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry (REMS) is a newer method of performing monitoring bone health that was developed and has been used in Europe for almost ten years and has replaced DXA as the official method of bone densitometry in Italy. REMS uses ultrasound to measure BMD. However, the ultrasound is also capable of measuring Bone Quality and therefore when REMS is used to assess bone, more information is obtained and there is a better way to predict fracture risk. REMS is still very new in the United States but its popularity is growing as more and more people are finding out about it.
If levels of nutrition and exercise were not enough to maintain a healthy skeleton, or other medical conditions are affecting bone quality, then there are specific medications that can help to prevent bone loss or even to reinvigorate the bone to build back a little. The decision to use any of these medications should be made in consultation with your bone healthcare provider. And if you are started on any of these medications you must be compliant with the directions of use and monitoring the effectiveness of the medications is also essential.
In conclusion, it is important to remember that your bones need to be monitored and cared for like any other part of you and although we focused on bone health as a women’s health issue, poor bone health can affect anyone. So, bone healthcare is an issue for everyone and something that we all need to be aware of. Everyone has a skeleton and we need to pay attention to and take care of our skeletons because ...
If you ignore your bones, they will go away!
Dr. Bush is with Central Carolina Orthopedic Associates.
LEAD Keynote Talk: LTG (Ret) Rick Lynch on 21st Century Leadership
RALEIGH — The 2022 North Carolina Medical Society LEAD Health Care Conference is underway! Medical professionals from across the state are in Raleigh for dynamic speakers, MEDTalks, and learning opportunities.
On Friday, the keynote speaker is LTG (Ret) Rick Lynch. He is talking his extensive military career, including several tours in the Middle East. His focus is adaptive leadership for the 21st century.
Here is a preview of his presentation.
DHHS System Update, Outages include Epi-on-Call and State Lab Online Portal
New UPDATE on DHHS IT Outage:
The system outages also include Epi on Call and the State Lab's Clinical and Environmental Lab Results (CELR) online portal.
During this time, Epi On Call and other urgent communicable disease issues can be directed to 919-218-9778 which will be staffed 24/7. The State Laboratory of Public Health continues to accept and test clinical specimens and environmental samples. Test results will be reported using paper only. Test results for critical specimens can also be obtained by calling 919-733-3937
URGENT! Update on DHHS IT System Outages
DHHS IT system outages are expected to continue today. Please work with your patients to continue to provide care as best as possible. In addition, as part of the system outages, some WIC families may not be able to access their benefits immediately. NCDHHS wants to ensure that these families are supported as much as possible, especially for those who may need infant formula immediately or urgently today or this weekend. Please consider reaching out to families that are reliant on WIC benefits, particularly infants who rely on formula as their sole source of nutrition. If your office can assist with samples or other resources, that would be appreciated. You can also connect those families with their local WIC agency for additional support.
More info is available by clicking here.
Dr. John Barkley is 2022 Harris Memorial Award Winner
RALEIGH -- Congratulations to John Barkley, MD, for winning the 2022 Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence's Harris Memorial Award
Dr. Barkley is a committed community leader and mentor. He has a long list of achievements in healthcare and service to the medical community. Included in his accomplishments are his work to drive better outcomes for patients and caregivers, the creation of the SNF Preferred Network, the Sentinel Task Force for post-acute care service lines, and numerous boards, teams, and awards.
He joins Miriam Schwarz as the John Huske Anderson Award winner and Dr. Robert E. Schaaf, MD, FACR, for winning the 2022 E. Harvey Estes, Jr. Physician Community Service Award. Our Golden Stethoscope Award winners are Dr. Kerianne Crockett, Dr. Rebecca Hayes, Dr. Suneya Hogarty, and Dr. Lisa Kaufmann.
He will be given his award at the 2022 Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala on Saturday night at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree.
Miriam Schwarz is the 2022 John Huske Anderson Award Winner
RALEIGH -- Congratulations are in order for Miram Schwarz, the 2022 John Huske Anderson Award winner.
Schwarz is known around the state as a tireless champion of the underdog. Under her leadership, the Western Carolina Medical Society has successfully become a beacon for people who need help. Among her accomplishments are Project Access, the WNC Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative, and the WCMS Interpreter Network. She has been described as having a brand of fierce kindness that is needed in the world today and as someone who has taken the art of advocating and made it beautiful.
She joins Dr. John Barkley as the Harris Memorial Award winner and Robert E. Schaaf, MD, FACR as the E. Harvey Estes, Jr., MD, Physician Community Service Award. Our Golden Stethoscope Award winners are Dr. Kerianne Crockett, Dr. Rebecca Hayes, Dr. Suneya Hogarty, and Dr. Lisa Kaufmann.
She will be given her award at the 2022 Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala on Saturday night at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree.
Dr. Robert E. Schaaf is the 2022 E. Harvey Estes Physician Community Service Award Winner
RALEIGH -- Congratulations to Robert E. Schaaf, MD, FACR, for winning the 2022 E. Harvey Estes, Jr., MD, Physician Community Service Award.
Dr. Schaaf has been serving people in the Triangle area of North Carolina for nearly five decades. He is known for his deep belief that all North Carolinians deserve safe, high-quality care. His commitment to the community has spanned work with the American Red Cross, NCMS, various statewide boards, Wake Forest University, and he has been on the NC Medical Care Commission for four North Carolina governors.
He joins Miriam Schwarz as the John Huske Anderson Award winner and Dr. John Barkley as the Harris Memorial Award winner. Our Golden Stethoscope Award winners are Dr. Kerianne Crockett, Dr. Rebecca Hayes, Dr. Suneya Hogarty, and Dr. Lisa Kaufmann.
He will be given his award at the 2022 Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala on Saturday night at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree.
A New Restaurant Has Gone to the Dogs
SAN FRANCISCO -- A new fine-dining restaurant in the Bay Area has gone to the dogs, literally.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the new restaurant Dogue only serves canines.
Owner and head chef Rahmi Massarweh said Dogue may be the first restaurant in the country to serve a tasting menu exclusively for dogs. It offers meticulously crafted pastries from its in-house “pawtisserie” and French-inspired courses made with locally sourced, organic ingredients.
If you really want to treat Fido, Dogue serves Parisian pastries and “dogguccinos” that start at $4.95. When you really want to spoil your best friend, Dogue has a $75 three-course meal — which is seasonal and rotates frequently. Pet owners can choose from a variety of dishes, such as organic beef chuck steak with fermented carrots and beets or green-lipped mussels with fermented carrots and wheatgrass.
If you are ready to take your dog to chow down, read more here.
Cheers! to these 2022 Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala Table Sponsors
It is almost time to put on your best outfit and celebrate medicine! The 2022 NCMS Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala is approaching quickly. We want to thank our table sponsors:
- Appalachian Regional Health System
- Clinton Medical Clinic
- Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence
- North Carolina Medical Society Alliance
- Old North State Medical Society
- Raleigh Neurology Associates
- Robeson Pediatrics
- Wake County Medical Society
- Wake Radiology
We will see you all on October 15th at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree. Don't forget there is a special champagne event with a chance to win a diamond ring!
To get tickets click here.
Bubbles and Bling Bring Sparkle to the 2022 Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala!
What is a gala without a bit of bling?
This beautiful ring could be yours at the 2022 NCMS Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala October 15!
Our Bubbles and Bling Raffle brings together champagne and carats! Each glass of champagne purchased enters you into a raffle to win this ring. Proceeds go to the NCMS Foundation to help people
From the Forevermark Tribute Collection, this stunning 18k yellow gold ring features an array of bezel set round cut diamonds along the band. It is almost a full carat of diamonds! It is courtesy of Reeds Jewelers Crabtree.
The Forevermark Tribute Collection celebrates the unique and brilliant woman who wears it. The pieces can be worn stacked or layered to reflect your individual style and character. When combined, the look features multiple diamonds, paying tribute to the many qualities that together make you the incredible woman that you are.
The Forevermark Promise:
- Beautiful: Forevermark diamonds are genuine, untreated, and natural.
- Rare: Less than 1% of diamonds qualify to be a Forevermark diamond.
- Responsibly sourced: Each Forevermark diamond has met high standards of business, social, and environmental integrity at every step of its journey.
- The inscription: Each Forevermark diamond has the Forevermark icon and a unique identification number on the table of the diamond visible only under a Forevermark viewer.
Tickets are going fast! Make sure to join your friends and colleagues October 15 at the Marriott Raleigh Crabtree.
Could A Russian Bat Virus Spark NC's Next Health Crisis?
In 2020, a team of Russian Scientists identified a troubling new virus in horseshoe bats, Khosta-2.
The virus, which share commonalities with SARS-CoV-2, concerned the scientists because of its ability to infect human cells [in lab conditions].
More recently, a separate team of scientists from Washington State and Tulane Universities ran their own tests on Khosta-2, its capability to infect humans and antibody response. They found the initial results concerning. Should you be worried now?
Read the full article here.
ATTENTION MEDICAID PROVIDERS: Nearly 300 Physicians Suspended Over Expired Credentials
RALEIGH -- In May of 2021, NC Medicaid started taking additional steps, as outlined in the NCTracks Changes to Provider Verification Process bulletin, to ensure providers meet contractual obligations to maintain their credentials on their enrollment record. Multiple bulletin articles were published to notify providers of the change, and providers receive four targeted reminders prior to their suspension notifications.
On August 31, 2022, approximately 279 Allopathic and Osteopathic Physicians were suspended due to an expired credential. These providers have sixty days from the date of suspension to ensure that their license is renewed, and their NCTracks provider enrollment record is updated to avoid termination.
Providers may update their NCTracks provider record through the Manage Change Request process. NCTracks User Guides and Fact Sheets offer basic instructions for making the necessary update and any additional questions may be referred to the NCTracks Call Center at 800-668-6696.
NCTracks Changes to Provider Verification Process bulletin: https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/blog/2021/04/14/nctracks-changes-provider-verification-process
NCTracks User Guides and Fact Sheets: https://www.nctracks.nc.gov/content/public/providers/provider-user-guides-and-training/fact-sheets.html
Oh My Gourd! Cooking With Squash is All The Rage This Fall!
Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmer is saying 'Oh My Gourd' to a whole new world of cooking!
Harvested in the fall, gourds will last throughout the cold winter months, hence the name winter squash. Squash come in a staggering diversity of size, shape and color. With generally mild and sweet flavors, squash are easy to incorporate into your meal, they absorb seasonings well and are great in soups, pies, risotto, casseroles and even breads.
The attached article is full of information for you, your family, and your patients. Don't miss the delicious recipes at the end of the article.
Click here for all you need to know.
North Carolina Medical Society Alliance Celebrates Centennial - Part 3
RALEIGH -- Next year the North Carolina Medical Society Alliance celebrates 100 years! The Alliance works to improve the health of all people in North Carolina.
In advance of the anniversary, NCMS Alliance is sharing some history and stories of it’s history. Here is the second in a series.
Reviewing the 1940s...
On Monday Afternoon, April 15, 1940 the State Medical Auxiliary Board Meets
The North Carolina Medical Society Auxiliary in the 1940s
The Auxiliary to the Medical Society of North Carolina began the decade by expanding its sanitorium bed project to the Western Sanitorium in Asheville, later naming that bed for Dr. Martin Stevens. Soon, the developments of World War II influenced members’ efforts. In 1941, a National Defense Chairman led the Auxiliary in a project to collect surgical instruments and medical supplies called Aid to Britain. In 1942, members funded the USS Fremont battle dressing station and sold Mercy Emblems for emergency medical field kits. By 1943, Auxiliaries were directing much of their energy to the war effort, meeting troop trains with doughnuts and coffee, knitting and sewing, using their endowments to purchase war bonds, and raising money for the Medical and Surgical Relief Committee. In 1944, 210 members gave 113, 355 hours to war service committees!
The Auxiliary continued other projects during the war. In 1944 the group established the Cooper Bed, named for George Martin Cooper, MD, in the Eastern Sanitorium in Wilson. During the poliomyelitis epidemic in that same year, members assisted clinics and physicians to get through the crisis, which hit some areas of the state very hard, and assisted in the gamma globulin and Salk mass vaccine clinics. Members also volunteered in hospitals by staffing canteens, creating library services for patients, contributing linens, and furnishing rooms in hospitals and nurses’ homes.
A shortage of graduate nurses followed the war. So, in 1948 the Auxiliary started Future Nurses Clubs which involved hosting teas, giving hospital tours and other activities to generate interest in nursing among high school students. The Auxiliary provided loans and scholarships for qualified students to study nursing.
By 1949, when the annual meeting was held in Pinehurst, membership in the Auxiliary to the Medical Society of North Carolina had grown to 1321 members. Forty-three local auxiliaries existed with 10 of those reorganizing during the 1940s. Yearly dues increased to $2.00 in 1948 with $1.00 going to national dues. Half of the state dues, or fifty cents, went to various Memorial Bed funds in state sanitoria. Other highlights of the 1940s include--
1940: The Auxiliary supported a legislative bill requiring a medical exam for a marriage license and a Wassermann test for pregnant women.
1941: Auxiliary members compiled a mailing list of physicians’ wives. The work of the Auxiliary was divided among eleven committees. Chairmen of these committees kept notebooks of their projects that were passed on to their successors.
1942: The Board of Directors met only twice a year instead of four times.
1945: Members continued to be active in the war effort. The annual meeting was canceled to conserve gas and oil. The Auxiliary president traveled by public bus.
1946: The State Auxiliary received a Treasury Award for Patriotic Service. Members made surgical dressings for cancer patients and kept up with medical legislation.
1947: Members adopted the motto, Service to Others. Frederick Taylor, MD of High Point designed the first state seal.
1949: The Public Relations Committee began its work. Members staged a write-in to legislators to help defeat national compulsory health insurance.
Mrs. Sidney Smith (Melissa) President: 1941-42
Mrs. C. F. Strosnider (Anna), President 1939-1940
The 1st State Seal
For more information on the North Carolina Medical Society Alliance or to join click here.
Ian reforms as Category 1 hurricane, takes aim at Carolinas
RALEIGH -- Hurricane Ian cut a swath across Florida as a category 4 hurricane and nearly a category 5. As it crossed Florida is slowed to a tropical storm, but has regained energy in the warm waters of the Atlantic.
Over the next several days, the Carolina coast will be battered with hurricane and tropical storm strength winds.
The North Carolina Medical Society is reminding it's members and all citizens to take precautions now and make plans for you, your business, and your family as soon as possible.
The Red Cross has compiled a plan for what you should be doing at the storm approaches. You can see it here.
The staff of NCMS wants you to be safe and to reach out to us if we can be of any assistance. North Carolina will likely see winds up to 70 miles per hour, inland flooding, and coastal storm surge up to 5 or more feet.
We are here to help you in any way possible.
NCDHHS Delays Medicaid Managed Care Tailored Plans
RALEIGH -- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is delaying the implementation of the NC Medicaid Managed Care Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plans until April 1, 2023.
The Department made the announcement on September 28, 2022, explaining that the postponed launch would give LME/MCOs more time to contract with additional clinicians and entities. For more information, please visit check the NC Medicaid webpage.
In an article for NC Health News Clarissa Donnelly-DeRoven explains the switch is happening for nearly 200,000 people out of a total of more than 2.8 million North Carolina Medicaid beneficiaries. The plans are targeted primarily for those with complicated health problems, severe mental health needs, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries. It’s the next phase in the state’s transition to managed care, which started in July 2021.
Tailored plans will be different from the other managed care plans. Unlike the rest of the Medicaid population, those on tailored plans will not have four to five managed care plans to choose from. They will have no options and will automatically be enrolled in the tailored plan run by the LME-MCO that covers their county.
For mental health and other providers to keep seeing patients, they have to sign up to be in the LME-MCOs new network. If they don’t, their patient will have to find a new doctor.
The LME-MCOs have run into problems building up networks of physical healthcare providers to augment the mental health services they’ve been designed to provide. The state health department cited this on Thursday as the main reason it's delaying the rollout of tailored plans from Dec. 1 to April 1, 2023.
The North Carolina Medical Society is here to help you and your practice navigate this transformation to how North Carolina delivers Medicaid services. If you encounter any issues related to Medicaid, please use this NCMS Form to document your concerns:
Medicaid Transformation Form - https://ncmedsoc.org/innovations-resources/medicaid-transformation/medicaid-transformation-issues-form/
The full NCDHHS release is available here: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2022/09/29/ncdhhs-delays-medicaid-managed-care-tailored-plans
Wednesday Wow! Piranha Caught in NC Lake
MOORE COUNTY -- The NC Wildlife Resources Commission is confirming a piranha was caught in Aberdeen Lake in Moore County!
The fish was caught by Chad Ray and the Commission says it was likely a pet that outgrew its tank and was tossed into the lake by its owners.
Biologists say they have no concern the species will establish itself in the lake. Piranha are warm water fish and will not survive the winter in North Carolina.
As a reminder: NC Administrative Code states it is unlawful to transport, purchase, possess, sell, or stock piranha in the state's public or private waters.
The 2022 Golden Stethoscope Award Winners ARE...
Dr. Lisa Kaufmann is a 2022 Golden Stethoscope Award winner!
After more than two years of sacrifice and hard work it is time to celebrate again! The North Carolina Medical Society is honoring physicians and PAs who went above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each day this week we are announcing the winners. YOU can join them at the Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala on October 15.
More about Dr. Kaufmann:
Lisa Kaufmann, MD is the Medical Director of the Adult Inpatient and Emergency Department Service Line at Appalachian Regional Health Care System in the rural Blue Ridge Mountains. She is also the Medical Director of their Hospitalist Program, and Clinical Inpatient Faculty in the MAHEC Boone Family Medicine Residency . Dr Kaufmann came to love the Blue Ridge during her undergraduate and medical school years at Duke. Her Internal Medicine residency was at the University of Pennsylvania. After 8 years in private practice in Tucson, AZ, she joined the faculty of the University of Arizona, and late the State University of New York in Syracuse, from which she retired early as full professor to move to the mountains she loves. Dr Kaufmann’s academic focus is on quality improvement and clinical teaching. This past experience in rapid process improvement was particularly useful during the COVID epidemic, with the need to combine disaster preparedness, coordinating with emergency management including managing supply chain and physical plant adaptations, staffing shortages and having to develop clinical protocols and training in a small rural health system. Dr Kaufmann is also passionate about addressing social determinants of care, including coordination between the inpatient team and community services like the “Food is Medicine” program. When she is not working, Dr Kaufmann loves hiking in the mountains, writing, and hanging out with her large family.
Meet Dr. Kaufmann and our other Golden Stethoscope Award Winners on October 15 at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree.
Here are our previously announced winners:
https://ncmedsoc.org/the-2022-golden-stethoscope-award-winners-are-3/
https://ncmedsoc.org/the-2022-golden-stethoscope-award-winners-are-2/
https://ncmedsoc.org/the-2022-golden-stethoscope-award-winners-are/
In Memoriam: Marian Wahba Ghraib, MD
NCMS member Marian Wahba Ghraib, MD, died Wednesday, September 7. She was 35 years old.
Dr. Ghraib was affiliated with the UNC Medical Center, North Carolina, where she served the Rocky Mount community.
She attained her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2015 and completed her residency in otolaryngology at Temple University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Ghraib was a research fellow at the National Institutes of Health from 2009 to 2011, after graduating from the University of California, Berkeley in 2019 with a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology.
The staff and members of the North Carolina Medical Society extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.
Read Dr. Ghraib's complete full obituary here.
Wake County Medical Society Planning Visit to JC Raulston Arboretum
RALEIGH -- The Wake County Medical Society invites local colleagues to join them for an outdoor event. On Saturday, September 24, WCMS will visit the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh. WCMS Members, Prospective Members, and Guests are invited to join a group tour at 10am, followed by a picnic lunch. Attendees are welcome to stay and tour the Fall for Orchids Show at the Arboretum.
The JC Raulston Arboretum, located in west Raleigh near the NC State Fairgrounds, is a local treasure. Their mission is to “introduce, display, and promote plants that diversify the American landscape, thereby benefiting our communities economically, environmentally, and aesthetically, as well as provide educational experiences to the general public, students of all ages, and the green industry.” We had a great time at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre last month. We endeavor to create more opportunities for the medical community to get to know one another outside of practice environments and the Arboretum is a venue that was suggested for such an outing.
Please send an email to [email protected] for details.
North Carolina's Michael Jordan Keeps Breaking Records
(ESPN) -- It's not the last dance for a famous jersey after all!
A jersey worn by Michael Jordan in Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals -- part of the hallowed "Last Dance" season for Jordan that culminated with the Chicago Bulls reigning victorious over the Utah Jazz -- has sold for $10.091 million with auction house Sotheby's.
It is the most ever paid for an item of sports memorabilia, surpassing the $9.28 million paid in May for late soccer legend Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" jersey from the 1986 World Cup.
The "Last Dance" jersey marked Jordan's sixth and final NBA championship -- and his record sixth NBA Finals MVP award -- before he retired for the second time.
It is only the second Jordan jersey from the NBA Finals to ever appear at auction, according to Sotheby's. The previous record for any Jordan item was a 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey patch card, with an on-card autograph, which sold for $2.7 million in October 2021.
Before the Maradona uniform, the most ever paid for a match/game-worn jersey was $5.64 million in 2019 for a Babe Ruth jersey, worn circa 1918-1920.
The previous record for any NBA jersey was $3.69 million, paid in May 2021 for one worn by Kobe Bryant during his 1996-97 rookie season.
Jordan graduated from Laney High School in Wilmington. He then played three seasons under coach Dean Smith with the UNC Chapel Hill Tar Heels. As a freshman, he was a member of the Tar Heels' national championship team in 1982.
'Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation! 2022 National Hispanic Heritage Month Begins
September 15 - October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of people whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. It began in 1968 as a week-long celebration and expanded in 1988.
This year the theme is 'Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.' The Hispanic Heritage Month website says it wants to make sure that all voices are represented and welcomed to build stronger communities and a stronger nation.
The North Carolina Medical Society is grateful for our many Latinx members, staff, supporters and patients.
In North Carolina the Department of Health and Human Services works hard to support the state's growing Hispanic community including the NC Early Childhood Action Plan, the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, and by translating key content of the Division of Child Development and Early Education website.
For information on celebrations around the country and for places to learn more click here.
Medicaid's Transition to Managed Care: What You Need to Know
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) Division of Health Benefits and North Carolina AHEC (NC AHEC) are offering an evening webinar series to help providers, practice managers, and quality managers succeed with Medicaid Managed Care.
These informative webinars are hosted by Shannon Dowler, MD, Chief Medical Officer, NC Division of Health Benefits and moderated by Hugh Tilson, Director of the NC AHEC Program and takes place on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 5:30-6:45 PM.
The Medicaid Managed Care Webinar Series is dedicated to bringing you late-breaking information and guidance on NC Medicaid’s transition to Managed Care.
Don't miss these upcoming Managed Care Webinars:
September 15, 2022
October 20, 2022
November 17, 2022
December 15, 2022
For information, click here.
New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society Plans 25th Summer Social
The New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society is holding it's 25th Summer Social on September 21, 2022.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Society is touting it's return as a great opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, meet new physicians and get advice from previous generations.
It is the 21st at Pine Valley Country Club from 6-9pm. A cash bar will be provided. RSVP by September 14, 2022.
Click here to reserve your spot.
Doctors Take Note: Is This A New Era for Cancer Screening?
Doctors around the world and here in the US are hailing the effectiveness of Galleri, a new blood test that can spot several cancers.
The Galleri test looks for Cancer DNA in the blood. The new Pathfinder Study found it detected dozens of new cases including many at an early stage and nearly three-quarters were forms of cancer not routinely screened for.
Doctors involved hope the test will save lives by detecting cancer early enough for surgery and treatment to be more effective, but caution that the technology is still in development.
Beyond spotting the presence of disease, the test predicts where the cancer is, allowing doctors to fast-track the follow-up work needed to locate and confirm a cancer.
Several publications have evaluated Galleri. Here are a few places to read more:
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul allowing polio vaccines after more virus detected in three counties
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday the state was stepping up its polio-fighting efforts after the virus was detected in the wastewater of yet another county in the New York City area.
The sample is genetically linked to the polio case from Rockland and provides further evidence of expanding community spread, state health officials said. The poliovirus had previously been detected in wastewater in New York City and three counties to its north: Rockland, Orange and Sullivan.
Hochul declared a state disaster emergency that allows EMS workers, midwives and pharmacists to administer polio vaccines and allows doctors to issue standing orders for the vaccine.
The lone confirmed case in New York involved an unidentified young adult who was unvaccinated.