The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) and the NCMS Foundation (NCMSF) are committed to improving the health of North Carolinians by supporting our physician and PA members, and by creating and supporting innovative programs to achieve positive health outcomes.
In early 2020, the NCMS reaffirmed its Guiding Principles to help shape future health policy to improve the health and well-being of patients. The NCMS also endorsed the NC Institute of Medicine’s HealthyNC2030 report, which defines 21 metrics to indicate improved health outcomes in the state over the next decade.
In the coming months and years, the NCMS will leverage the input and expertise of physicians and PAs, as well as our influence in the larger health care community, to help move the state toward more positive health outcomes as part of our own Healthy NC initiatives.
Upcoming Healthy NC Events
Please join us for the 2022 Lifestyle Medicine Summit, to be held in conjunction with the Community Practitioner Program (CPP) Annual Meeting at the LEAD Conference. Build knowledge and awareness around Lifestyle Medicine as a branch of medicine that addresses research, prevention, treatment and reversal of diseases that are caused by lifestyle factors.
For more details, download an agenda (PDF) or review the agenda page.
Credit Statement
Duke University Health System Department of Clinical Education and Professional Development designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Accreditation
In support of improving patient In support of improving patient care, the Duke University Health System Department of Clinical Education and Professional Development is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), to provide continuing education for the health care team.
Disclosure Statement
Duke University Health System Department of Clinical Education and Professional Development adheres to ACCME Essential Areas and Policies regarding industry support of continuing medical education. Disclosures of faculty/planning committee members and commercial relationships will be made known at the activity. Speakers are also expected to openly disclose a discussion of any off-label, experimental, or investigational use of drugs or devices in their presentations.
Americans with Disabilities Act
The NCMS is fully committed to the principle of equal educational opportunities for all individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristics protected by federal or state law. If you require any of the auxiliary aids or services identified in the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to participate in this conference, please call Megan Eberle at (919) 833-3836 no later than 10 business days before the date of the activity.
Gathering the Data
The first part of this multi-faceted project begins as the NCMS/NCMSF works with our Community Practitioner Program (CPP) participants to gather data on key health metrics among their patient populations.
Initially, NCMS Healthy NC will engage with five CPP practices, located in underserved areas of the state where patients may face multiple challenges to optimizing their health, and with the Cabarrus County Health Department. We have developed a survey to be used by each CPP practice to gather data on the social determinants of patients’ health. This is an invaluable source of information on the current health environment and behaviors of patients and will help benchmark our progress as we enhance our existing resources and develop new initiatives to improve health as part of Healthy NC. Review the survey here.
Addressing public health issues and social determinants of health
The NCMS currently directs two innovative programs — Project OBOT, which addresses opioid use disorder, and Our Community Health Initiative (OCHI), which focuses on the social determinants of health. Aware of North Carolina’s low ranking in health care outcomes for mothers and infants and determined to explore and implement improvements, the NCMS hosted several Maternal and Infant Health Summits, bringing together health care and community leaders to address this important issue.
Lifestyle Medicine
Lifestyle Medicine is another spoke in the NCMS Healthy NC wheel of programs. Rooted in clinical research findings, Lifestyle Medicine seeks to prevent, treat and reverse disease through changing lifestyle factors including diet and exercise. According to the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, this specialty “uses evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic interventions—including a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connection—as a primary modality, delivered by clinicians trained and certified in this specialty, to prevent, treat and often reverse chronic disease.”