It’s Friday and time for your

NCMS Morning Rounds!

  March 27, 2020

NCMS Testifies Before NC House COVID-19 Committee

Yesterday, NCMS Board of Directors At-large member Eileen Raynor, MD, FACS, FAAP and NCMS Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Advancement Chip Baggett, JD, testified on your behalf before the NC House Select Committee on COVID-19. The committee, which met virtually, heard from representatives of the NC Healthcare Association as well as from the NCMS on the conditions in which health care professionals and hospitals now find themselves and what legislators might do to address supply shortages, financial impacts and how best to protect the public.

Prior to testifying, the NCMS submitted to the Committee members a comprehensive report outlining both short and long-term actions legislators can take to provide resources and support to the health care community and ensure access to care for the people of North Carolina in response to this pandemic. Read the report.

After hearing Dr. Raynor and Baggett speak, NCMS member Rep. Perrin Jones, MD (R-Pitt), a member of the committee and its health care working group, encouraged legislators to approach the needs in three-tiers: acute needs such as adequate personal protective equipment and ventilators; medium range issues like helping financially strapped practices especially in case the virus resurfaces next fall and winter and long-term policies taken from a running list of ‘lessons learned’ in this crisis to avoid the same situation in the future.

Listen to yesterday’s NCMS testimony and questions from legislators.

Results of Sunday Survey #4 – Medical Malpractice Reform

Thank you to everyone who responded — despite the upheaval caused by COVID-19 — to our fourth Sunday Survey on medical malpractice reform. The results are below.

On Sunday afternoon, watch for our final Sunday Survey, which will focus on scope of practice. Your input on these surveys over the past four weeks is a most valuable asset to our Legislative Cabinet as they consider our priorities for the coming legislative session.

Here are the results of our survey on Medical Malpractice Reform:

What strategies can the NCMS support to limit medical malpractice costs, deter the filing of baseless claims and insure those who have sustained injury are appropriately compensated? Please check the ONE option below you think the NCMS should make a priority when considering medical malpractice reform.

NCMS’ Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership Offers Virtual Executive Coaching

To all the amazing clinicians out there: THANK YOU for all the work you do during this unprecedented and challenging time to help patients and keep the rest of us safe. We are so grateful for the sacrifices and hard work you do!

Leadership is more important than ever as we navigate this difficult moment of uncertainty and complexity. This is a time that require leaders to show confidence while they may feel the most vulnerable and be able to share a vision for others when it is challenging to even get to the end of the day. To serve you the best we can during this challenging time, we offer free executive coaching via Zoom. If you want to sign up, please send an email to Kristina Natt och Dag at [email protected] or Aubrey Cuthbertson at [email protected].

In the News

What We’ve Learned About the Coronavirus — and What We Still Need to Know, STAT, 3-26-20

Learning Opportunity

Here are two upcoming opportunities offering help in addressing the impact of COVID-19.

TODAY, March 27: Families First Coronavirus Response Act Webinar, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Attorney Jefferson Whisenant shares updates and basic information employers need to know about the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which created mandatory federal paid sick leave for employees unable to work due to the virus. Learn more and register for this free webinar provided by the NC Medical Group Management Association.

On Monday, March 30, from noon to 1p.m. NC AHEC and the Office of Rural Health (ORH) will offer the next in the weekly Telehealth Webinar Series to address the role of virtual visits in response to COVID-19. These webinars allow you to pose questions to telehealth subject matter experts. Join the Zoom meeting room or dial-in at (646) 558-8656 with webinar ID 985 104 650.

Please submit any questions for subject matter experts to prepare for in advance to [email protected].