TGIF! Enjoy your

NCMS Morning Rounds.

  June 26, 2020

NCDHHS Offers Toolkit to ‘Prevent and Protect’

In the wake of Governor Roy Cooper’s announcement this week making face coverings mandatory to help stem the transmission of the coronavirus, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is offering a ‘prevent and protect’ toolkit with resources to help you get the word out to patients about wearing face coverings as well as washing their hands and physically distancing from others.

“Scientific research shows that preventative measures such as hand washing and wearing cloth coverings over the nose and mouth are effective ways to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities by lowering risk of exposure to COVID-19,” said Deputy Secretary Dave Richard, NC Medicaid. “Growing evidence shows that cloth face coverings, when worn consistently, can decrease the spread of COVID-19, especially among people who are not yet showing symptoms of the virus.”

This Prevent and Protect Media Toolkit includes:
• Posters for your practice to print and hang in common areas that remind people to wear cloth coverings over their nose and mouth
• Social media graphics answering basic questions about wearing coverings over the mouth and nose.
• Customizable flyers about the 3W’s — wash your hands, wear a face covering and wait 6 feet apart.

All materials are available in English and Spanish.

You can find more information about the new cloth covering Executive Order in this press release and answers to frequently asked questions in this Guidance and FAQS.

Getting Ready for the November Election

To help ensure EVERYONE is able to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming election, here are a few reminders of the absentee voting procedure you can follow this year if you are at all uncertain about voting in person come November.

  • Any North Carolina registered voter may request and receive a mail-in absentee ballot for the November 2020. If you are not yet registered to vote, you may register online here.
    • No special circumstance or reason is needed to receive and vote a mail-in absentee ballot.
    • You may complete an absentee ballot request form here. It needs to be received at your county board of elections by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27 – that’s the Tuesday before Election Day.
    • Once you receive your absentee ballot, you can mark your ballot in the presence of one witness (usually this requires two witnesses, but the requirement has been changed to one witness for the November 2020 election). The witness must sign the Witness Certification on the ballot envelope.
    • The completed ballot with witness certification signature must be returned to the county board of elections no later than 5 p.m. on Election Day.

Learn more about this process at the NC Board of Elections website Absentee Voting Information page.

REMINDER: July 1 Deadline to Apply for Medical Board Seats

The Review Panel for the NC Medical Board, which operates independently of the Medical Board, is seeking physician applicants for three seats on the Board, for three-year terms beginning Nov. 1. In accordance with state law, one of the available seats must be filled by a physician who is a member of the Old North State Medical Society. Two of the physician board members currently serving are eligible for reappointment; one incumbent physician board member is not eligible for reappointment.

The Review Panel will consider only physicians who hold active, unrestricted NC professional licenses, and have practiced in the state for at least five years. Applicants must currently be practicing clinical medicine at least 20 hours per week and plan to continue at least that level of practice in North Carolina for the duration of their service on the Medical Board. In addition, applicants must have no history of disciplinary action (in any jurisdiction) within the past 10 years. The Review Panel will interview qualified applicants Aug. 22 and 23.

Learn more about what is involved in serving on the Board here.

July 1 is the deadline to apply. Submit your application here.

In the News

How the Split Over Face Masks Sums Up America’s Chaotic Coronavirus Response, The Washington Post, 6-25-20

Learning Opportunity

DON’T FORGET – today is Power Hour day. Tune in from 1 to 2 p.m. to hear from your colleagues across the pond on their countries’ response to COVID-19. Register for this international roundtable here.

The Aspen Ideas Festival is online and free! June 28 to July 1 timely thought leaders including Anthony Fauci, MD and other health care, cultural, business and intellectual leaders will address events shaping our world today, including the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing protests against systemic racism. The festival speakers will look to what may lay ahead, including opportunities for economic recovery, the future of democracy, and the latest innovations in technology and the arts. See the lineup of speakers and sign up today for updates and reminders.

If you have policies you’d like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!