October 2009
Page 1 of 3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
As November approaches I find myself in a state of reflection. It must be the end of summer and the breathtaking autumn colors that have stirred such emotion in me.
"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spotsmay be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect onthe feelings, as now in October."
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
I am in awe of nature’s beauty. Most of you know I travel quite often. One of the things I’ve learned from my travels is how blessed we are to live in the beautiful state ofNorth Carolina.
The next two months are sure to fly by in a whirl of preparations for two major holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even if you don’t celebrate either of those holidays, one must agree that this time of year generally stirs feelings of gratitude and humility. I hope you will act upon those feelings and take a little time for yourself and enjoy the beautiful scenery Mother Nature has provided. It’s good therapy for the soul!
"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn."
- Elizabeth Lawrence
QUARTERLY MEETING RECAP/UPDATE
Our August quarterly meeting at RutherfordHospital in Rutherfordton, NC was a great success. Special thanks to June Wilson, CPCS, Medical Staff Coordinator, David Bixler, CEO and Dr. Dean Backstrom, Vice President of Medical Affairs for opening their facility to us to host the meeting and for making us feel so welcomed. I would also like to thank our speakers Dr. Stephen Dorman and Rebecca Lowman for their educational contributions. Thanks also to Mike Tekely and Rebecca Lowman from MAG Mutual for their vendor support. NAMSS awarded 4.5 CME hours for this educational session.
Our next meeting will be held at the North Carolina Medical Board in Raleigh, NC on November 6. If you have not registered for this conference yet and would like to attend, please contact Linda Waldorf, CPMSM, CPCS or me. We hope to see you there!
As you are in the throes of budget planning for 2010, I thought it would be a good idea to share the 2010 dates with you so you can appropriately plan from a financial and scheduling perspective. The dates follow:
February 19, 2010Pitt CountyMemorial
Greenville, NC
May 11-14, 2010The Breakers Hotel
Myrtle Beach, SC
August 20, 2010Gaston Memorial
Gastonia, NC
November 5, 2010NC Medical Board
Raleigh, NC
NAMSS Awareness week - november 1 – 7
In 1992, President George Bush signed Congressional House Joint Resolution #399 proclaiming the first week in November as National Medical Staff Services Awareness Week. The American Medical Association-Organized Medical Staff Section also recognizes the medical services profession in a resolution that formally acknowledges “the importance and value of medical services professionals to the healthcare organization and its physician members, and recognizes their contribution and dedication in preserving quality patient care.”
We do what we do
BECAUSE PATIENTS MATTER
While you may not directly provide clinical services to the patients in your facility, you certainly indirectly impact patient care every day. I’d love to hear from you any plans you have to heighten awareness of the Medical Staff Services role in your hospital and/or community. The NAMSS website offers some valuable tools you can use to promote Medical Staff Services Awareness. A useful toolkit can be found on the NAMSS website at the following link:
NCAMSS ANNUAL BYLAWS REVIEW
Linda Waldorf, CPMSM, CPCS, Treasurer served as Bylaws Committee Chairman this year and performed the 2009 annual review of the NCAMSS Bylaws. Proposed changes are forthcoming to you via email and regular mail. The majority of the proposed changes more closely align NCAMSS Bylaws with those of NAMSS. A question and answer session will be made available to meeting participants during the Business Meeting portion of the agenda during the quarterly NCAMSS meeting on November 6, 2009 at the NC Medical Board. Your vote is essential, so once you’ve had a chance to review please return your completed ballot before December 1 to Linda Waldorf via FAX to 919-954-3828.
2010 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
The 2010 membership renewal applications were mailed earlier this month. If for some reason you did not receive your membership renewal form, please either contact Linda Waldorf, CPMSM, CPCS or retrieve the application online at the NCAMSS website from the home page at the bottom by clicking on the file: NCAMSS Membership/Renewal 2010. The following summarizes some membership benefits available to you:
MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ANY INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED WITH THE FUNCTIONS OF THE MEDICAL STAFF IN VARIOUS SETTINGS:
- HOSPITALS
- MANAGED CARE FIRMS
- VERIFICATION SERVICES
- PHYSICIAN GROUPS/OFFICES
The NC Association Medical Staff Services (NCAMSS) Website ( ) is updated with current & important news/information.
Peer Networking/Communication/ resources for problems within the Health Care Industry / Opportunity to Earn Continuing Education credits @ Educational ProgramsMeetings on a quarterly basis/annual meeting
Education/Communication & Professional Enrichment are agenda items / Collaboration with NC State Medical Board; Nursing Board and other organized Professional Organizations within the state on Current Issues
Certification Introduction & Support / Registration Discounts for all meetings
Professional Recognition within your field / Scholarship Information
collaboration with ncMB NCPHP
At the May Board meeting of the NCAMSS Officers and Members-at large, Geraldine Mulcahy, CPCS, NCAMSS Member-at-large and Membership Committee Chairman presented the Board with written letters of recognition from the North Carolina Medical Board and the North Carolina Physicians Health Program. As we continuously seek to gain recognition for the Medical Staff Services Professional role, letters of recognition and collaboration provide a solid building block in that regard.
Excerpts from the letters follow and full copies can be found on the NCAMSS website under the Patient Care Collaboration link.
“The North Carolina Physicians Health Program is proud of the association it has had over the years with the hospital medical staffs across our state. Our cooperative effort has enabled many physicians and physician assistants to receive assessments and treatment for mental health and substance use disorders and other issues. This improves the quality of care for all of North Carolina’s citizens as healthier medical professionals provide critically important services. Of particular assistance to us has been the work of the NC Association of Medical Staff Services. Your mission to promote quality health care among all medical staff mirrors our own mission of working to provide healthier medical professionals for all citizens of our state.”-Warren J. Pendergast, MD, Medical Director
“The NCMB recognizes the important contributions of the NCAMSS Organization in its dedication to preserving quality patient care. On behalf of the NCMB we wish to express our enthusiastic support and continued collaboration with the NCAMSS organization members to benefit NC State Medical Community “Protecting the Public; Strengthening the Profession”.”-Hari Gupta, Director of Operations, NC Medical Board
Triangle Chapter updates
Indi Daye, CPCS, President, TCNCAMSS, has published the Fall issue of “Triangle Talk”. It should be posted online in the History & Chapters section of the NCAMSS webpage at
board officer/member changes
Fran Fallon, CPCS, CPMSM, President-Elect and Program Chairman moved to a new position with Novant Health. Please make note of her new contact information for future use:
Telephone: 704 384-4171
FAX: 704 316-7112
Rhonda Boyd, CPCS assumed a new role with the Veterans Health Administration. New contact information for Rhonda follows:
Telephone: (919) 474-3923
FAX: (919) 474-3902
Deborah Chapman, CPMSM, CPCS retired from the Veterans Health Administration after more than 20 years. Her new email address is:
ncamss cpcs/cpmsm cert prep
NCAMSS offers a CPCS/CPMSM certification preparation study group every Thursday night from 7-8pm. If you are preparing for one of the exams in the immediate future, please feel contact Deborah Chapman, CPMSM, CPCS at
HERE FOR YOU
Please feel free to contact me, Tammy Davis, CPCS, CPMSM, NCAMSS Presidentwith questions, concerns or suggestions. You may reach me at my email address: or on my cell phone 336-504-2838.
Page 1 of 3