North Carolina
Position Statements Updated
The North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) recently approved revisions to four position statements. The position statement revisions apply to the following:
Contact with patients before prescribing
Expedited partner care and therapy
Professional behavior within the healthcare team
Sexual misconduct involving patients
Position statements are developed by the Board to provide licensees with interpretive statements that define or explain the meaning of laws or rules that govern the practice of medicine in North Carolina. They also are intended to establish criteria or guidelines that are used by Board staff who conduct investigations and who are involved in the prosecution or settlement of cases.
Further information is available at: https://www.ncmedboard.org/resources-information/professional-resources/publications/forum-newsletter/article/four-posiiton-statements-updated
Oklahoma
National Physician Distribution Reveals Critical Shortage
The Association of American Medical Colleges’ recent US Physician Workforce Data Dashboard highlights a nationwide variation in the number of active physicians per 100000 people. Notably, Oklahoma ranks as the third lowest in this list, indicating a significant shortage of active physicians.
With 210.4 active physicians per 100000 people, Oklahoma's position is a matter of concern, especially when compared to states like West Virginia (286.7) and Missouri (311.2), which have much higher ratios. This disparity highlights the need for Oklahoma to focus on attracting and retaining medical professionals to meet its healthcare needs.
The shortage of active physicians in Oklahoma highlights the urgency of enhancing the state's healthcare infrastructure. Strategies to address this issue may include offering incentives to medical practitioners, improving medical education and training facilities, and fostering a supportive environment for healthcare workers.
The full report is available at: https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/report/us-physician-workforce-data-dashboard
Oregon
Adoption of Mental Health Attestation for Licensing, Credentialing Applications
Earlier this year, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) joined the Oregon Medical Board in removing invasive or stigmatizing language regarding mental health and adopted an attestation model for credentialing applications. Oregon is the first state in the US to remove these questions from both licensing and credentialing applications.
OHA's Advisory Committee for Physician Credentialing Information (ACPCI) convened in January 2024 and voted on recommendations sent in by interested groups to revise the 2023 Oregon Practitioner Credentialing and Recredentialing Applications (OPCA and OPRA). The approved recommendations were subsequently approved by OHA's Director Dr. Sejal Hathi and posted online on June 11, 2024. The 2024 applications, as well as the summary of 2024 changes, is available at: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/OHIT-ACPCI/Pages/index.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Vermont
Joint Statement Regarding IV Therapy Clinics and Medical Spas
The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) and Board of Medical Practice (BMP) have received complaints and reports about inappropriate activities occurring at IV therapy clinics and medical spas. These activities include out-of-scope practice, delegation of tasks to unqualified individuals, and unlicensed practice of medicine. As a result, a joint statement regarding IV therapy clinics and medical spas has been approved and released.
Nationally, as well as in Vermont, it is becoming increasingly common to see retail IV therapy clinics or “medical spas” that offer IV “cocktails” of additives to saline that may include vitamins, minerals, or prescription drugs. They are marketed to consumers as treatments for conditions such as dehydration, fatigue, and hangovers, or to aid individuals with athletic recovery or weight loss. Vermont does not have laws and regulations that specifically govern IV therapy clinics and medical spas. Rather, these businesses are subject to the same laws and regulations that govern all spas and medical practices. The OPR and the BMP believe that this advisory statement will benefit licensed professionals who provide such services at these businesses by providing clarity.
The statement is available at: https://www.health-vermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/bmp-joint-statement-regarding-IV-therapy-clinics-2024-06-05-approvedbyBMPBOMBOPBON.pdf
