Opportunities to serve
Various organizations throughout the state seek nominations from MASA’s Board of Censors for appointments to healthcare related boards and committees. Listed below are organizations with openings for physician volunteers. For more information on these and other volunteer opportunities, contact Stephanie Fletcher, MASA executive assistant, at (800) 239-6272 or (334) 954-2500.
Healthcare Data Advisory Council
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is responsible for collecting, compiling and analyzing patient infection data for the state. The Healthcare Data Advisory Council was created out of the Mike Denton Infection Reporting Act to advise ADPH on the development of rules and regulations pertaining to healthcare-associated infection reporting.
MASA has the opportunity to nominate three members for appointment to the council.
The council meets no more than once a month and no less than once per year. Meetings are located in Montgomery, usually on the second Wednesday of the month. Mileage reimbursement is available for council members.
Alabama Medicaid Agency Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee
NOTE: MASA is currently accepting nominations
The P&T Committee meets four times a year and performs clinical reviews to recommend preferred drugs within a class. Physician members are appointed by the Medicaid commissioner based on nominations submitted by MASA.
To serve on the P&T Committee, physicians should be Medicaid providers and have experience developing or practicing under a preferred drug list. Medicaid’s policy is to ensure that the committee reflects the racial, gender, geographic, and economic diversity of the state.
About the P&T Committte: As directed by legislation, the Alabama Medicaid Agency shall utilize a Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee within the Agency for the purpose of advising and assisting Medicaid in the development of a drug plan. Alabama Medicaid's mandatory Preferred Drug Program began in 2003.
Members on the Committee: As directed by legislation, the Medicaid P&T Committee shall be comprised and consist of three clinical pharmacists licensed to practice in the State of Alabama and at least five physicians licensed to practice medicine in the State of Alabama. Members of the P&T Committee should be enrolled as Medicaid providers and have experience developing or practicing under a preferred drug list.
Alabama Medicaid Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board
NOTE: MASA is currently accepting nominations
Drug Utilization Review (DUR) is designed to improve the quality of pharmaceutical care by ensuring that prescriptions are appropriate, medically necessary and unlikely to result in adverse medical outcomes. Medicaid's DUR program includes prospective, online and retrospective review as well as use of standards developed by the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP). A board comprised of physicians and pharmacists provides guidance to Agency staff.
The DUR Board meets 4 times per year for a 2 hour meeting (1:00 - 3:00 p.m., plus travel to and from the meeting, meeting time and meeting prep time) on the 4th Wednesday of the months of January, April, July, and October.
Participating in discussion at meetings regarding utilization, criteria, clinically appropriate prescribing, prevention of utilization issues such as fraud, misuse, abuse. Recommendations on education topics. This is a federally mandated Board.
Members are contracted at a rate of $40/hr to include packet review, meeting and travel time. Review packets that are covered in the meeting are sent to members ahead of time to prepare for the meeting.
Physicians volunteer networkIn the event of a disaster, whether it be a hurricane, influenza pandemic or other source, the Alabama Department of Public Health will serve as a hub for physician volunteers. Physicians may volunteer for medical needs shelters, transitional shelters, hospitals, clinics, delivery of pharmaceuticals as well as for other agencies.
Alabama Department of Public Health
Disaster relief army seeks volunteers
The Madison County Medical Society is assembling a volunteer army of 500 health care workers to help treat victims of tornadoes, deadly flu outbreaks and other disasters.
Laura Moss, the society's executive director, said the new Medical Reserve Corps of North Alabama is open to any current or former health care provider. Physicians and nurses are needed, but so are pharmacists, dentists, paramedics, clinical social workers, mental health counselors and veterinarians.
People who have never worked in medicine can also join the corps in a support role, Moss said.
The medical reserve corps was approved for a 13-county North Alabama region including metro Huntsville, Sand Mountain, Cullman and the Shoals. The unpaid volunteers will have state Department of Public Health clearance to work at any medical disaster site in the region.
"It will be lifesaving if you can get the right people to the right situations," Moss said Wednesday. "I think it's really going to help our response to any kind of critical incident."
Eight other Alabama cities have medical reserve corps including Mobile, Birmingham, Dothan, Prattville and Selma.
Crestwood and Huntsville Hospital have agreed to let activated medical reservists work alongside their regular staffers during disasters, Moss said.
Before being cleared to work at disaster sites, local medical reservists are required to go through training that Moss said is likely to include mandatory participation in disaster drills and events.