Clark County Medical Society

CCMS Mission: To serve the needs of the physicians, their patients and the Clark County community with responsibility and integrity.

CCMS Vision: The Clark County Medical Society is ultimately striving:

President's Message

Mitchell Forman, DO, FACP, CCMS President 2010-11

    I am proud to accept the position of President of the Clark County Medical Society and to join an elite group of individuals who, through their efforts and actions have made a difference in the healthcare and lives of this community. At times I have felt overwhelmed by work and personal responsibilities, only to look at my colleagues who balance busy practices, community service, professional responsibilities and their personal lives. It has been through their effort and of other members of the professional healthcare community that important issues such as medical tort reform, the promotion of ethical and professional standards, and redefining guidelines for safe injection practices have been reinforced. Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada is an example of a brainchild that would not have been a reality if not for the broad support of the entire healthcare community, local government, businesses and the public in support of this selfless act of giving.
    The medical community has been generous in their support as clinical faculty for the two medical schools in Nevada, the University of Nevada School of Medicine and Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine and other allied health professional programs. There are many challenges to improving the healthcare of our community and the State, and all require collaboration and partnerships between the public and private sectors, between the public and organized medicine, between the legislature and the professional healthcare community.
    An article in the Las Vegas Review Journal summarized the controversies surrounding the scope of practice by Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. This issue and the consequences of expanding the Corporate Practice of Medicine Act are two of the legislative issues that will be debated over the months to follow. Recent healthcare legislation, if enacted and implemented, will change healthcare and the practice of medicine. The arguments for and against components of the complex legislation we have read and heard about have been aired, debated and examined with a fine tooth comb. The public has made their opinions known and there remains no clear consensus. Remaining passive during the process and in the months and years to follow is not an option. Organized medicine has the responsibility of informing, educating and listening to its members, but must remain connected to all of the parties involved in the debate. This includes the public, all healthcare professions, the legislators and the insurance industry. Drawing a line in the sand, taking positions that do not permit some compromise are certain to fail.
    As the next President of the Clark County Medical Society I promise to continue the efforts of my predecessors in implementing the Mission of our society and in making what we do more relevant to our members, the medical community and the public. I look forward to promoting a number of initiatives including the following:
    1. In the time that I have been in this community, I have had the honor and pleasure of working with members of the Clark County Medical Society who have unique   areas of expertise in public speaking, knowledge of national healthcare legislation, an understanding of healthcare laws, and some who have developed a close working relationship with politicians and legislators. I will identify these individuals and may ask them to serve as the point people for the CCMS in interacting with the public, the media, legislators, City and State government and other groups;
    2. Facilitating a closer working relationship between the two medical schools, UNSOM and Touro, in developing both undergraduate and graduate medical education. The future of medicine in our community is dependent on “growing our own”, of training and retaining the graduates of our medical schools through developing graduate medical educational opportunities. Today, Nevada is losing most of its graduates to other States, who have made a commitment to Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs.
    3. Strengthening the trust between the public and the medical profession that was strained and tarnished through the actions of a small number of unscrupulous individuals, whose self – interests, usurped their professional responsibility.
    4. Identifying the many benefits of membership in the Clark County Medical Society and actively recruiting members of the medical community, who now enjoy the fruits of the efforts of our members, will be one of our projects. There is strength in numbers. Legislators and insurance companies are more likely to listen to, hear and acknowledge the proposals brought forward by our society if we are strong in number and voice.
    5. Working even more closely with the Nevada State Medical Association by identifying shared initiatives, shared resources and ways to collaborate more efficiently and effectively. As an example, you will soon be hearing more about the Recovery Audit Contractor or “RAC” Initiative. This federal legislation and the implementation of its auditing system may significantly impact medical practices. The company overseeing the auditing process receives compensation based on its findings. This is the most overt example of a conflict of interest with extraordinary punitive consequences.
    6. Interacting more closely and effectively with our membership and the community through greater accessibility, visibility and transparency will continue to be one of our goals. I want to thank my predecessor, Dr. Annette Teijeiro, for her willingness to serve as a resource during the transition, particularly during a period of time that saw some personnel changes in our organization. I look forward to working closely with the members of my Executive Council, Drs. Baron, Alexander, Brill, Shah and Dr. Teijeiro.

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