Enjoy Our CPP Participant Highlight on Diana Rivera, PA-C

November 2023

The Community Practitioner Program strives to increase access to quality
healthcare for the underserved of North Carolina. The program's participants
are committed to this mission.

Where We Stand

Hot Topics

1. Celebrating Native American Heritage Month!

The North Carolina Medical Society is helping celebrate National Native American Heritage Month by introducing you to the remarkable Susan La Flesche Picotte. Learn more here. 

CPP Practice Job Board

1. Introducing the CPP Practice Job Board!

Click here to view current openings.

Educational Opportunities

1. Rural Health Symposium - In-person or Live Webinar

This is a multidisciplinary conference that focuses on innovative and collaborative efforts to improve access to quality healthcare in areas with limited resources.

View event details here.

2. Neurovascular Ultrasound - Live Webinar

The Neurovascular Ultrasound course is a one week curriculum that presents the anatomy, pathophysiology and hemodynamics regarding the extra- and intracranial cerebral circulation.  The emphasis is on clinical applications, case examples and principles of interpretation. 

View event details and register here.

3. Practice Manager Bootcamp

The Practice Manager Bootcamp consists of six modules designed to answer this question: "What basic knowledge do practice managers need to make their practices thrive?"

View event details and register here.

4. CME Series for Opioid Use Prescribers

The North Carolina Medical Board and Wake AHEC, in collaboration with the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation / Project VBOT and the Addiction Medicine Fellowship program at UNC School of Medicine, have developed an eight-hour CME series that meets the new training requirement recently established by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.

Learn more and how to register here.

CPP Participant Highlight

Diana Rivera, PA-C

at Surry Rural Health Center

1. What is a quote that has had a significant influence on your life?

““Leave a little sparkle wherever you go.” - This quote reminds me to be kind and try to make a positive impact wherever I go regardless of how small. You never know who might need it or who’s life you may change.

2. Where are you from?

I was born and raised in southwestern Virginia to immigrant parents and moved to North Carolina after getting my master’s degree.

3. Why did you decide to become a physician?

I decided to become a physician assistant during my junior year in college. At the time, I had wanted to become an occupational therapist but felt drawn to the medical aspect of healthcare after seeing PAs at work. I love the science behind the human body and the medicine used to heal it. Pursuing a PA degree just felt right.

4. What do you like about practicing in an underserved area?

I like that I get to make a bigger impact practicing in an underserved area. Many patients have poor health literacy or limited resources so any education you give them can go a long way.

5. Is your practice using any tools to address social determinates of health for patients?

We have been trying to incorporate more questions into our wellness visits so that we are able to better address the needs of our patients. Knowing more about each patient’s situation lets us create a more feasible treatment or follow up plan for them.

6. How has Medicaid Transformation/Expansion affected your practice?

I think it has helped and will help increase access to preventive care services which is a huge component in family practice.

7. Do you have any hobbies or activities for self-care?

When it’s warm, one of my favorite things to do is go to the park and lay down on a blanket with a coffee and a good book to read.

8. Is there anything that CPP can do to help you and your practice?

Having more access to social workers and counselors would be incredibly helpful in our area. Patients often need much more than what we can do in our clinic.

Upcoming Meetings

1. Practice Optimization Seminar

The Practice Optimization Seminar will be held at the 2023 North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians (NCAFP) Winter Family Physicians Weekend. This meeting is only mandatory for CPP participants to attend once, within either the 1st or 2nd year of their CPP agreement. Click the link below to register.

Register

Registration Instructions:

Please select registration type: Practice Optimization Seminar Only

2. CPP Annual Meeting - 2024

Mark Your Calendars!

CPP Initiatives

1. CPP 2.0 - Currently Seeking Candidates

The NCMS Foundation is seeking candidates for the CPP 2.0 program who specialize in maternal, women’s or behavioral health. If you know of anyone who may be interested, please share this link to learn more and apply.

2. Have You Ever Considered Precepting?

The Community Practitioner Program is exploring avenues that could provide support to preceptors in rural and underserved areas in NC, which are facing major shortages in the healthcare workforce. More than half of current CPP participants serve as preceptors. To learn more about becoming a preceptor Click Here.

3. Join NC CARE 360 Here!

Be a part of the first statewide resource and referral network that unites healthcare and human service organizations through a shared technology - a great tool for delivering person-centered care to your patients. If your practice has not already onboarded, contact us as soon as possible. Click Here to Onboard

4. Stop & Take the Pledge for Diabetes Prevention.

The pledge demonstrates your willingness to support diabetes prevention in NC. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a lifestyle change program that has free or low-cost options for patients, regardless of their insurance provider and you can refer using any of these convenient platforms: OCHI (Our Community Health Initiative), NC CARE 360 and the DPP Navigator. Click Here to Pledge

5. Interested in Leadership Development?

If you are a CPP participant who is a MD, DO or PA, you are eligible to be sponsored by CPP to the Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership’s (KIPL) Leadership College (LC) and Health Care Leadership & Management (HCLM) classes of 2024. We pay the tuition…you go to school. To enjoy project-based curriculum designed to foster leadership skills and help you build your network in the health care community, contact us and answer the following questions:

• Are you supporting CPP’s programmatic initiatives (i.e. Take the Pledge, NC CARE 360, preceptorship, etc.)?
• Are you doing anything within your practice or community that we should take note of?
• Do you have an interest in leadership development, and why?

Contact us Here to learn more.

6. Why Join NCMS? - Membership Benefit Highlights

Insurance Solutions for you!

Join NCMS and get exclusive access to the NCMS Employee Benefit Plan, NCMS Insurance Solutions and the NCMS Retirement Plan. For a full list of benefits Click Here.

North Carolina Medical Society Foundation
PO Box 27167 | Raleigh, NC 27611
Phone: 919.833.3836 | Fax: 919.833.2023 | Email: ncmsfoundation@ncmedsoc.org
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