In this edition:

• Otolaryngology and BCBS Panel: Exploring a New Era of Patient Care - Input Needed
• Seshul, Puscas Elected to NCMS Leadership Positions
• Melon, Rocke Selected for NCMS Leadership College Program
• Medicaid Preferred Drug List Updates
• NCMS’s Bob Seligson on Fighting Physician Burnout
• AAO-HNS/F 2019 Leadership Forum & BOG Spring Meeting, April 26-29
• NC/SC 2019 Annual Assembly, Aug. 1-4 - Abstract Deadline: Dec. 3
• 2019 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting, Sept. 15-18

Save the date!

Otolaryngology and BCBS Panel: Exploring a New Era of Patient Care

A unique panel has been put together bringing representatives from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina to the stage along with physician and administrator leaders of the NC Society of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery. Dr. Larry Wu, a regional medical director with BCBS is confirmed to participate. Additional invitations are pending. To help guide the panel discussion taking place during the 2019 NCSOHNS Practice Management Course (Feb. 9 in Greensboro – registration coming soon), your participation is invited in a brief survey. Please rank order your concerns and let us know which topics are most important to you and your practice.

Survey link:
https://www.research.net/r/2019-BCBS-ENT-Panel

Thank you in advance for your support and participation.

Please share this meeting information with your ENT colleagues and practice manager. We look forward to seeing you February 9th at the Grandover Resort!

top of page

Seshul, Puscas Elected to NCMS Leadership Positions

Merritt J. Seshul, MD,
FACS, FAAOA

Liana Puscas, MD, MHS

The results are in! Two NCSOHNS Past Presidents were elected to leadership positions with the NC Medical Society.

Merritt J. Seshul, MD (Hickory), who served as 2010-2011 NCSOHNS President, was elected to serve on the NCMS Nominating and Leadership Development Committee representing Region 4 of the state.

Liana Puscas, MD (Durham), 2008-2009 NCSOHNS President, was elected as an Alternate Delegate to the American Medical Association.

The results of the election for NCMS leadership positions were announced at the NCMS Annual Business Meeting last month in Raleigh. For more election results, visit the NCMS website.

top of page

Melon, Rocke Selected for NCMS Leadership College Program

David E. Melon, MD, FACS

Daniel J. Rocke, MD, JD

Congratulations to NCSOHNS members Dr. David Melon (Hickory) and Dr. Daniel Rocke (Durham) on being selected to participate in the NC Medical Society’s Leadership College Program. Doctors Melon and Rocke are among 20+ scholars selected for the Leadership College’s Class of 2019.

Selection for Leadership College participation is competitive, with more applicants than there are seats available in the year-long program. Dr. Melon is an otolaryngologist with Carolina Ear Nose and Throat Sinus and Allergy Center where he also serves as President and CEO. Dr. Rocke specializes in head and neck cancers at Duke Health and is on faculty in the School of Medicine.

You, too, can enhance your leadership skills by taking part in an NCMS leadership development program. The NCMS Foundation's Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership is currently accepting applications for two exciting leadership development programs: Leadership College and Health Care Leadership and Management Program (HCLM).

The NCMS Leadership College builds and enhances physician and PA leadership skills and equips graduates to become more influential in motivating colleagues and leaders in their medical practice settings and their communities. Otolaryngologists interested in a letter of nomination from the NCSOHNS should contact Denna Suko at dsuko@ncmedsoc.org, or 919-833-3836. Partial sponsorship may be available to NCSOHNS members in good standing. For more information, or to indicate your interest in applying for the Class of 2020, visit the Leadership College page on the NCMS website.

The NCMS Health Care Leadership and Management (HCLM) Program provides a critical framework for physicians based on economics, finance and leadership development. With this framework, graduates are provided the necessary vocabulary for the business realm and are equipped to take on greater leadership positions in their career. The curriculum is designed with greater emphasis on deeper leadership development and skills that include strategic planning, negotiation and financial literacy and application. Applications for the HCLM Class of 2020 are currently being accepted. Visit the HCLM page on the NCMS website for details.

top of page

Medicaid Preferred Drug List Updates

Effective December 3, 2018, NC Medicaid will make changes to the NC Medicaid and NC Health Choice Preferred Drug List (PDL). Pharmaceuticals of interest to otolaryngologists are listed below. The notice can be viewed on the NC Medicaid website.

Otic (Anti-Inflammatory)

• Otic Anti-Inflammatory will be added as a new category on the PDL
• Dermotic® will be added as a preferred product
• Fluocinolone 0.01% oil will be added as a non-preferred product

Respiratory (Intranasal Rhinitis Agents)

• Astepro® Nasal Spray will move from non-preferred to preferred status
• Olopatadine nasal spray (generic for Patanase®) will move from non-preferred to preferred status
• Patanase® Nasal Spray will move from preferred to non-preferred status
• Azelastine spray (generic for Astepro®) will move from preferred to non-preferred status

Respiratory (Low Sedating Antihistamines)

• Cetirizine OTC syrup 1mg/1ml (generic for Zyrtec OTC® Syrup) will move from non-preferred to preferred status
• Levocetirizine tablet (generic for Xyzal®) will move from non-preferred to preferred status
• Cetirizine chewable tablets OTC (generic for Zyrtec® OTC Tablets) will move from preferred to non-preferred status

top of page

NCMS’s Bob Seligson on Fighting Physician Burnout

Physician burnout is a serious issue impacting more than 40 percent of physicians nationally, contributing to high suicide rates among doctors. Fighting physician burnout became a personal mission of NC Medical Society CEO Bob Seligson’s in 2016 when he learned that his personal physician of more than 20 years had committed suicide.

In an article published this summer in Forbes Magazine, "Physicians Are Humans Too," Bob details how that experience opened his eyes to a staggering problem in the physician community, and what he is doing to combat physician burnout and restore joy in practice for physicians in North Carolina and across the county. Bob’s work on combatting burnout was featured last month in an article published by Spaugh Dameron Tenny, “Physician Burnout: 6 Leaders Making a Difference.”

top of page

AAO-HNS/F 2019 Leadership Forum & BOG Spring Meeting, April 26-29

Mark your calendars now for the 2019 Leadership Forum! The AAO-HNS/F 2019 Leadership Forum & BOG Spring Meeting will take place April 26-29, at the Westin Alexandria Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia. This meeting is one of many AAO-HNS benefits, allowing Academy members the opportunity to engage in peer-to-peer interaction with specialty and state society leaders. The weekend-long meeting includes leadership discussions, Board of Governors (BOG) meetings, informative speakers, advocacy updates, and mentoring/networking opportunities. Visit the AAO-HNS website for more details.

top of page

NC/SC 2019 Annual Assembly, Aug. 1-4

Renew old acquaintances and make new ones at the NC/SC SOHNS 2019 Annual Assembly!

Save the date!

North Carolina and South Carolina otolaryngologists will convene in Myrtle Beach over the weekend of August 1-4, for the for the 2019 Annual Assembly. The NC/SC SOHNS Annual Assembly program will feature educational sessions, social and networking opportunities, and a lively exhibit hall showcasing product and services of interest to otolaryngologists.

If you would like to be considered as a presenter on the program, you are invited to submit the title of your presentation with supporting documents for consideration. By Monday, December 3, 2018, please forward the following to Debbie Shealy at debbies@scmedical.org or fax to her attention at 803-772-6783.

1. Submission Form
2. Brief Abstract
3. Your Curriculum Vitae
4. Disclosure Form

Questions? Contact Debbie Shealy, Executive Director of the SC Society of Otolaryngology, debbies@scmedical.org.

top of page

2019 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting, Sept. 15-18

Save the date for the 2019 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience, September 15-18 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

top of page