South Carolina Medical Association
The South Carolina Medical Association (SCMA) provides a voice for the medical profession and creates opportunities to improve the health of all South Carolinians.
As the only association for all physicians in South Carolina, no matter your specialty or location, the SCMA provides a voice for the medical profession and creates opportunities to improve the health of all South Carolinians. Our purpose is to promote the highest quality of medical care through advocacy on the behalf of physicians and patients, continuing medical education, and the promotion of medical and practice management best practices.
Whether a medical student, resident, young physician, or a well-established physician, every member gains access to a multitude of benefits.
Why Join SCMA?
Whether joining as a new member, renewing, or just contemplating membership in our organization, you have come to the right place. We invite medical students, residents, fellows, and physicians of all specialties and geographic locations throughout South Carolina to join us.
The South Carolina Medical Association is the voice to protect the independence and autonomy of physicians – regardless of your practice setting. Coming together as a robust, unified network is important so that SCMA’s voice — your profession of medicine’s voice — resonates in the state legislative and regulatory bodies, supporting your ability to protect the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship.
COMMITTEES
Bioethics Committee
According to the American Medical Association Principles of Medical Ethics, the medical profession has long subscribed to a body of ethical statements developed primarily for the benefit of the patient. As a member of this profession, a physician must recognize responsibility to patients first and foremost, as well as to society, to other health professionals, and to self.
To that end, the South Carolina Medical Association Bioethics Committee exists to survey the current medical landscape in the state of South Carolina and ensure that the highest ethical standards are upheld by examining carefully ethical issues in healthcare, informing through education, and advising and supporting the SCMA.
SCMA Continuing Medical Education (CME) Committee
As an accredited provider, the primary activity of the SCMA CME Committee is to provide high quality CME programs for South Carolina physicians including creation of the SCMA Annual Meeting CME educational programs. The SCMA CME Committee meets the second Thursday in the months of February, May, August, and November from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.
South Carolina Coalition for the Care of the Seriously Ill (SC CSI)
About CSI
This statewide coalition brings key organizations, clinicians, and healthcare entities together to collaboratively redesign care, improve quality of life, and protect the ethical rights of the seriously, chronically, or terminally ill in South Carolina.
CSI Members
The Coalition is comprised of the following organizations: the South Carolina Medical Association, the South Carolina Hospital Association, the South Carolina Nurses Association, the South Carolina Healthcare Association, Leading Age South Carolina, South Carolina Citizens Concerned for Life, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the South Carolina Healthcare Ethics Network, the Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care, the SC Society of Chaplains, LifePoint, AARP, the South Carolina Office on Aging, and volunteers with expertise in specific areas such as law, social work, and legislation.
YOUNG PHYSICIANS
The Young Physicians section consists of SCMA members who are under the age of 40 or who are in their first 8 years of practicing medicine. The beginning of your medical career can sometimes be the most challenging years. That’s why the Young Physician Section focuses on accommodating the concerns of young physicians while helping them transition into a well-established physician.
BENEFITS OF SCMA MEMBERSHIP
Advocacy
Effective legislative and regulatory advocacy. SCMA members have the opportunity to provide input on legislation that affects physicians and to craft needed policy. The SCMA takes your views to the Statehouse.
Some recent examples include:
> Protecting physicians by lobbying to reduce the recent Joint Underwriting.
> Authority surcharge from the proposed 15% to a max of 6% or less.
> Passing the new law, Physicians Order for Scope of Treatment, which will allow physicians to better direct care for critically ill patients.
> Educating legislators on the issues of making marijuana a prescriptive drug without regulation, as the THC levels are dependent on where the marijuana plant is grown.
> Representing physicians on scope issues and providing input to legislators.
We Help You Make Connections
Enhancing professional satisfaction with an outlet to talk about physician issues, as well as make professional and social connections.
> County chapters for socializing
> Regional CME Events
> Student Events (poster presentation)
> Resident Events (scholarships)
> Mentoring other physicians
We’re Here to Help!
Leadership development for physicians at all stages of their career.
* Medical Students Section, Residents and Fellows Section, Young Physicians Section, Committees, SCMA Board of Trustees, American Medical Association Delegates and Alternate Delegates.
Reducing administrative burdens
> Webinars for your practice administrators about relevant topics
> Providing information on relevant healthcare topics
Access to Helpful Resources
Access to Free and Reduced CMEs:
Online CMEs
Annual Meeting CME program
County CMEs
Free publications with information about your practice, as well as state and federal news important to physicians:
SCMedNews (once a month)
Special Updates (call outs, important news, timely events for physicians, etc)
MedPac Donors Receive SC Legislative Weekly Rounds (Jan-June)
Leadership
The South Carolina Medical Association, governed by the Board of Trustees and the House of Delegates, has numerous opportunities for physicians to become leaders. The opportunities are limitless for physicians to become advocates for organized medicine.
SCMA House of Delegates and Board of Trustees
The SCMA’s House of Delegates (HOD) meets each year at the annual meeting and gives physician members from across the state an opportunity to gather as a professional group to present and debate policies that affect the practice of medicine and the delivery of patient care in South Carolina. All SCMA policy comes from the HOD.
Governed by the Board of Trustees and the House of Delegates, the South Carolina Medical Association has numerous opportunities for physicians to become leaders. Opportunities are limitless for physicians to advocate for the preservation of organized medicine and for protecting the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship.
CONTACT SCMA:
Address:
132 Westpark Blvd.
Columbia, SC
29210
Phone:
803-798-6207
1-800-327-1021
