Dispute Resolution

Oakland BridgeThe Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association (ACCMA) is a non-profit, private organization of physicians dedicated to maintaining quality medical care and good physician-patient relationships.  If you are dissatisfied with treatment you received by a member of our association, we offer a dispute resolution process by which you can bring your complaint before a committee of qualified physicians. Complaints range from charges of ethical misconduct to fee disputes. A committee reviews the complaint and the physician's response, and tries to determine whether the physician acted within the standard of care and the standard of practice.

ACCMA Mediation Process 
Patients who wish to utilize the ACCMA's mediation services should follow these steps:

  1. Discuss your grievance directly with your physician. Such discussions generally resolve most problems.
     
  2. If that is not successful, verify whether the physician against whom you wish to file a complaint is an ACCMA member. The ACCMA will not perform peer review services to resolve disputes between patients and physicians unless the physician is a current ACCMA member.  To access a directory of members, click here.
     
  3. If the physician is a member, and you wish to utilize the ACCMA's mediation services, complete and sign the Patient Complaint Form and return it to the ACCMA by standard mail. By completing and signing this form, you agree to voluntarily participate in our review process. Upon receipt of your written complaint, a copy will be sent to the physician, who will be given an opportunity to respond in writing. The matter will then be referred to the proper committee for review. This process takes approximately several months. You will be notified in writing of the committee's findings, which is advisory only. Click here to download a Patient Complaint Form. 

 

PLEASE NOTE:

The Medical Board of California (MBC) is responsible for reviewing and investigating complaints about, and disciplining allopathic physicians and surgeons (licensees holding an MD degree). Complaints to the Medical Board of California may be submitted by mail at:

Medical Board of California
Central Complaint Unit
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95815
(916) 263-2382
Or online at https://mbc.ca.gov/Consumers/File-a-Complaint/complaint-process.aspx

The Osteopathic Medical Board of California is responsible for reviewing and investigating complaints about, and disciplining osteopathic physicians and surgeons (licensees holding a DO degree). Complaints to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California may be submitted by mail at:

Osteopathic Medical Board of California
1300 National Drive
Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95834-1991
(916) 928-8390
Or online at http://www.ombc.ca.gov/forms_pubs/complaints.shtml