ACCMA committees are the workshops of the association, and are responsible for developing many of the ACCMA's policies and programs that assist physicians and improve the quality of medical care in our community. More than 300 ACCMA members currently serve on ACCMA committees.
Bioethics
This committee serves as a clearinghouse of information and forum for discussion of bioethical issues. It is comprised mostly of committee chairs of hospital medical staff bioethics committees. The committee usually meets once a year.
Bylaws
This committee reviews the ACCMA bylaws at least every 5 years, as required by the ACCMA bylaws, to recommend changes to the bylaws. The committee seldom meets, on the call of teh chair.
Child Welfare
This committee deals with issues in pediatric medicine and perinatal care. It has monitored and made recommendations regarding numerous local public health policies and programs affecting pediatric patients, such as immunization programs. The committee meets on call of the chair.
Communications
This committee is charged with developing both internal and external communications strategy, including advising as to the appropriate role of social media. The committee is also responsible for reviewing articles submitted for publication in ACCMA Bulletin and establishing editorial policy governing ACCMA Bulletin, ACCMA Membership & Resource Directory and our website. The committee meets several times a year.
Community Service
This committee will develop ideas and programs for members who are interested in participating in community service types of activities. The committee meets on call of the chairperson.
Credentials
This committee performs the important function of credentialing applicants for membership in the ACCMA. The committee meets once a month.
Emergency
The Emergency Committee addresses issues pertaining to the delivery of emergency medical care, pre-hospital transport systems, and disaster preparedness. It is comprised of physicians who have an interest in this area of medicine. One of the committee's chief activities is monitoring and participating in the activities of the Emergency Medical Services Districts of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, and has played an instrumental role in promoting improvements in those systems. The committee generally meets several times a year.
Ethics
This is a peer review committee of the ACCMA which addresses complaints and disputes of an ethical nature involving ACCMA members. Matters considered are submitted by patients and also from other physicians. The committee usually meets several times a year.
Geriatrics
The Geriatrics Committee is comprised of physicians who specialize in or have an interest in geriatric medicine. Among the issues it discusses are nursing home care, access to care for geriatric patients, and long-term care. The committee meets on call of the chair.
Information Technology
This committee investigates and makes recommendations to promote electronic communications between members and organized medicine. The ACCMA recognizes that electronic communication is a valuable tool for physicians in the practice of medicine and for effective and timely communication with the ACCMA membership.
Interprofessional
The Interprofessional Committee is jointly sponsored by the ACCMA and the Alameda County Bar Association. Physicians and attorneys serve on this committee to resolve disputes which sometimes arise in the interactions between physicians and attorneys in the course of legal proceedings, such as in personal injury lawsuits or Workers' Compensation claims. The committee also develops useful articles and forms to enhance cooperation between the two professions. The committee meets on call of the chair.
Judicial
The Judicial Council is established under rules established in the ACCMA Bylaws. Its function is to conduct disciplinary hearings and appeals processes pertaining to the membership of a current member or the acceptance or rejection of an applicant for membership. This committee meets infrequently.
Legislative
The Legislative Committee conducts political action on behalf of the ACCMA. Committee members are encouraged to participate in an annual all-day legislative program in Sacramento and participate in the CMA "Key Contact" system by developing a relationship with individual legislators and communicating organized medicine's concerns about specific legislative proposals as they arise. The committee also evaluates candidates for local, state and federal offices representing this community and makes recommendations to the ACCMA's and CMA's political action committees. The committee meets three or four times a year, but sometimes more frequently during an election year.
Mediation
The Mediation Committees are peer review committees charged with addressing disputes between physicians and patients regarding the necessity and fees charged for medical services rendered by the physician. The committees also address disputes between physicians and third-party payers regarding the same issues. The committees are comprised of physicians representing most medical specialties. Two of the committees are comprised of physicians in Alameda County, and one of physicians in Contra Costa County. Committees meet once per year.
Medical Services and Quality of Care
This committee monitors and develops recommendations to improve the economic viability of medical practice on behalf of the membership. It meets on call of the chairperson.
Membership
This committee, which is comprised of a representative from each Councilor District and other interested ACCMA members, considers membership recruitment ideas and other means of demonstrating the benefits of membership to members and non-members.
Mental Health
This committee addresses concerns of the psychiatric community pertaining to mental health services. The committee meets on call of the chair.
Physicians Advisory
This is a confidential committee which provides a vital service by offering confidential assistance to physicians suffering from some type of physical or emotional impairment. Its members are experienced in intervention to assist people with chemical dependency problems, and also impairments created by stressful events such as malpractice lawsuits. The committee meets in the evenings, generally three to four times per year.
Physician Litigation Stress
This committee provides confidential information and support to physicians who are experiencing the stress and uncertainty of professional liability litigation or an investigation by a government agency. The program is designed to educate the physician on what to expect during the litigation or investigatory process, how best to prepare themselves and how to deal with the stress which is commonly associated with these proceedings.
Professional Liability
The Professional Liability Committees are peer review committees which review claims of alleged professional liability to determine if the physician met community medical standards on behalf of individual members and for the ACCMA's sponsored doctor-owned professional liability insurance carrier - Medical Insurance Exchange of California (MIEC). The committee is comprised of physicians in most medical specialties who are experienced in peer review. The committees meet usually about ten times per year, one on the first Tuesday and one on the third Tuesday of the month in the evening. Dinner is served at the meeting.
Public Health
This committee is charged with developing recommendations for the ACCMA Council's consideration which would: 1) enhance communications between ACCMA members and local public health agencies, and; 2) identify ways in which ACCMA members and local public health agencies can work cooperatively to address local public health issues.