Benefits of Membership

Your Volusia County Medical Society does a great deal for you. It does this through its various comprehensive committees, through its other recently formed organizations, through its many publications and through its numerous other activities. Following is a brief description of the services provided by the VCMS and its related organizations. You will probably want to choose from the list one or more areas in which you, yourself, would like to participate. By doing so, you will not only make a valuable contribution to your society of peers, but you might also be laying the groundwork for the future.

Public relations: VCMS serves as the official spokesperson for the medical profession in Volusia County. It does this usually through its officers, primarily the president. Every attempt is made to present the positive side of medicine, being ever so mindful that the physician’s primary responsibility is to good patient care. The Com-munications Committee provides information to the media and other key medical personnel. The Communications Committee also assists other local television and radio stations in their presentations of medical news subjects. Every attempt is made to be accurate and impartial.

Socioeconomic Information: The VCMS, through its own resources and in consultation with the FMA and AMA, provides answers to members’ questions regarding practice management, retirement from practice, and regulations affecting the profession.

Mini-Internship Program: Begun in the Spring of 1985, this program offers community leaders, as well as high school students, an opportunity to work for one or two days with a Volusia County physician. It has proven to be a highly successful and popular program. Your participation in this program is greatly encouraged.

Personnel File Service: The file service is designed to assist physicians in finding qualified office personnel. The file service deals with all types of office personnel: receptionist, secretaries, transcriptionists, RNs, LPNs, etc.

Notary Public Services: Society staff members are certified as Notary Publics and will notarize any docu-ments you have, free of charge. Just call ahead of time to set up an appointment, and our staff members will be happy to help you.

Physician Referral Program: Volusia County Medical Society (VCMS) members in good standing are entitled to be listed with the VCMS Physician Referral Service free of charge. With more than forty calls per day, this public service provides Volusia County with physician referrals and educational information while providing an excellent opportunity for physicians to expand their patient base.

Complaint Management: VCMS operates a patient review committee to address patient complaints. This valuable program assists patients and physicians in settling disputes as an alternative to the patient seeking resolution within the legal system.

Member Label and Roster Sales: VCMS member labels are available for sale at a discounted rate to physician members. Member labels are custom printed according to the purchasers requirements and are available within 24 hours of order time. Rosters are printed twice yearly and are distributed free of charge to the membership.

Practice Management Information: VCMS provides management information to members and office staff free of charge. Topics include: Starting, Relocating, and Closing Your Practice, Risk Management, Medical Record Retention, Gearing Up For Retirement, and many more.

Entertainment Discount Program: VCMS offers discount club cards to several Central Florida area theme parks. Members receive discounts to various area attractions.

Joint Meeting with the Alliance: The Volusia County Medical Society Joint Meeting with the spouses is an annual dinner that gives members an opportunity to socialize with one another. SunTrust Bank, Inc. has graciously began to host the cocktail hour.

MEMBERSHIP PUBLICATIONS

The Stethoscope: This magazine, published quarterly by the Society for the physicians, is also distributed to other health care providers. It contains articles and other infor-mational pieces related to the medical profession. Physicians receive their copies free.

News Briefs: A weekly newsletter containing up-to- the minute information on medical news and other areas of importance pertaining to such issues as managed care, legal issues, risk management, etc.