Board & Committees - King County Medical Society

The Medical Society The King County Medical Society is the sixth largest county medical society in the United States. It is also the largest of twenty-seven county medical societies which are chartered by and are components of the Washington State Medical Association. The WSMA in turn is one of 55 state and territorial medical associations which are chartered by and are constituents of the American Medical Association. The King County Medical Society, established in 1888 and incorporated in 1909, has grown to a membership of over 3,800 members. Because of its size it is necessary to operate through standing committees and the Board of Trustees; however, this should not deter any member from making individual views known on any subject. Satisfactory representation can be accomplished only if you state your ideas. Your county medical society — and more remotely the WSMA and AMA — uniquely embraces all physicians. Initially, these medical societies were established to advance the standards of medical education and practice and to promote, through the teamwork of individual members, the health and welfare of our community.
Board of Trustees The fifteen member Board of Trustees includes five Officers that serve as the Executive Committee and ten District Trustees elected to represent geographic areas of King County.
2011 Officers	Richard Bensinger, President Patrick H. McClean, Past President Elisabeth L. Evans, President-elect Merritt K. Auld, Secretary Treasurer Edward J. Noonan, Sec. Treasurer-elect

Trustees	CENTRAL Virginia C. Broudy 2010-11 Lisa S. Florence 2011-12 Robert K. Killian 2011-12 Christine A. Lee 2011-12 SOUTHEAST Daniel A. Wuthrich 2011-12 EAST Denise Kraft 2009-12 Kalle Kang 2010-11 NORTH John G. Finch 2007-11 Stephen Slack 2010-11 SOUTHWEST Garrett D. Alcorn 2008-11

WSMA Delegation The KCMS Delegates to the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) are KCMS members who are also members of the state association. They make up the largest voting block within the WSMA House of Delegates and thus, have a strong voice in the direction of organized medicine in the state. Delegates are elected to represent geographic areas within the county.

KCMS Committees GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE Intended to preserve positive relationships between member physicians and patients as well as attempting to avoid more adversarial methods of dispute resolution, this Committee mediates disputes or misunderstandings which may arise regarding fees and medical service, including necessity or frequency of therapeutic treatment and procedures. It also considers such other matters as may be referred by the Board of Trustees and upon written request, will investigate all matters of dispute, controversy, or grievance arising between two or more members of the Society and others. The KCMS Grievance Committee is not a legal body and does not award damages however, at its option; cases may be referred to the Board to Trustees for possible investigation by the state Medical Quality Assurance Commission. MEDICAL PRACTICE AND ETHICS COMMITTEE Also created to keep the handling of disputes at an appropriate level, the mandate of this Committee is to serve as an investigative body to determine whether matters brought to the attention of the Committee are at variance with the contemporary standards of medical practice and medical ethics. In weighing each case, the Committee will consider guidelines defined in the By-Laws of the Medical Society, the Washington State Medical Association, and the American Medical Association, and those that are deemed desirable and accepted as customary in our community. The Committee has the obligation to act in the best interest of the public, the Society, and the accused member. It also has the authority to recommend that the Board of Trustees consider whether a given dispute warrants consideration by the Medical Quality Assurance Commission. MEDICAL LEGAL COMMITTEE This Committee shall promote and enforce provisions of the inter-professional code for physicians and attorneys. It shall hear and suggest solutions for disputes arising between respective members of the two professions, including violations of the code. The Committee maintains a Liability Panel which reviews cases of alleged malpractice, primarily to screen out those where the evidence is too weak to support any kind of case. The Committee shall supervise the proceedings of the Professional Liability Panel and consider revisions of its operative procedures. Through the Committee, the Medical Society guarantees to the plaintiff that an impartial expert witness from the Society's Medical Testimony Panel will be available. HISTORICAL COMMITTEE This Committee is working to preserve the history of medicine as it relates to King County. Outside speakers drawn from various parts of the health care sector appear at the Committee's monthly meetings and their presentations serve as the basis for articles that appear in the monthly KCMS Bulletin. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE This Committee shall investigate the credentials, records, and qualifications of all applicants for all categories of membership. It also makes recommendations regarding the development of new services to benefit KCMS members. PUBLIC HEALTH LIAISON COMMITTEE This Committee shall review health related projects and programs oriented to King County and the Society's participation and involvement in them. This Committee shall examine existing programs and develop new plans and programs in areas of various responsible community groups, education, labor, management, related professions and groups having special problems such as aging, nursing homes, etc. This Committee shall maintain a liaison with the Director of the Seattle-King County Public Health Department and provide assistance to that office as necessary. KCMS DELEGATES TO WSMA HOUSE OF DELEGATES Physicians who volunteer to serve as Delegates represent the Society and all King County physicians at the annual meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates which is held in September or October. They must be WSMA members and willing to make a sincere effort to attend the meetings. The locations of these meetings change yearly and rotate between Tacoma and Spokane. The Delegates meet prior to the WSMA annual meeting to identify important issues, draft resolutions, and otherwise prepare for their participation.