Looking for a few good specialists: How licensees help NCMB decide quality-of-care cases
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Independent outside medical reviewers are an integral part of the North Carolina Medical Board’s process for determining whether the care a licensee provided to patients is up to the required standard. The Board is always in need of experienced reviewers in a wide range of specialty areas of practice (see current areas of need below).
Serving as a reviewer is a meaningful way to serve both the medical profession and the people of North Carolina. Experienced reviewers have even indicated that the experience of analyzing a peer’s records for the specific purpose of determining whether care met accepted standards has helped them become a better clinician themselves.
In any case that involves medical care, state law requires the Board to determine if treatment met at least the minimum accepted and prevailing standards of care in North Carolina for that specific area of practice. While the Board employs multiple in-house physicians and PAs who conduct initial reviews of care, Board attorneys generally will not pursue regulatory action against a licensee unless an outside reviewer renders an opinion that care failed to meet accepted standards. The Board usually seeks to find outside reviewers with clinical experience that matches that of the licensee under investigation as closely as possible. As such, the Board often needs reviewers with very specific knowledge and skills.
Reviews that verify care met at least minimum accepted standards are equally important, because they fulfill the Board’s statutory obligation to investigate while confirming that care was appropriate.
Reviewers are provided with bookmarked electronic copies of the relevant medical records in the case and a worksheet that outlines the specific information their review must include. The Board compensates reviewers at a rate of $175.00 an hour for reviewing records and writing a report and asks that reviews be completed and returned to the Board within 30-45 days. Although rare, a reviewer may be called to testify at a deposition and hearing to explain their opinion as part of a disciplinary action resulting in prosecution of a licensee.
If you are interested in conducting outside reviews for the Board, send an inquiry and CV to reviewers@ncmedboard.org.
The Hot List: Specialties in demand for outside reviewers
1. Certified in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT BIOTE Model)
2. Dermatology – MOHS and Dermatopathology
3. Otorhinolaryngology
4. Gastroenterologist specializing in ERCPs
5. Integrative Medicine - All areas but especially weight loss, hormone, wellness
6. Internal Medicine physicians who treat chronic pain and/or treat patients with controlled substances
7. Neurologists who perform and interpret EMGs/NCS
8. Reproductive/Fertility, OB/GYN and Maternal and Fetal Medicine
9. Medical Oncologists and Radiation Oncologists
10. Orthopedic surgeons who specialize in ankle/foot
11. Geriatric Psychiatry
12. Diagnostic Radiologists, Neuroradiologists, Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Serving as a reviewer is a meaningful way to serve both the medical profession and the people of North Carolina. Experienced reviewers have even indicated that the experience of analyzing a peer’s records for the specific purpose of determining whether care met accepted standards has helped them become a better clinician themselves.
In any case that involves medical care, state law requires the Board to determine if treatment met at least the minimum accepted and prevailing standards of care in North Carolina for that specific area of practice. While the Board employs multiple in-house physicians and PAs who conduct initial reviews of care, Board attorneys generally will not pursue regulatory action against a licensee unless an outside reviewer renders an opinion that care failed to meet accepted standards. The Board usually seeks to find outside reviewers with clinical experience that matches that of the licensee under investigation as closely as possible. As such, the Board often needs reviewers with very specific knowledge and skills.
Reviews that verify care met at least minimum accepted standards are equally important, because they fulfill the Board’s statutory obligation to investigate while confirming that care was appropriate.
Reviewers are provided with bookmarked electronic copies of the relevant medical records in the case and a worksheet that outlines the specific information their review must include. The Board compensates reviewers at a rate of $175.00 an hour for reviewing records and writing a report and asks that reviews be completed and returned to the Board within 30-45 days. Although rare, a reviewer may be called to testify at a deposition and hearing to explain their opinion as part of a disciplinary action resulting in prosecution of a licensee.
If you are interested in conducting outside reviews for the Board, send an inquiry and CV to reviewers@ncmedboard.org.
The Hot List: Specialties in demand for outside reviewers
1. Certified in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT BIOTE Model)
2. Dermatology – MOHS and Dermatopathology
3. Otorhinolaryngology
4. Gastroenterologist specializing in ERCPs
5. Integrative Medicine - All areas but especially weight loss, hormone, wellness
6. Internal Medicine physicians who treat chronic pain and/or treat patients with controlled substances
7. Neurologists who perform and interpret EMGs/NCS
8. Reproductive/Fertility, OB/GYN and Maternal and Fetal Medicine
9. Medical Oncologists and Radiation Oncologists
10. Orthopedic surgeons who specialize in ankle/foot
11. Geriatric Psychiatry
12. Diagnostic Radiologists, Neuroradiologists, Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Comments on this article:
This is a great way to learn about how to provide a much-needed service to the profession and our patients. I have personally reviewed NCMB cases as a radiologist, as well as serving as an expert witness in over 200 medical malpractice cases across the country, and I’ve enjoyed putting my clinical skills to work in a new way that benefits the profession and patient care.
By Gretchen Green on May 01, 2025 at 8:58am