The Academy of Medicine of Cleveland/Northern Ohio Medical Association

Peer Review

The Peer Review Division of the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland/Northern Ohio Medical Association includes four committees, the Professional Relations Committee, Mediation Committee, Medical & Surgical Committee and the Ethics Committee. Inquiries are received from physicians and their families, patients and their families and third party payors. Most inquiries involve complaints by patients who are made aware of our service through numerous sources, including physicians, the Better Business Bureau and other medical societies.

PEER REVIEW COMMITTEES:

The Professional Relations Committee provides an unbiased review of cases received from insurance carriers, physicians or patients and render a non-binding opinion based upon the information contained in each individual case, including medical necessity issues and fees. The committee investigates problems that physicians/patients encounter with the various health care delivery and managed care systems.
The Mediation Committee investigates and arbitrates grievances from patients, including fees. This committee mediates disputes among physicians.
The Medical and Surgical Committee reviews patterns of practice upon the request of patients and/or other physicians using standards of practice relating to an individual case and decides whether these are consonant with the prevailing standards of practice patterns in the community.
The Ethics Committee investigates complaints sent to it by the other peer review committees. Complaints may include issues such as a physician who is in violation of the principles of medical ethics; has exhibited gross misconduct; or has failed to abide by the AMC/NOMA by-laws.

TYPES OF COMPLAINTS:

Fee disputes between patients and physicians
Inappropriate sexual conduct
Failing to meet minimal standards of care in treating patients
Denial of requests for medical records

COMPLAINTS NOT HANDLED BY THE AMC/NOMA:
The AMC/NOMA cannot:

Help to sue a health care provider for money

FILING A COMPLAINT:
To access the Peer Review Division, call (216) 520-1000, ext. 314. All parties calling for assistance are asked to put their complaint in writing. Once received, the complaint is assigned to one of three peer review committees. Only complaints filed by mail will be accepted.

To file a complaint by mail: Send a letter to the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland/Northern Ohio Medical Association, Peer Review Division, 6000 Rockside Woods Boulevard, Suite #150, Cleveland, Ohio 44131-2352.

Include the full name and address of all parties involved along with the details of the complaint. Include the sender's name, address and telephone number in the event the AMC/NOMA should need further information.

To find out the status of a complaint, contact the Peer Review Division at (216) 520-1000, ext. 314.

Peer review committees provide an invaluable service to the AMC/NOMA, its members and their patients. They exist to provide an unbiased evaluation of disagreements, which in turn helps to strengthen patient/physician relationships in the Greater Cleveland community.

In addition to the AMC/NOMA, there are several other agencies that assist consumers. They are listed below.

Academy of Pharmacy (216) 432-4116
Cleveland Dental Society (216) 573-1181
Cleveland Academy of Osteopathic Medicine (216) 595-0655
Ohio College of Podiatry (216) 231-5612
Chiropractic Referral Line (440) 354-5646
Ohio Optometry Association (614) 224-2600
State Board of Optometry (614) 466-5115
Psychology Association (216) 397-9229

Additional services of the AMC/NOMA:
Physician Referral : Call the AMC/NOMA's free referral service at (216) 520-0110 for the names of physician members in various specialties with offices in a specific geographic location.

Tel-med: Tel-Med is a free collection of prerecorded, physician-approved, health messages designed to help the community remain healthy, recognize early signs of illness and adjust to a serious illness. Tel-Med is not to be used in the case of an emergency, to diagnose an illness or to replace a physician. It's easy to use. Call (216) 520-0200 and follow the instructions.

Pollen Hotline: This physician-directed, seasonal hotline provides daily information to people with allergies in Greater Cleveland. Call the AMC/NOMA's free hotline at (216) 520-1050. This service is available from April 15 to October 15.