El Paso County Medical Society Home Page

EPCMS MEMBERS

The El Paso County Medical Society (EPCMS) is the voice of organized medicine in El Paso County. We are a voluntary professional organization of over 700 physicians dedicated to the health of our community.

EPCMS is a non-profit organization governed by an elected board of directors. We accomplish our mission with the support of our physician members. EPCMS was organized in 1879 and chartered with the Colorado Medical Society in 1902, and together with other county, state, and specialty societies, and the American Medical Association, we form the Federation of Organized Medicine.

Any Medical Doctor (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) who is licensed in the state of Colorado is eligible to apply for membership with the El Paso County Medical Society.

Before becoming a member of the El Paso County Medical Society, physicians are credentialed. We verify, with the primary source, all medical training, hospital affiliation(s), medical license(s), professional liability insurance and work history.

Physicians are encouraged to join all levels of organized medicine (local, state, national and specialty.) Applicants may join as Unified (Colorado and EPCMS) or Local Only.

Categories of Membership:

Active: Active Members of this Society shall be those physicians and medical students who are in good standing as Active Members of the Colorado Medical Society. All Active Members shall have the rights and privileges of membership as provided by the Bylaws.

Active Members Emeritus: An Active Member in good standing who has reached seventy years of age and who has been an Active Member of this Society for not less than the immediately preceding five years, or who has been an Active or dues paying member for thirty-five years, shall be classified as an Active Member Emeritus. If approved, additional Active Members Emeritus shall be: (a) those Active Members who are retired from practice of medicine or any other full time occupation, and who have been Active Members of this Society for not less than the immediately preceding five years, (b) those retired physicians who have moved to Colorado and who have held dues paying membership in another state medical association or the American Medical Association for not less than the immediately preceding five years; (c) active members who, because of unusual circumstances, have petitioned the Board of Directors for special consideration. Active Members Emeritus status shall be accorded for life unless the member returns to the practice of medicine which shall exclude such member from previously approved status under (a) above. Active Members Emeritus shall enjoy all rights and privileges of membership, including the right to vote and hold office.

Active Members Dues Exempt: An active member may be reclassified Active Member Dues Exempt if a temporary financial hardship reduces his practice or occupation to less than half time. This temporary financial hardship may result from physical disability, major illness or personal catastrophe. Reclassification will be reviewed annually. Active Members Dues Exempt shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of membership, including the right to vote and hold office. A member approved for Active Member Dues Exempt status shall receive, upon request, a pro rata refund of dues paid.

Active Members Graduate and Student: Active Members Graduate shall be those members serving in an American Medical Association approved Resident training program. Active Members Student shall be those members who are medical students enrolled in any accredited medical school who are training in Colorado. Active Members Graduate and Student shall pay annual dues or assessments in an amount not to exceed ten percent of the annual Active dues or assessments.

Active Members Practicing Half Time or Less: Solely for the purpose of providing a reduced rate of dues, active members practicing half time or less shall be accorded this classification. Active Members Practicing Half Time or Less shall pay 50% of annual active dues. Professional liability insurance rate status may be considered in determining half time classification. Active Members Practicing Half Time or Less status shall be accorded until such time as the member increases his practice to more than half time at which time the member shall be changed to full dues paying status.

Active Members Full-Time Military: Solely for the purpose of providing a reduced rate of dues, Active Members Full-time Military shall be accorded this classification for as long as they perform full-time military service on active duty in the uniformed services stationed in Colorado. Active Members Full-Time Military shall pay 35% of annual active dues.

Honorary Members: The Board of Directors may elect as an honorary member any exceptionally distinguished person who has made significant contribution to the constitutional purposes of this Society. Honorary Members may not vote nor hold office, and shall be exempt from all dues and special assessments, but shall have all other rights and privileges of membership.

Associate Members: Associate Members shall be those persons who meet one of the following qualifications:

(1) Active Members of constituents of the American Medical Association;

(2) Dentists who hold a degree of D.M.D. or D.D.S. who are members of the American Dental Association and of the state and local dental societies;

(3) Pharmacists who are active members of the American Pharmaceutical Association;

(4) Teachers of medicine or of the sciences allied to medicine, who are citizens of the United States and are ineligible for Active Membership;

(5) Individuals engaged in endeavors allied to medicine who have attained distinction in their fields of endeavor as determined by the Board of Directors.

Associate Members may not vote nor hold office in the Colorado Medical Society, but shall have other rights and privileges of the Society.

Inactive Members: Active Members may request inactive status for a period of six or more months during which time they may be (1) in missionary service, (2) located outside the State of Colorado, (3) on sabbatical or similar leaves of absence, who wish to maintain an affiliation with the Society and anticipate future reinstatement to Active Membership. Inactive Members may not vote or hold office. Inactive Members shall not be required to pay annual dues or assessments, but may be required to pay a subscription fee for publications.