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VITAL SIGNS
 The Weekly Electronic News of the Western Carolina Medical Society 

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April 4, 2012

Here's what is happening in and around Western North Carolina:
In This Issue
Four Seasons - Sponsor Message
Women in Medicine: Inaugural Social
A 2012 Physician's Guide to Thriving, Prospering and Succeeding Under Healthcare Reform
Advance Care Planning at Doctor's Day
Casey Cooper Transformed a Community's Healthcare
2011 Tax Planning Options... It is Not Too Late
CCNC Becomes a Qualified Organization
Are You a Social Media Fan of the Medical Society?
Job Board & Classifieds

UPCOMING EVENTS  

 

Women in Medicine: Inaugural Social 

Women In Medicine  

RSVP Now! 

A 2012 Physician's Guide to Thriving, Prospering and Succeeding Under Healthcare Reform  

The Van Winkle Law Firm will host a three part series on Health Care Reform for all WNC physicians featuring Clinical Integration, Developing and Expanding Opportunities Among Physician Practices, and Collaboration to Integration - Exploring the Spectrum of Physician/Hospital Relationships. Find out more. This educational opportunity is endorsed by the Western Carolina Medical Society.

LOCAL NEWS 
Advance Care Planning at Doctor's Day

The WCMS Physician Committee on Advance Care Planning participated in Mission Hospital's annual Doctors' Day celebration held on March 29th.  Months earlier the Team had recognized that many healthcare providers, physicians in particular, may have not taken the time to do their own advance care planning.  The WCMS Physician Committee, which is a sub-team of the NC Center for Healthy Aging Community Initiative on Advance Care Planning, sponsored a table during the Doctors' Day celebration to encourage physicians to discuss the topic with their own families and to complete advance directives.   Drs. Alan Baumgarten and Ellen Kaczmarek  facilitated ACP discussions during the event.  A notary was available, so that those who wished to complete their advance directives could do so on site.  This is likely to become an annual component of Doctors' Day. Please let us know what you think!

Casey Cooper Transformed a Community's Healthcare
Read this article from The Cherokee Crusader. 
2011 Tax Planning Options... It is Not Too Late
Although 2011 is already over and the initial individual tax deadline of April 17 is almost here, there is still time to consider and implement 2011 planning solutions.  Some retirement plan options allow taxpayers to fund the retirement vehicle in the year following the close of the tax year.  Please find below a couple of options we often recommend to our physician clients.  A taxpayer may be eligible for contributions to both of the options.

Read more.  From Tara Theodossis, Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP 
STATE NEWS 
CCNC Becomes a Qualified Organization

Community Care of NC (CCNC) and the North Carolina Health Information Exchange (NC HIE) have announced an agreement to work together to improve physicians' access to health care data and electronic medical records.  CCNC has agreed to serve as the NC HIE's first qualified organization (QO).  A QO is an organization that connects its health care enterprises to a health information exchange in ways that meet technical, legal and policy standards.  Come to the Spring Open Forum to hear the Executive Director of NC HIE address this topic.  You can read the full announcement at www.nchie.org.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Are You a Social Media Fan of the Medical Society?

Join us on Facebook and Twitter to receive WCMS and healthcare news as it happens, to interact with your fellow members and to get the scoop on all the events we put on to provide fun, education and collegiality!

 

Did you know that the WCMS also has a brand new website? Click here to check it out.  

Job Board

Practice Manager- Family Practice

 

Director of Operations- Practice Management Company

 

Medical Assistant- Three Streams FHC  

 

Clinical Lead Coordinator LPN- The Family Health Centers 

 

   

Testimonial from Mountain Kidney and Hypertension Assoc:

"The WCMS Job Board has proven to be a very successful endeavor for our practice.  The ad was posted on the webside two weeks ago and we have just hired a new employee with experience which is perfectly matched to the job description. Thank you again for taking the search out of our hands and for the positive outcome."

 

Becky Slaughter

Office Manager

Mountain Kidney & Hypertension Assoc., P.A

 

        

Click here for the complete list of job postings on our website.    

 

Classified Ads

Beautiful Office Space Ready for Occupancy! 

        

 

Click here for the complete list of classified ads on our website.    

Why Join the Western Carolina Medical Society? 

 

WCMS is a thriving 900-plus member professional association of the physicians of western North Carolina and a chartered component medical society of the NC Medical Society and the AMA. The WCMS is an organization run by physicians for physicians.

 

Our Mission

The WCMS is the physicians' voice advocating for the health of the medical profession, the health of the patient, and the health of the community.

 

Our Vision

To be a dynamic physician community dedicated to a healthy, vibrant Western North Carolina.

 

About WCMS   

The purpose of WCMS is:

  • To strengthen the voice of WNC physicians in advocating for the health of the medical profession, the health of the patient, and the health of our region
  • To inform, educate and prepare physicians for rapidly occurring changes in health care at national, state, and local levels  
  • To share legislative and policy information and advocate on behalf of physicians in areas of mutual interest
  • To share available resources in areas of mutual interest
  • To promote physician-to-physician communication and dialogue in an open, honest and safe environment 

Click here for a complete listing of membership benefits.      

 

The Foundation is WCMS' non-profit, charitable arm. The Foundation is well-respected and nationally recognized for its leadership and innovation in addressing issues of access to quality health care, disparities in health, and wellness and prevention for people in WNC. We are committed to involving both community AND physicians in this work.  

 

Our flagship program is Project Access, a comprehensive, volunteer primary and specialty physician network providing access to healthcare at no charge for low-income, uninsured residents. Another key program is the WNC Interpreter Network, which addresses disparities in health due to linguistic barriers.   

 

The archive of WCMS e-newsletters is available from the publications menu on our website at http://www.mywcms.org/News-and-Events/Weekly-E-Newsletter  Thank you for your interest in WCMS. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact me or any one of our courteous, professional staff.

 



Sincerely,
Miriam Schwarz signature
Miriam Schwarz, MPA
WCMS CEO/Executive Director