WCMS with tagline
VITAL SIGNS
 The Weekly Electronic News of the Western Carolina Medical Society 
Deerfield an Episcopal Retirement Community
Thrive!
Make Your Retirement Vibrant, Active & Fulfilling!

Senior living at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, NC, means delightful surroundings, activity-filled days and nights, an extensive list of amenities, and the peace of mind that comes with a full continuum of care. Life Care at Deerfield offers the security of knowing that financial assets are protected and preserved for our residents and their families, and they will never have to say good-bye to home and friends should their health care needs change.

 

Deerfield now accepts direct admissions into our newly expanded Assisted Living Center and the Skilled Nursing Center. For recuperative, long or short-term nursing care needs, the Deerfield Health Center provides residents with 24-hour care, accommodations, and services for skilled nursing. All areas of Health Services are under the direct supervision and responsibility of a licensed administrator, the Director of Health Care Services, and the Medical Director, a licensed physician, to assure quality care.


Click here to view our recent expansion

 

www.deerfieldwnc.org  

 

For more information, contact:  

Linda L. Mechling, RN, NHA 
Director of Health & Wellness 
Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community 
828-274-1531 ext: 3282 
 [email protected] 

Endorsed Vendor Programs

Learn more.

Discount Programs 

 Learn more.
Join Our List

Join Our Mailing List
Quick Links
News

HIT/EHR Info

Health Reform Info

Project Access

WNC Interpreter Network

Boards of Directors

More on WCMS

Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter


April 25, 2012

Here's what is happening in and around Western North Carolina:
In This Issue
Deerfield Retirement Community - Sponsor Message
Diversity and Health Disparities 101
Shrimp Picnic 2012- Save the Date
Changes in Medical Examiner Role- 2012
Lawmakers Put Mission Rules on Hold
Doctors Take a Stand out of Fear for MedWest-Harris' Future
MedWest's Response
Invitation to Join Transition Work Group
WCMS Holds Inaugural Women in Medicine Social
Medical Lawsuits Down Since Oct. 1; Calls for 'Tort Reform Credit'
Caring- It's What We're About
Interpreters in ER May Help Limit Medical Errors
Why Doctors Should Drive Health Reform
Job Board & Classifieds

UPCOMING EVENTS  

 

Diversity and Health Disparities 101 

Cedric Bright, MD, FACP

Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Time: Dinner: 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm

 

Program: 6:45 pm - 8:30 pm
Place: MAHEC Biltmore Campus
Fee: There is no charge for this program; however pre-registration is necessary to assure a meal.

Please register by April 26th.

The Mountain Area Health Education Center designates this live activity for
a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™

 

Click here for details and online registration.

Shrimp Picnic 2012- Save the Date   

Shrimp Picnic 2012
LOCAL NEWS 
Changes in Medical Examiner Role- 2012
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of North Carolina has notified all the county Medical Examiners that they will be strictly enforcing the rules regarding which deaths qualify as medical examiner cases.  

 

What has changed?

  • Since over 50% of the deaths are from natural causes, the state will no longer allow County Medical Examiners to take responsibility for completing the death certificate if the physician of record refuses to sign the death certificate.

What is going to happen now?

  • EMS, law enforcement, and others are instructed to call the physician with the most information about the patient to complete and sign the death certificate.

 

For more information click here. 

Lawmakers Put Mission Rules on Hold
Doctors Take a Stand out of Fear for MedWest-Harris' Future
MedWest's Response
Invitation to Join Transition Work Group

Are you interested in helping to improve the transition of youth with special health care needs from pediatric to adult medical homes? The Innovative Approaches grant project, Community Care of WNC, and the Western Carolina Medical Society are collaborating to address this issue. We are currently pursuing a pilot project to assist a pediatric practice implement transition processes that prepare all YSHCN for transition out of the pediatric setting.

 

The next step is to bring together interested adult primary care providers to explore ways to make it easier for YSHCN to find adult medical homes and to build community support for providers who accept these youth.

 

If you are interested in joining such a group to work with your peers to identify and address community challenges in order to better serve YSHCN, please contact:

 

Miriam Schwarz

WCMS CEO

[email protected] 

828-274-2267 x312

 

For more background information, click here

WCMS Holds Inaugural Women in Medicine Social
STATE NEWS 
Medical Lawsuits Down Since Oct. 1; Calls for 'Tort Reform Credit'
ITEMS OF INTEREST

Caring- It's What We're About
$500 provides 10 hours of WIN Interpreter services for a low income, uninsured patient who does no speak English or who is hearing impaired and needs interpretation with their doctor. 

"It's wonderful for the community, and I believe it eases a patient's mind when he/she needs help with communicating their medical needs."  

- Jennifer Padgett, Scheduler at Asheville Gastroenterology Associates

 

Join your fellow physician colleagues by becoming a Physician in Philanthropy and donating to the 2012 WCMS Foundation's Annual Campaign between now and May 10th.

 

Find out more of how you can help: http://mywcms.org/About/Annual-Campaign-2012/PIP or Donate Now 

 

Brent Jeffries, MD

President, WCMS Foundation Board

 

Cynthia Brown, MD

Chair, WCMS Association Board 

Interpreters in ER May Help Limit Medical Errors

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Having professional translators in the emergency room for non-English-speaking patients might help limit potentially dangerous miscommunication, a new study suggests.

 

Continue reading.  

 

Remember, we've got WCMS' Interpreter Network (WIN) to help you with your interpretation needs! The interpreter network serves ALL of WNC! https://www.bcmsonline.org/win/pp/ or call 828.274.0950

Why Doctors Should Drive Health Reform
Job Board

Supervisor Clinical Informatics 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

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