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


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May 30, 2012

Here's what is happening in and around Western North Carolina:
In This Issue
Catalyst Rx - Sponsor Message
Women in Medicine Social
Think Pink- WCMS Is Seeking Women Physicians Who Golf
Buncombe County's Project Access Visits Toe River Project Access
Buncombe County's Project Access Specialists Provide Educational Forums to Primary Care Providers
Scope of Practice Bills Update
AMA Urges Members to Support Medicare Patient Empowerment Act
Caring- It's What We're About
Job Board & Classifieds

UPCOMING EVENTS  

 
Women in Medicine Social

RSVP for the next Women in Medicine Social on June 14th. 

Think Pink- WCMS Is Seeking Women Physicians Who Golf

A Women's 9- Hole Golf Tournament benefiting the Western Carolina Medical Society Foundation has been set for Tuesday, August 7 at 5:30pm at the Grove Park Inn Golf Club.  

 

Do you play golf? If yes, we would like our WCMS women physicians to participate! Hit the links with fellow professional women and enjoy all of the fun, food and surprises that are planned!  

 

If your practice or employer may consider taking a sponsorship, please link here for further information. Some of the sponsorships have 2 players included in the packages. Otherwise, cost is $50 per player.   

 

For more information or questions e-mail [email protected].  

LOCAL NEWS 
Buncombe County's Project Access Visits Toe River Project Access (TRPA)

On May 22, CEO Miriam Schwarz visited with TRPA staff, board members, and physician volunteers in Spruce Pine and Burnsville to share information about Buncombe PA and contribute ideas for sustaining Project Access. TRPA expressed interest in learning more about Project Access' Living Healthy program. (Living Healthy is an evidence-based program developed by Stanford School of Medicine; it is designed to help people living with chronic disease better manage treatment and to maintain and/or increase life's activities.) Miriam learned with great interest all about TRPA's tiered co-payment system; this is noteworthy since Buncombe's PA is considering instituting its own tiered physician payment system in the near future. Also of note, TRPA offers basic dental care and has engaged dentists in the area to participate. If you'd like to find out more about TRPA and how it is set up, contact [email protected] for more information.

Buncombe County's Project Access Specialists Provide Educational Forums to Primary Care Providers

On May 21st, Dr. Kim Beavers, Asheville Gastro, met with WNCCHS primary care providers to discuss Hepatitis C. Topics included how to diagnose and treat Hep C in primary care, when to refer, how to prepare the patient for referral and what to communicate to the specialist. Powerpoint slides are available; please contact [email protected].  

 

WCMS and WNCCHS are planning an excellent line up of educational sessions to continue through the end of 2012. To date, Dr. Chris Chay (Oncology); Dr. Pete Mangone (Orthopedics), and Dr. Dan Fertel (Pulmonology) are slated to speak with WNCCHS providers. If you are a specialist wanting to participate in the educational series, please contact [email protected].

STATE NEWS 
Scope of Practice Bills Update
Read the article from NCMS.  
NATIONAL NEWS 
AMA Urges Members to Support Medicare Patient Empowerment Act
Read the article from NCMS.  
ITEMS OF INTEREST

Caring- It's What We're About
We're over 90% to our Goal!  Help us reach $30,000 this week!

Donate Now.


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

 

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 

Job Board

Board Certified Physicians- Pardee Hospital 

 

Resolution Specialist- Asheville Anesthesia

 

Medical Biller- Plastic Surgery Center  

 

Director, Sports Medicine Faculty- MAHEC

 

Family Medicine Faculty, Geriatrics- MAHEC 

 

 

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