Trainings

Please see link for current 2015 NC SNAP Examiners Certification Schedule.

See link for registration information.

In addition, we have not seen any incidents with a response of "unknown"; We appreciate your help with this process.

Some friendly reminders to help us reduce the need for resubmissions:

• If there is an allegation against staff member please complete the HCPR form.
• If the police or DSS were called please complete the Authorities Contacted section.

Documents to attach to the incident report when available:

• Death certificates, ME reports, and/or Autopsy - we are unable to close death incidents without this information attached.
• DSS acceptance and/or final investigation letters.
• Internal Investigations documentation for level 3's.

The two organizations hosted a medical recruitment event October 22 at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville that featured presenter Jerry Boylan, a medical placement specialist with the N.C. Office of Rural Health. The session drew an audience of 25 provider organizations and focused on recruitment, placement, retention and medical loan repayment through the N.C. Office of Rural Health.

Smoky recently completed a gap analysis and needs assessment report that confirmed a shortage of medical providers, particularly psychiatrists with specialized practice areas, in many parts of western North Carolina. The report provided extensive data that will be useful in developing a medical recruitment strategy for counties in Smoky's catchment area.

Statewide, about 4.5 million people go without adequate healthcare due to issue including lack of medical insurance, rising healthcare costs and scarcity of services in some areas. The medical placement services program attracts psychiatrists, primary health care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and dental staff to practices that serve rural and underserved populations across North Carolina. The Office of Rural Health and Community Care, created in 1973, provides student loan repayment and other incentives as recruitment tools.

In 2013, the office identified 58 North Carolina counties as mental health professional shortage areas.

Smoky will begin offering a series of sessions for providers on successful recruitment strategies in a changing healthcare environment. Interested providers should contact Lisa Allen, Training Coordinator, at 828-586-5501, ext. 1163.

Rutherford County Community Forum

Smoky Mountain LME/MCO Presents The Rutherford County Community Forum Thursday, January 15, 2015 1:00-2:30PM Rutherford Community Health Services 187 Main Street-Spindale, NC

Click to learn more

Smoky Mountain LME/MCO ("Smoky") recently issued a communication about Level III Residential Services for Children and Adolescents.   In this communication, clinical expectations regarding Residential Treatment Level III services delivered concurrently with Day Treatment services were articulated.

The following is intended to provide additional information about concurrent Day Treatment and Residential Treatment Level III services. Note that these services can be reviewed together under Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment ("EPSDT") guidelines, and will be approved anytime EPSDT criteria apply: 

• Consistent with Administrative Code (NCAC 27G .1704(e))* and Clinical Coverage policy 8D-2, Smoky views Level III residential as a comprehensive service.  
• Interventions to address behaviors occurring in the school setting that are related to the consumer's diagnosis(es), should be addressed in the PCP
• Smoky is committed to serve consumers in the least restrictive Level of Care, as indicated by accepted best practice standards
• Day Treatment is intended to serve populations for whom school interventions have been attempted and deemed insufficient - addressing consumer's barriers to education is a primary school system responsibility. As with any request for day treatment service, documented evidence that interventions by the school system have not been effective in addressing consumer's behavioral needs are required for evaluation of medical necessity.
• Per Clinical Coverage policy 8A, Day Treatment is intended to be time-limited and titrated

* "Each facility shall be responsible for ensuring supervision of children or adolescents when they are away from the facility in accordance with the child or adolescent's individual strengths and needs as specified in the treatment plan."

Please contact Care Management at 1-800-893-6246 X1910 with any questions or concerns.

These Guidelines are applicable to Smoky Mountain-managed Medicaid and State-Funded Services

Click Link to See Guidelines

Pathways to Integration

December 3-5, 2014

The NC Counsil of Community Programs invites providers and vendors to exhibit at one of the largest mental health, developmental disability and substance abuse service system conferences in NC.

Click to learn more  

In its 14^th year of fun and celebration Family Fun Day Holiday Fest is coming up on December 13, 2014. Located inside the Expo building of the WNC Ag. Center the 27,000 sq. foot space is transformed into a winter wonderland of holiday characters to meet, llamas to pet, food, face painters, balloonists and much more. A Wide variety of craft, games  and activities are provide by the service provider programs across the area. Through the wonderful efforts of multiple agencies this event is growing . Last year there were 776 people in attendance.

The event is free to all and it offers multiple ways to be involved.

1)   Provide an 'Informational Booth',

2)   Provide an activity for attendees while promoting

       the services you offer,

3)   Be a part of the planning team for the event (meets

       monthly). Deadline for this is end of September.

4)   Off set the costs of the event by offering a financial

       or in-kind contribution

5)   Inform families about it or just come and check it

      out yourself.

Consider how you can be  part of this really fun day, meet families and other providers of services.

For further details please contact Roxann Colwell at 828-230-3555, roxann.colwell@msj.org.     

See link to see how you can be involved..