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VITAL SIGNS
 The Weekly e-News of the Western Carolina Medical Society 
 

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May 1, 2013

CircOfFriends VS
In This Issue:
Pathways Medical Management Sponsor Message (Left)
Quarterly Emeritus Luncheon (5/14)
NEW! Early Career Physicians' Group (5/16)
2013 WCMS Foundation Annual Campaign
WCMS launches new group in Linked In: WCMS' Communication Hub!
A message to Primary Care Physicians
Pardee, UNC Health extend management agreement
Western Highlands Network Announces Plan to Develop a Management Agreement with Smoky Mountain Center
New Guidelines: Screen All Patients Aged 15-65 Years for HIV
Job Board & Classified Ads
UPCOMING EVENTS
 

Quarterly Emeritus Luncheon (5/14) 

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 14th at the DoubleTree Biltmore Hotel. As usual, we'll meet around 11:30, with lunch at 12:00 and our lecture to follow. Our speaker will be Dr. Kenny Simpkins from Victoria Urological Associates, who will speak to us about the controversy over PSA testing.

NEW! WCMS Early Career Physicians' Section (5/16) 

WCMS Early Career Physicians' Section  
Wicked Weed - Downstairs Tasting Room  
Thursday, May 16th
6:00-8:00pm    

If you are a WNC physician within your first eight years of practice, come out and join your peers for a pint and hors d'oeuvres on us Thursday, May 16th at Wicked Weed in downtown Asheville!

All early career physician members are invited to attend, and encouraged to bring physician friends or colleagues--regardless of their membership. Residents and fellows are welcome.

Click here for more information about the Early Career Physicians' Section, or RSVP now.     
LOCAL NEWS 

2013 WCMS Foundation Annual Campaign

"Helping Our Community Navigate Healthcare Change"

 

Compass

The 2013 Annual Campaign is underway.  Check your mailbox soon for a letter from Dr. Bill McCann about the importance of raising funds for the WCMS Foundation. 

 

We've currently raised over $14,000- will you become a Physician in Philanthropy (PIP) and donate now to bring us closer to our $50,000 goal?

   

To learn more about the 2013 Annual Campaign, go to:  http://www.mywcms.org/About/Annual-Campaign-2013/PIP    

WCMS launches new group in Linked In: WCMS' Communication Hub!

This group offers western North Carolina physicians an opportunity to network, share information, engage in learning from one another, and build collegiality. To join WCMS' Communication Hub, you'll need to establish a Linked In account and then join our group here: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4935272

A message to Primary Care Physicians

Dear Primary Care Physician,

 

As you've no doubt heard by now Three Streams Family Health Center in West Asheville closed abruptly week before last leaving a large number of established patients without a primary medical home. Local safety net providers such as WNCCHS, MAHEC and ABCCM have stepped up to the plate, but they cannot handle all 2,300 patients. Currently, approximately 1,000 patients are still looking for a PCP.

 

Given the challenges these patients face in finding a new primary care provider in WNC, would you be willing to help by taking some of them into your practice? If yes, please contact Miriam@mywcms.org with the number of these patients you'd be willing to take on, as well as any restrictions, such as insurance status (insured, Medicaid/Medicare, uninsured, etc.,), age range,  and contact information for patients to use to connect with your practice.

 

We will post this information on our website here. http://www.mywcms.org/Community-Resources/safety_net/For-former-Three-Streams-FHC-patients Chris Newcomb, PA-C, at Three Streams will direct his patients to our website so that they can contact your practice. If these patients have a medical condition requiring specialty or other services and are eligible for Project Access, we will be glad to provide screening, enrollment and navigation services for them once you see them and refer them to us.

 

With gratitude for all you do,

 

  Miriam

Pardee, UNC Health extend management agreement

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20130425/ARTICLES/130429903

Western Highlands Network Announces Plan to Develop a Management Agreement with Smoky Mountain Center   

The Western Highlands Network (WHN) Board of Directors approved a plan today to begin work with Smoky Mountain Center (SMC) in developing a partnership between the two organizations for overseeing the management of behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability services under the 1915(b)/(c) Medicaid Waivers and other functions for Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania and Yancey Counties. Download full press release (PDF).
NATIONAL NEWS 
 
New Guidelines: Screen All Patients Aged 15-65 Years for HIV
ITEMS OF INTEREST  
HHS offers guidance on promoting equality in healthcare 
How technology can empower patients, including 4 diagnostic tools for your iPhone
Eric Dishman is used to thinking about how technology can transform the world of health care. As an Intel Fellow and general manager of the company's Health Strategy & Solutions Group, his job is all about finding innovative new approaches to healthcare. Keep reading.
Member Announcements 

Are you a WCMS Member who is opening a new practice? Are you a 100% Member Practice who has hired a new physician? Send us your announcements and we will post them for you in our new Member Announcements section of Vital Signs to keep other members informed about what's happening in our WCMS community! Contact Nancy Caine, Member Services Coordinator at Nancy@mywcms.org.     

Job Board & Classified Ads

Asheville Anesthesia: Administrative Assistant 

Asheville Anesthesia: Compensation & Benefits Administrator 

Asheville Anesthesia: Operations Director 

Asheville Anesthesia: Resolution Specialist   

Asheville Anesthesia: Employment/Employee Relations Coordinator

Asheville Family Practice: FN/NP 

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital: Advanced Practitioner  

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital: Excellent Dental Career Opportunity 

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital: Family Practice Physician  

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital: Internal Medicine 

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital: Urologist      

BRCHS: Associate Medical Director 

BRCHS: Dentist 

BRCHS: Family Nurse Practitioner 

BRCHS: Physician Assistant  

French Broad Pediatrics: Practice Manager - NEW! 

   

To find out how you can post a Job or Classified Ad Click here.

 

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

We hope you enjoy our weekly e-newsletter. If you have questions or suggestions please feel free to contact me.  

Sincerely,

Miriam Schwarz

 

Miriam Schwarz signature




 

Miriam Schwarz, MPA

WCMS CEO/Executive Director