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Quarterly Emeritus Luncheon (5/14)
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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.
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NEW! WCMS Early Career Physicians' Section (5/16)
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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.
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2013 WCMS Foundation Annual Campaign
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"Helping Our Community Navigate Healthcare Change"
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
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WCMS launches new group in Linked In: WCMS' Communication Hub!
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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
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A message to Primary Care Physicians
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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
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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). |
New Guidelines: Screen All Patients Aged 15-65 Years for HIV
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HHS offers guidance on promoting equality in healthcare
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How technology can empower patients, including 4 diagnostic tools for your iPhone
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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.
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Member Announcements
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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.
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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, MPA
WCMS CEO/Executive Director |
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