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

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June 26, 2013

CircOfFriends VS
In This Issue:
Sponsor Message from Parsec Financial (Left)
WCMS Early Career Physicians' Section (7/18)
Emeritus Summer Social (7/25)
2013 WCMS Foundation Annual Campaign - YOU could put us over the top!
Physician Directory News!
Coalition of State Medical Societies Coordinate Lobbying Efforts
Early Results: ACOs Are Working
Toward Accountable Care website up and running
Job Board & Classified Ads
UPCOMING EVENTS
 

WCMS Early Career Physicians' Section (7/18) 

If you are a WNC physician within your first 10 years of practice, come out and join the WCMS Early Career Physicians' Section on Thursday, July 18th at 6pm at Highland Brewing Company. 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. 

 

RSVP now!    

Emeritus Summer Social (7/25) 

Save the date for the Emeritus Summer Social

When: Thursday, July 25th
Where: Country Club of Asheville
What time: Cocktail hour beginning at 5:30pm

More details coming soon!
LOCAL NEWS 

2013 WCMS Foundation Annual Campaign - YOU could put us over the top! 

Current total: $29,185.  We aim to reach $30,000 by June 30 and need less than $1,000 to get there.   

 

YOU could donate in our final week to help us reach $30,000.  All we need is another $1,000 in the next 4 days. Be that final, important donor whose contribution puts us over our goal

 
Remember, all physicians who donate are listed as PIPs (Physicians in Philanthropy) on the WCMS website.      

Donate Now  

Learn more: www.mywcms.org/wecare 

Physician Directory News!  

Attention physicians and practice managers!

 

For the first time ever we will be publishing a new regional (all 16 WNC counties) physician directory at the end of this year! Please watch for a fax from our office in the very near future requesting updated information for your practice.  We need your participation to make this directory as accurate as possible!

 

We also have some 2012-2013 physician directories still available and we are offering a 20% discount on all orders! These directories are an excellent tool for Buncombe County referrals. Download order form here.   

NATIONAL NEWS 
 
ACA website/call center available to consumers
The Obama administration yesterday unveiled an updated website and call center as part of its promotional campaign for the Affordable Care Act. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the call center would operate 24 hours a day and will eventually have 9,000 employees in 11 states who can answer ACA-related questions in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, the website --  healthcare.gov -- is being built to handle more than 60 million visits annually. Both the website and the call center are part of the White House's goal to enroll seven million U.S. residents in the ACA's health insurance exchanges in the first year. (Sources: Modern Healthcare, 6/24; New York Times, 6/24; Politico, 6/24; Washington Times, 6/24)
ITEMS OF INTEREST  
Early Results: ACOs Are Working
Click here to find a recent article written by Bo Bobbitt entitled
Early Results: ACOs Are Working.

This and other health reform tools can also be found on our website under Legislative > Health Reform. 
Toward Accountable Care website up and running  
Here is the link for the new Toward Accountable Care website:  www.tac-consortium.org.

This and other health reform tools can also be found on our website under Legislative > Health Reform.  
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 [email protected].    
Job Board & Classified Ads

Asheville Arthritis: FNP or PA   

Asheville Internal Medicine: PA or FNP 

ECP: Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant 

ECP: Physicians  

MAHEC: Geriatric Faculty Position 

Medical Employment Opportunities 

Medical Office For Lease  

WCMS: Interpreter Network Program Coordinator 

   

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