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

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November 20, 2013

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Vital Signs will be taking the week off next week on 11/27.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving and we'll see you in 2 weeks!
In This Issue:
Turning around Community Hospitals is what MedWest's Prospective Buyer Does Best
Smoky Mountain Center: News You Can Use
2013-2014 Physician Directory "Blue Book"
DHHS Announces Statewide Initiative to Improve Mental Health and Substance Abuse Crisis Services
New Rules Coming Jan. 1 Can Help Physicians Streamline Payment
New Federal Regulation Insists on Protections for Patients with Mental Illness, Drug Problems
States Divided Over Complying With Obamacare 'Fix'
SGR Repeal Bill Still Gets AMA Support
What is Accountable Care?
Member Announcements
Job Board & Classified Ads
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
MAHEC Event: Basic Airway Management & Intubation Course

MAHEC presents Basic Airway Management & Intubation Course on Saturday, December 7.  The course serves as a refresher for clinicians responsible for emergency airway management.

 

Click here to view the event flyer.

LOCAL NEWS 
Turning around Community Hospitals is what MedWest's Prospective Buyer Does Best   
"Meanwhile, the fledging MedWest alliance aimed at strengthening Haywood Regional Medical Center and WestCare's hospitals in Sylva and Bryson City was on the skids..."

Continue reading the Smoky Mountain News article.
Smoky Mountain Center: News You Can Use  
Click here to view Smoky Mountain Center's most recent newsletter and stay current on mental health news.

Included in this week's issue:
  • Smoky Mountain Center Update: Today and What's Next?
  • Latest Announcements from Raleigh: McCrory Administration's Crisis Solutions Initiative, a new statewide effort to improve mental health and substance abuse crisis services 
  • Governor McCrory Announces Medicaid Reform Advisory Group
  • DHHS Officials Deliver Reports to Legislative Oversight Committee 
2013-2014 Physician Directory "Blue Book" 
The 2013-2014 "Blue Book" is ready for ordering!  This comprehensive directory of physicians, produced by WCMS, now includes physicians and practices from all 16 WNC counties. If you would like to place an order, you can do that quickly and easily online.

(If you have a question or need to know if you're a 100% practice to get the discounted price, contact [email protected])
STATE NEWS 
DHHS Announces Statewide Initiative to Improve Mental Health and Substance Abuse Crisis Services in North Carolina  
"DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos announced today the McCrory Administration's Crisis Solutions Initiative, a new statewide effort to improve mental health and substance abuse crisis services in North Carolina..." 

Read full press release
NATIONAL NEWS 
New Rules Coming Jan. 1 Can Help Physicians Streamline Payment 
"New federal standards governing how health insurers conduct electronic transactions with physicians should help reduce administrative hassles, cut paperwork burdens and free up time to spend with patients..."

Continue reading
New Federal Regulation Insists on Protections for Patients with Mental Illness, Drug Problems
States Divided Over Complying With Obamacare 'Fix'
State regulators aren't rushing to President Barack Obama's rescue after the White House's attempt to fix the rising wave of canceled health insurance policies. The president's decision to extend the renewal window for existing health plans won't work for the millions losing their coverage unless insurers and state insurance regulators give their blessing (Millman and Cheney, 11/18).

Read the Politico article
SGR Repeal Bill Still Gets AMA Support
ITEMS OF INTEREST 
 
What is Accountable Care?
Over 40 North Carolina medical societies and organizations- including WCMS- have joined together in a commitment to helping the medical community face the challenges of a changing health care environment, launching the Toward Accountable Care Consortium and Initiative. The Consortium was designed to provide the medical community with the knowledge and tools needed to understand, participate in, navigate, lead, and succeed in a value-driven health care system. The initiative will distribute resources to its members, such as user-friendly documents that contain relevant information for all physicians regarding accountable care; at least 20 specialty-specific toolkits; a merit-based, shared-savings pool distribution guide; a guide to negotiating bundled payments; related webinars and educational sessions; articles, podcasts, and short videos, and other print and social media.

This week: Physician Involvement in ACOs by Julian D. ("Bo") Bobbitt, Jr., Esq. of Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P., Raleigh, NC
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 Kristina Isenhour, Member Services Coordinator at [email protected]   
Job Board & Classified Ads
Allergy Partners: Nurse Practitioner
Asheville Internal Medicine: PA or FNP

ECP: Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant 

ECP: Physicians

   

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

 

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Miriam Schwarz, MPA

WCMS CEO/Executive Director