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

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February 5, 2014

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In This Issue:
Learn about the Physician-Led Future of Healthcare in WNC
MAHEC ICD-10 Workshop for Physicians
Join DocBookMD, a Clinical Communication Tool for Patient Care
Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Joins Mission
WCMS Membership Survey Results
WCMS Offers Patient Insurance Enrollment Services to Member Physicians in WNC
The Pursuit of Lab Results
Member Benefits- Did you know?
What is Accountable Care? Anesthesiologists' Edition
Member Announcements- AllCare Clinical Associates Names Dr. Frank M. Sutton, Jr. as Partner
Job Board & Classified Ads
UPCOMING EVENTS 
 
Save the Date- Learn about the Physician-Led Future of Healthcare in WNC (3/5) 
Please join us for a casual evening of wine and hors d'oeuvres as we hear from Dr. Rob Fields about The Physician Led Future of Healthcare in WNC.  Come and learn about what is on the horizon for Mission Medical Associates, the new Independent Physicians Association, and efforts towards a new Accountable Care Organization.

When:
Wednesday, March 5th from 6pm to 8pm

Where:
The Capital Club, 82 Patton Ave #800, Asheville, NC 28801

 Official RSVP to follow
Seating will be limited to 40
 
Sponsored by:
Parsec Financial

MAHEC ICD-10 Workshop for Physicians (3/6) 
MAHEC is offering a 10% discount for eligible primary care practices currently enrolled in consulting services with MAHEC's Center for Quality Improvement (aka REC Team), with priority given to small and independently owned practices. Please click on this link for additional information.

LOCAL NEWS 
Join DocBookMD, a Clinical Communication Tool for Patient Care 
Over seventy of your colleagues have already signed up for this free benefit. DocBookMD is a HIPAA compliant clinical tool- you can securely send text messages regarding patient care!

DocBookMD also allows you to electronically search the Western Carolina Medical Society physician directory

Want to sign up? Here's how: http://www.mywcms.org/Membership/DocBookMD/#SignUp

Click here to see who's already using DocBookMD. 
Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Joins Mission   
"Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Mission Health completed the legal process required to bring Highlands on as a full member of the system. ... Highlands CEO Craig James becomes an employee of Mission Health while all other..."

Read the Asheville Citizen-Times article.  
WCMS Membership Survey Results 
Thanks to the 80+ members who recently filled out our survey regarding WCMS membership benefits.

See what you and your colleagues had to say.   
WCMS Offers Patient Insurance Enrollment Services to Member Physicians in Western North Carolina
As you may know, the NC Institute of Medicine estimates that NC has 1.5 million uninsured residents under age 65.  WCMS is a Certified Application Counselor organization with the federal government, and as such, is qualified to assist patients with enrolling in the Federally Facilitated Insurance Marketplace. As a membership benefit, WCMS would like to send our Certified Application Counselor to your practice to educate, enroll and support your patients in the health insurance Marketplace. Patients who have an income that falls between the 100-400% of the Federal Poverty Level may be eligible for tax credits and subsidies to purchase health insurance in the Marketplace.  
 
Katherine Hensley is a WCMS Certified Application Counselor who has knowledge and experience in navigating the Marketplace. She is available to help your patients enroll, educate your staff, and assist you in understanding the Affordable Care Act. She would like to visit your practice in the next few weeks to screen patients for the Marketplace. Since the window for enrollments ends on March 31st we need to schedule these visits as soon as possible so that you and your patients can take advantage of this unique opportunity. You must be a member of WCMS to take advantage of this offer for your patient population. To make an appointment for her to visit please contact Katherine Hensley at 828-274-2267 or Katherine@mywcms.org.
NATIONAL NEWS 
 
The Pursuit of Lab Results
The Obama administration released a final rule yesterday that allows patients or their designees to obtain medical test results directly from laboratories, instead of accessing them through their physicians. The rule, which overwrites laws in 13 states and lifts a federal exemption in 26 other states, will take effect 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register later this week. HHS officials in a statement said the change serves as a way to increase consumers' control over their health care. However, some physician groups are warning that patients could misunderstand results without their physician to advise them. (Sources: Modern Healthcare 2/3; USA Today 2/3; Wall Street Journal 2/3; Washington Post 2/3).
ITEMS OF INTEREST 
 
Member Benefits- Did you know? 
Did you know that one benefit of being a WCMS Member is:

We save you time and keep you informed?  In addition to weekly Vital Signs, we have a Twitter feed and LinkedIn Communication Hub for real-time information to help you stay on top of the ever-changing healthcare landscape.
What is Accountable Care?  Anesthesiologists' Edition- Take a Look at your Specialty Toolkit! 
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.

This week:
The Anesthesiologist's ACO Blueprint for Success
Member Announcements- AllCare Clinical Associates Names Dr. Frank M. Sutton, Jr. as Partner 
Frank M. Sutton, Jr., MD, MBA, has been named a partner of AllCare Clinical Associates, PA. He joined the practice in 2011 and is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology. In addition to his clinical duties as a full-time Anesthesiologist, Dr. Sutton is the Clinical Director of Business Development for AllCare Clinical Associates. Dr. Sutton assists hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers with improving anesthesia clinical staffing and enhancing facility operating efficiencies.

Read the full announcement here.

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 kristina@mywcms.org   
Job Board & Classified Ads
PA or FNP  (Sisters of Mercy)
Medical Assistant  (Our Family Doctor)
Family Physician  (Asheville Family Health Center)
PA or FNP  (Asheville Internal Medicine)
Physicians  (Extended Care Physicians)
NP/PA  (Extended Care Physicians)
Certified Applications Counselor  (WCMS)
Program Administrator  (WCMS Interpreter Network)

    

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

WCMS is a thriving 800-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