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Pediatric Grand Rounds (4/23)
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Wednesday - April 23
8:00am-9:00am/Mission Hospitals Glenn Theatre
"WNC Pediatric Care Collaborative: Partnering for Quality"
Calvin Tomkins, MD- Physician Leader, WNC Pediatric Care Collaborative
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National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners Training Course (4/26)
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Saturday April 26, 2014 Registration: 7:30am - 8:00am Program: 8:00am - 3:00pm MAHEC Educational Buiding The course will cover the procedure for becoming listed on the National Registry, completing the required online information, and scheduling/location options for the certification exam. Download the flyer for more information.
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WCMS Forum: Enhancing Revenue & Profit in Today's Medical Practice (4/30)
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Step back from the daily crisis mode and really focus on understanding your practice, the physicians' goals, and the barriers to achieving these. In this seminar, we revisit the basic indicators and workflows that need continued attention, consider tried and true approaches, and suggest some outside-the box thinking to get your creative juices flowing. This seminar is ideal for physicians who are business owners and their practice managers. This is a benefit for WCMS members, but we encourage you to invite your practice administrators and non-member physician colleagues to attend as well. Speaker: Cameron Cox, Management Services on Call When: Wednesday, April 30th 6:00pm - 8:00pm Where: Asheville Chamber of Commerce Lenoir-Rhyne Boardroom Other: Heavy hors d'ouevres and beverages will be provided. Event sponsored by:
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Telling the Real Story of Our Patient's Health... Why Risk Adjustment? (5/2)
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For physicians, residents and mid-level providers. Friday, May 2. Click here for more information on this MAHEC event.
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2014 Annual Campaign Launches
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Join the Western Carolina Medical Society (WCMS) Foundation in helping residents in our region who are uninsured. They are friends and neighbors who are vulnerable to health crises from chronic conditions or illness. The 2014 WCMS Annual Campaign launches with a $50,000 campaign goal with the theme "Expanding Access to Health Care in Western North Carolina." With your help, WCMS provides access to health care for uninsured people in need. Read the full press release. Donate to the Annual Campaign.
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Physicians' Voice in the News
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WCMS is proud to announce another high quality addition to the series of "The Physicians' Voice" media presentations aimed to showcase to the general public our physicians' world-class medical expertise and focus on patient/community health.
Here is the latest release:
You can read all about The Physicians' Voice on our website.
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WCMS on a Legislative Advocacy Roll: Meet with Reps. Whitmire & Dobson, and Sen. Apodaca
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Monday, April 7: Drs. Jeff Heck & Barry Bodie joined WCMS staff in Brevard to meet with Representative Chris Whitmire (Transylvania, Henderson, Polk) Tuesday, April 8: Dr. Steve North accompanied WCMS CEO Miriam Schwarz in Marion to meet with Representative Josh Dobson (McDowell, Mitchell, Avery) Tuesday, April 8: Drs. Frank Moretz, Jeff Heck, Samantha Read-Smith, Frank Sutton and Charles DePaolo joined WCMS staff in hosting Senator Tom Apodaca (Henderson, Buncombe). Topics discussed included recruitment and retention of physicians, the importance of a strong medical community to the local economy, Medicaid Reform (we favor ACO approach over MCO), NC Tracks, and the impact of ACA. WCMS is continuing to build relationships with WNC Legislators in the next months, especially prior to the short session. If you'd like to get involved in advocacy, contact miriam@mywcms.org.
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Henderson County Scores Big on Jobs, Education in Health Careers
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"Just next door, Pardee will serve as a "steady pipeline" from the education facility and into the health care workforce, hospital president and CEO Jay Kirby noted... " Continue reading.
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WNC Data Link HIE Termination Extended/Info on Other HIE Options
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From Matt Bonanno on March 31, 2014
"To all users:
The WNC Data Link system termination timeline has been extended to September 30, 2014. During this time, you will be able to access the system as you have done previously. Please pass this message along to all of the users within your facility. During this extension, we encourage you to contact the following organizations to investigate future options for Health Information Exchange in western North Carolina (post-Data Link). If you have any questions, please contact the WNC Health Network at 828-667-8220.
Carolinas Healthcare System CareConnect - 1-888-724-0459
Mission Health System, Mission Health Connect - 828-213-2000
NC HIE - 919-926-1042 "
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The Obama administration on 4/2 announced that it will release Medicare physician payment data for the first time as part of a long-term goal to make the health care system more transparent and accountable. Officials said they also hope that public disclosure of such data will help prevent fraud. According to CMS, the data will include physicians' names, addresses, service summaries and the amount of reimbursements they received under Medicare Part B in 2012. The data will not include any patient information. The data is expected to detail more than $77 billion in Medicare payments to more than 880,000 providers for nearly 6,000 different procedures and services. (Sources: The Hill's "Healthwatch," 4/2; Modern Healthcare, 4/2; New York Times, 4/2; Reuters, 4/2; AP/Sacramento Bee, 4/3; Wall Street Journal, 4/2)
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Join DocBookMD, A Clinical Tool that Fits in Your Pocket
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DocBookMD is a clinical tool that fits in your pocket! Download this free mobile app to send HIPAA compliant text messages to your colleagues with your smart phone phone or look up contact information with the online directory of WCMS physicians. WCMS staff showed this app to physicians at Mission's Doctors' Day event and 5 doctors signed up that very day. If you'd like a 3-minute tutorial on using this app, contact membership@mywcms.org and we'd be glad to get you connected! Or follow these steps: - Download the free app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Open up the app and it will guide you through the easy registration process. (To login, use the e-mail address you provided to WCMS. If you do not know, contact membership@mywcms.org for the correct e-mail address or your medical society ID number).
- Start using DocbookMD to contact your colleagues!
Over eighty-five of your colleagues have already signed up for this free member benefit. Start communicating with them today.
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Physicians Abandon Insurance for 'Blue Collar' Concierge Model
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Once the bastion of high-end specialists, more and more primary-care and family physicians are launching concierge practices for middle- and lower-income patients. Read article. |
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What is Accountable Care?
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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: Basics of What is Accountable Care
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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 Kristina Isenhour, Member Services Coordinator at kristina@mywcms.org |
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Job Board & Classified Ads
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Family Physician (Our Family Doctor)
PA or FNP (Asheville Internal Medicine)
Classifieds:
2 Bed/1Bath Condo near Mission
Doctor's Office for Lease
To find out how you can post a Job or Classified Ad Click here. |
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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, MPA
WCMS CEO/Executive Director
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