"As a regional medical society, our aim is to represent all of the physicians of Western North Carolina.  We were the Buncombe County Medical Society from 1885-2011. Now we are the Western Carolina Medical Society, representing 15 additional counties: Rutherford, McDowell, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Polk, Transylvania, Henderson, Haywood, Jackson, Clay, Swain, Macon, Graham, and Cherokee. We were very intentional about expanding to the entire region, knowing that by working together regionally physicians have a tremendous impact on improving patient care locally.  Additionally, expansion to a regional society has served to make WNC physicians a known entity in Raleigh.

But, we face barriers to coming together. The necessary adaptations to the changes in the health care system have led to the increasing compartmentalization of physicians regarding the location, scope and setting of their practice..."

Continue reading the message from D. Gus Vickery, MD, WCMS President

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

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.

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.

For physicians, residents and mid-level providers. Friday, May 2.

Click here for more information on this MAHEC event.

www.mywcms.org/HeartStrings2014

White Coat Wednesday is your chance to learn more about the ins-and-outs of the government affairs and how best to approach your legislator regarding health care issues. The NCMS will hold a briefing in the morning with tips on "dos and don'ts" in relaying your message to your legislator and on the hot-button medical and patient issues currently in the spotlight at the General Assembly.

Following this briefing, head down with NCMS staff members to the General Assembly and meet one-on-one with your legislator; take part in committee meetings and see the General Assembly in action; and begin building relationships with your legislators for the future.

To sign up, contact Miriam Schwarz at Miriam@mywcms.org or 274-2267 x 312. For more information about WCW, click here.

Sales ending soon! The 2013-2014 Directories are almost sold out and sales will officially end on April 30th. 

Want to order a 2013-2014 Directory before they're gone?  Go to www.mywcms.org/BlueBook and pay online or download an order form.

This is a comprehensive regional directory of physicians, produced by WCMS that:

• Includes physicians and practices from all 16 WNC counties
• Is pocket size for easy access
• Has a discounted price for practices with 100% members of WCMS! 

Have questions or need to know if you're part of a 100% member practice? Email us at membership@mywcms.org

Even with the Affordable Care Act, nearly 21% Buncombe County residents remain uninsured. Many are too poor (fall 100% below the FPL) to qualify for the Affordable Care Act and without Medicaid expansion these individuals are more in need of programs such as WCMS's Project Access® than ever before.

Every year WCMS holds its annual Heartstrings Event to help fund Project Access®. To celebrate its 12th year, Heartstrings is turning up the fun with a Family Fun Challenge on Sunday, May 25 from 1pm to 4pm at Asheville's popular Mountain Sports Festival (MSF) at Carrier Park.

Read more.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, a time to remind our patients and our friends to protect their skin and to be screened regularly.

This year, however, doctors across North Carolina are also using May to focus on legislation to keep teens out of tanning beds and protect them from the dangers of UV radiation.

According to research confirmed by the American Academy of Dermatology, teens and young adults who begin tanning before the age of 35 have a 59 percent higher risk of melanoma. And just one indoor tanning session increases the user's risk of melanoma by 20 percent. 

 

Continue reading. 

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:

1. Download the free app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. 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).
3. Start using DocbookMD to contact your colleagues! 

Over ninety of your colleagues have already signed up for this free member benefit. Start communicating with them today.