Western Carolina Medical Society: The Physicians' Voice for a Health Community
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October 8, 2014
WCMS Circle of Friends: Van Winkle Law Firm & Johnson Prics Sprinkle, PA
In This Issue:
Van Winkle Law Firm- Sponsor Message (Left)
NC State Candidate Forum
Retirement Celebration for Drs. Frank Moretz & James Brown
Women in Medicine Affinity Group
Networking Forum on Advance Care Planning
Meaningful Use & Quality Improvement: Getting Paid
Lead Through Change: The Healthcare Issue
Alert from BCDH: Updated Ebola Guidance for NC Providers
Whatever You Do, VOTE!
Patients Challenged to Easily Locate Practice Accepting New Patients
Return of Obamacare in NC Likely with Less Drama
The Family Health Centers Recognized as Small Business of the Month
Job Board & Classified Ads
UPCOMING EVENTS 
 
NC State Candidate Forum (10/9) 
Thursday, Oct. 9th  6-8 pm at Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center (258 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801)
  • Candidates for NC State Senate (Districts 48 and 49):
    • District 48 is Henderson County: Apodaca (R incumbent) vs. Rick Wood (D candidate).
    • District 49 is Buncombe County: Terry Van Duyn (D incumbent) vs. Mark Crawford (R candidate).
  • Candidates for NC House of Representatives (Districts 115 and 116):
    • District 115 is Buncombe County: Ramsey (R incumbent) vs. Ager (D candidate)
    • District 116 is Buncombe County: Moffitt (R incumbent) vs. Turner (D candidate)
Click here for more information.
Retirement Celebration for Drs. Frank Moretz & James Brown (10/12)
Retirement party for Dr. Frank Moretz & Dr. Jim Brown
Sunday, October 12
4pm to 6:30pm
Highland Brewing Company

The evening will include a cash bar, food available for purchase form Cici's Culinary tour and two live bands (Carolina Blue, a bluegrass band, and Blues Crew, Dr. Andrew Hart's blues band).  Weather permitting, it will be hosted in the outdoor field at Highlands Brewery, otherwise it will be in the tasting room. 

Please RSVP if you know you'll be attending to give an idea on head count.  
Women in Medicine Affinity Group (10/15)  
Join the WCMS Women In Medicine Section on Wednesday, October 15th at 6:00pm at the Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar, downtown Asheville.

Come join us for a relaxing evening of good wine, great conversation with your fellow female physicians and a discussion about understanding financial reporting led by Mary Williams Matthews of Johnson Price Sprinkle.

Register now.
Networking Forum on Advance Care Planning (10/16) & (10/17)  
We all know that when done well, planning ahead for a medical crisis or for end-of-life care (a.k.a. advance care planning) leads to clearer guidance for healthcare providers, better care for individuals and peace of mind for their loved ones.

Please join us for a regional meeting in either Asheville or Franklin. This meeting is an opportunity to network with colleagues involved in advance care planning from all sectors of our community including faith,  healthcare, aging services, human resources, and others.

Thursday Nov. 16th in Asheville
Friday Nov. 17th in Franklin

Click here for more details.
Meaningful Use & Quality Improvement: Getting Paid (11/6)   
MAHEC Center for Quality Improvement team is hosting an evening of informative presentations and focused break-out sessions tailored to diverse practice needs.  

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid E.H.R. incentive program has changed dramatically over the past year. With the new final ruling made on August 29th, your practice may be eligible to "change the course" of your Meaningful Use path. Learn field tested tips for maximizing your MU incentive payments and get paid for quality improvement (e.g., transition of care visits, e-visits, Patient-Centered Medical Home).

Thursday, November 6th at 5pm

Click here for more information or to register.
Lead Through Change: The Healthcare Issue (11/12)  
This event offers access to high quality leadership experts that will equip those affected by dramatic shifts in the healthcare industry with immediate, proven ideas and techniques designed to help them Lead Through Change.

Live in Asheville, Broadcast across the nation.

Speakers include Dr. John Maxwell, Tom Daschle, Dr. William H. Frist and Dr. Ronald A. Paulus.

Click here for more information.
LOCAL NEWS 
Alert from BCDH: Updated Ebola Guidance for NC Providers
Due to the first diagnosed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the US, the NC Division of Public Health (NC DPH) is pushing out updated guidance for medical providers and reminding providers of their critical role in identifying and isolating suspected cases.

Click here for information.

Also, checkout recent story: Mission Hospital Braces For Ebola.
Whatever You Do, VOTE!
Election Day is November 4th.  Are you registered to vote?  If not, head to this site this minute and register, because the deadline is 10/10/14.

Good.  Now that you are registered, do you know about early voting?  Do you know all the races where you are eligible to vote?  Do you know about all or even many of the candidates who are running? 

If you don't have good answers to those questions, go to the Board of Elections website

If you want to see how incumbents have voted on health issues, check out this site.

If your schedule is booked on November 4th and you think you can't make it to the polls, then vote by absentee ballot. Absentee voting allows registered voters to vote on a day other than Election Day. There are three types of absentee voting in North Carolina. Click here for more information.
Patients Challenged to Easily Locate Practice Accepting New Patients  
Every week, WCMS receives phone calls from patients who are having difficulty locating a practice in their area that is taking new patients. To help patients locate practices open to new patients, we have started a small (but growing) list on our website here. Please take a look.

If you wish to add to it, please send your information to Kristina Isenhour at [email protected]. We will update these data twice annually.
STATE NEWS 
 
Return of Obamacare in NC Likely with Less Drama
ITEMS OF INTEREST 
 
Member Announcement: The Family Health Centers Recognized as Small Business of the Month 
Congratulations to The Family Health Centers, recognized by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce as the Small Business of the Month!

Read on for the interview with The Family Health Centers.
Job Board & Classified Ads
Job Board:
Family Physician  (Family Care of Fairview)
Orthopedic Joint Replacement Surgeon  (Pardee Hospital)
Family Physician  (North Buncombe Family Medicine)
Coding & AR Billing Administrator  (Asheville Radiology)
Quality Improvement Consultant  (MAHEC)
Medical Interpreter  (WCMS)

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

WCMS is a thriving 750 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,

Photo: Miriam Schwarz, WCMS CEO
Miriam Schwarz

 

Miriam Schwarz signature




 

Miriam Schwarz, MPA

WCMS CEO/Executive Director