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President's Message - "Vision of What It Means to be a Physician"
| Below are excerpts from Dr. Gus Vickery's last president's message.
"I don't think most of us were focused on our economic value when we received our acceptance to medical school. Most of us probably had some individualized vision of what it meant to be a physician. I would imagine most of us were excited about the potential to make a difference in peoples' lives, to improve the health of our communities and to collaborate with other professionals who possess a passion for medical science and its ability to do good. What happened to that passion, that vision?
We have allowed insurance companies, healthcare systems and others to define who we are. We have been divided and pitted against one another. We have allowed those around us to wear us down.
I believe our challenge is to make sure that we are empowered to be advocates for our patients, that we are clear about our moral compass, and that we have the freedom to direct patient care. We can't do that alone; it must be done collectively as a profession. It is time for us in a powerful and unified manner to communicate to each other and to our communities who we are and what our vision is for our profession."
Gus Vickery, MD
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Tonight: Early Career Affinity Group (12/10)
| Tonight is our last Affinity Group of the year. We hope any physicians within their first 10 years of practice will come out to enjoy camaraderie with peers, plus good food/drink. The hors d'ouevres and your first drink are on us!
When: Wednesday, December 10th 6pm - 8pm
Where: Blue Kudzu Sake Company, River Arts District in Asheville
Feel free to come out tonight even if you didn't RSVP. Or you can still RSVP here.
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Emeritus December Luncheon (12/16)
| When: Tuesday, December 16, 2014
12:00pm - 1:30pm
Where: The Country Club of Asheville
170 Windsor Rd
Asheville, NC 28804
Speaker: Dr. Emilie Ralston with Asheville Radiology Associates
Topic: Dr. Ralston will be presenting on the topic of 3D mammography and other issues surrounding breast cancer screening. This topic is of particular interest as the new 3D equipment becomes available very soon.
Click here to register to attend.
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Save the Date- Annual Celebration (1/25)
| Please mark your calendar for an evening of food, music and camaraderie with fellow physicians, and a chance to meet your new WCMS Board leaders.
Sunday, January 25th
6pm - 9pm
Highland Brewing Company in Asheville
Look for your official invitation in January! Thanks to our Sponsors:
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WCMS Physicians Meet with Rep. Brian Turner
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On Thursday evening Dec. 4th, Drs. Craig Martin, Bob Henderson, Gus Vickery, Frank Sutton, Britt Peterson, and medical student Brittany Papworth, CEO Miriam Schwarz and Membership Coordinator Kristina Isenhour met with Rep. Turner.
We covered the big ticket items important to WCMS: Mental Health, Medicaid reform, Medicaid expansion, scope of practice, and tort reform.
We look forward to more legislative visits as the 2015 Session in Raleigh draws near!
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New Hospital for McDowell on the Way
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For some time, Mission Health has looked to replace the hospital in Marion with a more up-to-date facility. "This hospital is over 30 years old and a lot of the infrastructure is failing," said Boggs. Read article.
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WCMS Partners with Haywood Regional Medical Center on Free Health Carnival
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WCMS is partnering with Haywood Regional Medical Center for a health insurance marketplace counseling event. This event will feature information and assistance in signing up for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Click here for more information.
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The WCMS Physician Directory (Blue Book)
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 The 2014-2015 "Blue Book" is available for your practice! This is a comprehensive 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!
Practice and physician information changes frequently, so this directory has hundreds of updates from when the last book was published. To place an order, go to www.mywcms.org/BlueBook and pay online or download an order form. Have questions or need to know if you're part of a 100% member practice? Email us at membership@mywcms.org.
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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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Faces of the Uninsured: Spencer's Story
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Uninsured for many years, Spencer Fountain survived cancer thanks to Western Carolina Medical Society Foundation's Project Access program and WCMSF's Health Access Counselors. Watch Spencer's story.
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This Holiday Season Give the Gift of Access to Health Care
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 "I support WCMS because of Project Access®. Project Access® provides healthcare to individuals in our community who do not otherwise qualify for insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Through Project Access®, WCMS helps save lives." -Melissa Pennscott
Director of Marketing at Johnson Price Sprinkle
Member of the WCMS Foundation Development Council
See the impact your donation made last year.
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IT MADE ME SMILE
(New Section contributed by Mark Jaben, MD (WCMS Board Member)
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The ER: Holiday Sanctuary for the Broken
| In the next year, WCMS will be intentional about spotlighting stories from various physicians (local and national) that show ways they maintain their joy in the practice of medicine. Below is a segment relevant in this holiday season:
"During the holidays, it's easy for physicians and nurses to get frustrated by the tasks before us. This time of year, it's even more evident than at others that many of our patients aren't 'classically' sick. At least not in ways we thought we signed up to treat. What they are is sad, struggling and frightened. And what they seek is sanctuary -- as surely as their ancestors, our ancestors, knocked on the door of churches in the night."
Read full article.
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Job Board & Classified Ads
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Physician Extender (Henderson County Dept. of Public Health)
Bilingual Nurse or Certified MA (French Broad Pediatrics)
Orthopedic-Joint Replacement Surgeon (Pardee Hospital)
Medical Interpreter (WCMS)
To find out how you can post a Job or Classified Ad Click here. |
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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,
 | | Miriam Schwarz |
Miriam Schwarz, MPA
WCMS CEO/Executive Director
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