Western Carolina Medical Society: The Physicians' Voice for a Health Community
VITAL SIGNS
 Weekly e-News of the Western Carolina Medical Society 
  Sponsor Message:

 


QUICK LINKS
Newsroom

Preferred Vendors

Project Access

  

WCMS Interpreter Network

  

Boards of Directors

Join Our Mailing List
Like on Facebook

April 8, 2015
WCMS Circle of Friends: Van Winkle Law Firm & Johnson Prics Sprinkle, PA


In This Issue:
Catamaran - Sponsor Message (Left)
MAHEC CME (April)
Women in Medicine Affinity Group April 13
Save the date: Early Career Affinity Group April 29
Hospitals Set to Lose with Sales Tax Refund Reduction
How the Affordable Care Act Changed Mission Health
Expanding Medicaid Would Help Hospital
Looking for Volunteers for Heartstrings Fundraiser
House Bill Calls for Changes in Medicaid Oversight
Public Health Alert
CMS Proposes Mental Health Parity Rule for Medicaid and CHIP
Inside Surgery at Mission
It's Lonely in the Middle: Political Gulf in N.C. Widening
Job Board & Classified Ads
UPCOMING EVENTS 
 
MAHEC CME (April)
MAHEC regularly provides courses for CME credit.
Check out our website calendar to see upcoming opportunities. Here are the next few events:
4/16 - Motivational Interviewing (Evening)
4/30 - Parkinson Disease (Evening) 
Women in Medicine Affinity Group

Join the WCMS Women In Medicine Affinity Group on Monday, April 13 at 6:00 pm at Isa's Bistro in downtown Asheville for wine, hors d'oeuvres and an 'Ask the Expert' discussion with a panel of female advisors from Parsec Financial.
The discussion will focus on financial planning for women, such as: 

  • What are your financial goals?
  • Why are they important to you?
  • How do we get there?

Parsec representatives include: 

  • Ashley Woodring- Financial Advisor and Director of Marketing
  • Harli Palme, CFA, CFP® - Chief Compliance Office and Director of Wealth Management
  • Sarah DerGarabedian, CFA - Portfolio Manager
  • Carrie Tallman, CFA - Director of Research

Click here to register for the event

Early Career Affinity Group - Save the date
The Early Career Affinity Group will meet on Wednesday, April 29 at the Thirsty Monk South (Biltmore Park). Look for your official invitation soon.
LOCAL NEWS
 

Hospitals Set to Lose with Sales Tax Refund Reduction

"Pardee Hospital would lose roughly $1.4 million per year if a bill working its way through the state Senate becomes law," the hospital's chief financial officer said this week.

How the Affordable Care Act Changed Mission Health

Mission Health System's top executive says the federal Affordable Care Act has made big changes at the company despite a decision by state lawmakers to avoid a key part of the law.

Expanding Medicaid Would Help Hospital 

ASHEVILLE - The Emergency Department is a great place to look to illustrate how expanding Medicaid would have helped Mission Hospital.

North Carolina was among the 21 states that did not expand government health coverage for the poor under the federal Affordable Care Act.

Click here to read more 

Looking for Volunteers: Are you the proud parents of students needing honor society service hours? 

Volunteers are needed for the Heartstrings Kids' Zone Fundraiser

Mountain Sports Festival - Carrier Park

May 23rd-24th 

Contact Emilee Dickerson for more details

STATE NEWS
 

House Bill Calls for Changes in Medicaid Oversight

The state House version of a controversial Medicaid reform initiative has been introduced and calls for drastic oversight changes in an attempt to create more accountability and transparency.

Click here to read more 

Public Health Alert: April has been Designated "Tick and Mosquito Awareness Month"

Arboviral Diseases:
Per North Carolina law, neuroinvasive arboviral diseases are reportable by health care providers to their local health department. These infections are transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito and the spectrum of illness ranges from asymptomatic to fever, altered mental status, and acute signs of central or peripheral neurologic dysfunction and, rarely, death.

To continue reading about arboroviral diseases, click here.

 

Introduction:
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease caused by an alphavirus, chikungunya virus. Although transmission in the United States has only been documented in Florida to date, local transmission within North Carolina is possible, as a competent mosquito vector (Ae. albopictus) is found throughout North Carolina.

To continue reading about chikungunya, click here.

 

Lyme Disease:
The North Carolina Division of Public Health (DPH) would like to ensure that health care providers consider the possibility of LD when appropriate. The diagnosis of LD should be based on a combination of symptoms, physical findings, the possibility of exposure to infected ticks, and laboratory results.

To continue reading about Lyme disease, click here.
 

NATIONAL NEWS
 

CMS Proposes Mental Health Parity Rule for Medicaid and CHIP

Proposed rule will strengthen access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits for low-income Americans

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced  on 4/6/15 a proposed rule to align mental health and substance use disorder benefits for low-income Americans with benefits required of private health plans and insurance. 
ITEMS OF INTEREST
 
Inside Surgery at Mission
Click here to see images.
It's Lonely in the Middle: Political Gulf in N.C. Widening 
Click here to read Dr. Dowler's article. 
Job Board & Classified Ads
Job Board: 
Physician (MedPlus Disability Evaluations)
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
WCMS Association: WCMSA is the physicians' voice advocating for the health of the physician, the patient, and the community, through strengthening the physician-patient relationship.

WCMS Foundation: WCMSF is the physician and community-led charitable arm of the medical society improving access to quality healthcare, decreasing disparities in health, and promoting health & wellness.   


 

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