Western Carolina Medical Society: The Physicians' Voice for a Health Community
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February 17, 2016


In This Issue:
Sponsor Message: JPS (left)
Register Now: Medical Education in WNC: The Next Decade 2/25/16
Register Now: Women In Medicine 3/10/2016
Register Now: Emeritus Luncheon 3/16/2016
Save the Date: Independent Physicians Affinity Group 4/4/2016
Register Now: Heart of the Healer Retreat 4/16/2016
New Members of WCMS
BCDH Health Update: Zika Virus
Key Election Dates
Bowtie Briefing for 2/12/16
CMS, AHIP Agree to 7 Sets of Clinical Quality Standards
Preventing Burnout: Finding Joy in Medicine
Job Board & Classified Ads
UPCOMING EVENTS 
 
Register Now: Medical Education in WNC: The Next Decade 2/25/16 (MAHEC Event)
Join other physicians and faculty members to learn about exciting changes coming to medical education in Western North Carolina.

* Expansion of the UNC School of Medicine Asheville Campus
* Expansion of the Family Medicine Residency Program
* NEW General Surgery Residency Program
* NEW Psychiatry Residency Program
* NEW Simulation Lab on the MAHEC Campus
* NEW Tower at Mission Hospital
* NEW Rural Hubs Being Established in the Region

Click here for more information and to register.
Register Now: Women In Medicine 3/10/2016
All female physician members are invited to our next Women in Medicine Affinity Group meeting. This is a chance to connect with each other, enjoy a time of collegiality/networking and discuss relevant content to women in the practice of medicine. 

When: Thursday, March 10th from 6pm-8pm

Where: Samantha Read-Smith's home in North Asheville

Topic: "Avoiding the Superwoman Complex" with Dr. Nicole Swiner

Dr. Swiner is a family medicine/general medicine expert, covering a broad spectrum of both medical and mental health issues. As a wife and mother of two, she uses real-life experiences to clearly communicate keys to better health and wellness for mind, body and spirit. Through straight talk, anecdotes and humor, Dr. Swiner captivates diverse audiences with candor and grace.

(please RSVP for accurate headcount)
Register Now: Emeritus Luncheon 3/16/2016
WCMS Emeritus members are invited to attend our first quarterly meeting of 2016 featuring Dr. Chad Haldeman-Englert who will be presenting 
"Fullerton Genetics Center: Clinical and Laboratory Genetics in Western North Carolina."

(please RSVP for accurate headcount)
Save the Date: Independent Physicians Affinity Group 4/4/2016
WCMS board member Dr. Gus Vickery, will present on his innovative practice, Synergy Health Solutions, at the first Independent Physician Affinity Group on April 4, 2016 at the Asheville Event Center from 6-8 p.m. Dr. Vickery's model offers patients direct primary care outside the traditional payer model, increasing affordability and accessibility for the patient while reducing paperwork for his staff. 
Click here to read our full interview with Dr. Vickery, and watch for registration to open next week. 
Register Now: Heart of the Healer Retreat 4/16/2016
This retreat will equip physicians with practical and field-tested tools to prevent and treat burnout in themselves and their colleagues. WCMS' first Burnout-Prevention Retreat in August 2015 was a resounding success. The second event will build on what we learned last last year and delve deeper into various issues affecting burnout. 
  • Improve work-life balance
  • Prevent burnout
  • Reconnect with your Joy in Medicine
  • Earn 4.5 hours of CME
When: Saturday, April 16th from 10am-4pm. 

Where: Montreat Conference Center

* WCMS members attend FREE
* Significant others invited. Childcare available. 


LOCAL NEWS
 
New Members of WCMS
Click here to view our newest members. 
BCDH Health Update: Zika Virus
Click here for updated guidance for Zika Virus diagnosis, management and reporting (replaces guidance of 1/28/16). 
STATE NEWS
 
Key Election Dates
Friday, 2/19/16: Regular voter registration deadline for Primary Election.
Thursday, 3/3/16: One stop early voting begins. See ncsbe.gov
Tuesday, 3/8/16: Last day to request a mail-in absentee ballot
Saturday, 3/12/16: One stop early voting ends
Tuesday, 3/15/16: Election day. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 a.m.
Bowtie Briefing for 2/12/16: Election Update
NCMS Director of Legislative Relations Chip Baggett shares his latest "Bowtie Briefing," focusing on the upcoming primary elections and on two races where physicians are running for seats in the NC House and Senate.
Click here to view the video.
NATIONAL NEWS
 
CMS, AHIP Agree to 7 Sets of Clinical Quality Standards 
This work is the first of the Core Quality Measures Collaborative participants and informs the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) as it lays out a development plan for quality measures, according to the press release.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
 
Preventing Burnout: Finding Joy in Medicine
Amaryllis Sanchez Wohlever, MD | Physician | January 21, 2016
Healing Patients Shouldn't be Killing Doctors

Healing others shouldn't be killing you. This warning in a physician recruitment ad pulled me in, while an image of a choking stethoscope triggered flashbacks of my years in medicine. Many physicians feel like they're choking. Squeezed in from every angle. Stretched to the max. Spent.
Click here to continue reading on KevinMD.com
Job Board & Classified Ads

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

WCMS is a thriving 700+ 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