VITAL SIGNS
 Weekly e-News of the Western Carolina Medical Society 
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February 22, 2017
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In This Issue:
Sponsor Message: Membership Now Open to PAs (Left)
Weigh In: Senator Rand Paul's Obamacare Replacement Act - Yea or Nay?
Register Now: Independent Affinity Group 3/13/17
Register Now: WCMS Emeritus Group 3/15/17
Attend White Coat Wednesday in Raleigh 3/22/17
Register Now: Integrative Health Care Across the Lifespan 4/29/17
Changes to WCMS 2017 Association Board Slate
Message from the Foundation Board Chair Dr. Britt Peterson
1st Meeting of Early Career Affinity Group
Public Health Alert for Providers from BCHHS
Bowtie Briefing for 2/17/17
The Healthy Healer
WCMS Job Board
Weigh In: Senator Rand Paul's Obamacare Replacement Act - Yea or Nay? 
WCMS wants to hear your voice on healthcare issues that matter. Each week we'll present two sides of an issue and ask our members to weigh in!
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UPCOMING EVENTS 
 
Register Now: Independent Affinity Group 3/13/17
As healthcare shifts away from patient satisfaction & towards patient experience, it is important for physicians, practice executives and staff to understand how this shift in ideology will impact their practice.

Physicians & PAs
Practice Managers & Executives
Office Staff

- Examine the components of the patient experience
- Explore how a great patient experience can impact quality, safety, staff engagement & financial results.
- Develop tools to improve the patient experience and exceed patient expectations
- Recognize the importance of raising awareness of the patient experience and spreading culture change throughout the practice
- Learn techniques to better engage physicians, providers, patients & families to provide safer and more effective care
Register Now: WCMS Emeritus Group 3/15/17
Dr. Jeff Heck will provide an update on all that is happening at MAHEC. Look for your mailed invitations soon. 
Attend White Coat Wednesday in Raleigh 3/22/17
Join WCMS CEO Miriam Schwarz and member physicians to meet with state representatives and discuss upcoming legislation.
Physicians attending:
Dr. Samantha Read-Smith, Asheville Hospitalist Group
Dr. MaryShell Zaffino, Blue Ridge Community Health Services
Dr. Michael Parmer, CarePartners Hospice & Palliative Care
Dr. Mark McNeill, Trillium Family Health
Dr. Scott Langford
If you're interested in attending, contact [email protected].
We'll also be going on June 14.
Register Now: Integrative Health Care Across the Lifespan 4/29/17
The 2017 Integrative Healthcare Conference is an annual regional event where healthcare providers across disciplines gather to collaborate and learn about evidence-based integrative healthcare approaches across the life span. This seminar is appropriate for physicians, advance practice providers, mental health providers, nurses, social workers, and counselors. 
Click here for more information. 
LOCAL NEWS
 
Changes to WCMS 2017 Association Board Slate
Dr. Frank Sutton, has resigned as WCMS' Association Board President due to work commitments. On 2/8/17, the Board met for its first quarterly meeting, and per the bylaws, the board nominated and voted to approve the following officers:
Dr. MaryShell Zaffino, Blue Ridge Community Health Services, President
Dr. Raymond Thertulien, Asheville Hematology & Oncology, President Elect
Dr. Mark McNeill, Trillium Family Medicine, Treasurer
Dr. Michael Parmer, CarePartners Hospice & Palliative Care, Secretary
Message from the Foundation Board Chair Dr. Britt Peterson
These are not times of stability for us in the world of health care. Whether or not you were supportive of the Affordable Care Act, there is clearly an effort in Washington to change course. As we have yet to see what replacement strategy/plan will arise out of the ashes of the ACA, it is unclear what the new lay of the land in the healthcare world will be once the legislative process in the current US Congress is all said and done.  
Click here to continue reading. 
1st Meeting of Early Career Affinity Group

The Early Career Affinity Group had a great meeting at Catawba Brewing on February 15th. The physicians were joined by two representatives from Parsec Financial who hosted a casual Q&A. Parsec answered a wide variety of questions ranging from retirement planning to college saving accounts to paying down student loan debt. We hope to repeat this event again later in the year!
Public Health Alert for Providers from BCHHS: Increase in Reports of Varicella (Chickenpox) Illness 
Buncombe County Health and Human Services recently has seen an increase in varicella cases in some local schools. While varicella is not a reportable disease, outbreaks are common and we work with school nurses and school administrators to prevent further spread, especially to vulnerable populations.
Click here to view full press release.
STATE NEWS
 
Bowtie Briefing for 2/17/17

ITEMS OF INTEREST
 
The Healthy Healer
WCMS Job Board

If you are a 100% Member Practice, posting job openings here is FREE! 
Click here for more information. 
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. WCMS is an organization run by physicians, for physicians. In 2017, WCMS opened membership to physician assistants.

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