VITAL SIGNS
  Weekly e-News of the  Western Carolina Medical Society 
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August 23, 2017
In This Issue:
Sponsor Message: EmergeOrtho (Left)
Newcomers' Picnic Registration
Save the Date for Fall Healthy Healer Retreat
MAHEC Job Fair 9/20/2017
Cherokee Hospital Pharmacy distributing Narcan
Mission reveals transition plan
Blue Cross Blue Shield removes Mission Health providers from directory
Mission Health Calls BCBS' removal of providers from online directory "overt and senseless action"
From CCWNC: QI Minute
Upcoming MAHEC Events
WCMS Launches New Preferred Partner Program
WCMS Job Board
UPCOMING EVENTS 

Newcomers' Picnic 9/24: Register Now!
Registration is now open for our Newcomers' Picnic! Join us for this fun, inter-generational event at Yesterday Spaces farm in Leicester. All WCMS physician members and their families are invited to attend-you don't have to be a "newcomer!" Colleagues, significant others and kids are welcome! We'll have dinner, drinks, lawn games, a bonfire and more. September 24 from 4-7pm.
Save the Date: Healthy Healer Retreat Featuring Rebecca Sotile Fallon 11/4/17
Also mark your calendars for the 2017 Healthy Healer retreat,  Medicine and Family: New Challenges; New Solutions, presented by Rebecca Fallon of the Sotile Center for Resilience. This years retreat will focus on relational health and coping with changes at home and in the work place. The retreat will be held Saturday, November 4th at the Montreat Conference Center. 
 

MAHEC Job Fair 9/20/17
Bringing MAHEC Residents in touch with practice opportunities in WNC.  Reserve your spot today! Space is limited to 30 practice sites and includes 2 representatives per site. Click here for more details
LOCAL NEWS
 
Cherokee Hospital Pharmacy distributing Narcan 
In an effort to reduce opioid overdose deaths in the community, the Cherokee Indian Hospital Pharmacy has begun distributing naloxone, sometimes referred to by the brand name Narcan, kits free of charge to the public.

"Patients who are eligible to receive medications from the Pharmacy only need to check-in at one of the front windows to request a kit," said Jason White, Cherokee Indian Hospital chief pharmacist.  "The pharmacist does a chart review and an order for the kit is placed and processed under a standing physician order.  We require and provide education for the patient on how to use the kit.  In the state of North Carolina, patients do not need to see a doctor to procure a Narcan kit from a pharmacy, and we take the same approach at CIH Pharmacy."  Read entire article here
Mission reveals transition plan as standoff with Blue Cross Blue Shield continues 
Mission on Thursday announced a transition plan that will cover everyone with BCBSNC insurance coverage, including consumers with BCBSNC commercial insurance coverage and BCBSNC Medicare Advantage p lans.  View plan here
Blue Cross Blue Shield removes Mission Health providers from directory amid contract dispute
Negotiations between Mission Health and North Carolina's largest healthcare plan have still not been resolved.   In July, Mission Health announced its plan to terminate contracts with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) after the parties failed to reach an agreement following six months of negotiations.

As of Oct. 5, Mission Health facilities will be out of network for BCBSNC customers if they fail to reach a deal. The healthcare plan provider makes up 72 percent of the market share, making it the state's largest plan.  Read article here
 Mission Health calls BCBS' removal of providers from online directory 'overt and senseless action'
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina in Durham removed Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health System providers from its online directory ahead of a looming Oct. 5 contract deadline, the health system reported.

The move is the latest event in the organizations' ongoing contract dispute first publicized in early July. On its recently launched " Stand with Mission" website, Mission wrote, "BCBSNC has removed all Mission Health providers from its online directory, with the exclusion of Medicare Advantage. This overt and senseless action has created unnecessary confusion for BCBSNC members. Most Mission Health providers are in network with BCBSNC until midnight on October 4."  Read article here
ITEMS OF INTEREST
 
FROM CCWNC: QI Minute
Welcome to the QI Minute, short segments to introduce the pay-for- performance model. Each segment will focus on core concepts that build the foundation for CCWNC network practice support.Topics include population health management, care coordination, team-based care, quality improvement and more. See our next installment:

Contact Carrie Petler, QI Team Lead for more information.
Upcoming MAHEC Events
Treating Pain Safer: Fewer Opioids and Better Results Controlled Substances Education for Prescribers

When : August 29, 2017, October 24, 2017 Register here

Mountain Children's Network - Unraveling Liver Function Tests

When: August 31, 2017   6:00 PM-8:00 PM Register here
WCMS Launches New Preferred Partner Program
WCMS is now offering a unique partnership program allowing medical practices and local businesses an upgraded sponsorship & advertising opportunity. The program is intended to help organizations gain exposure to the WNC medical community and general public through multiple avenues.  Benefits to being a Preferred Partner include things such as sponsorship of our Annual Celebration or Newcomers' Picnic, exposure on the WCMS website and in our multiple e-Newsletters, ad space in our physician directory, and more!

We're thrilled to announce that our first Gold Level Preferred Partner is EmergeOrtho (formerly Blue Ridge Bone & Joint) and they will be sponsoring our Newcomers' Picnic in September!

To learn more about our Preferred Partner program, please  contact us !
WCMS Job Board
Medical office space available for a 1-2 provider practice to share with an established wellness/GYN solo practitioner.  We are most interested in office based practitioners of lifestyle, integrative, or functional medicine.  Please contact Erin Elliot at (828)489-3942 for more information. 
 


If you are a 100% Member Practice, posting job openings here is FREE!  Click here for more information. 
WCMS is a thriving 650+ 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