Sponsor Message:
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Registration now open for WCMS' Healthy Healer Retreat: Medicine & Family: New Challenges; New Solutions
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In this entertaining and thought-provoking seminar, noted speaker Rebecca Fallon of the Sotile Center for Resilience and Center for Physician Resilience, will shed light on the inner workings of contemporary medical providers and their families who manage to have it all: productive careers, high levels of collaboration and collegiality in the medical workplace, and thriving personal lives. Drawing material from the Sotiles' books, over 15 years of clinical and consulting experiences, and her practice's ground-breaking research with medical families, Rebecca will teach practical strategies that can immediately make a difference in your work and family relationships, regardless of how you define "family."
This event is FREE for all WCMS Members. Discounts apply for non-member physicians and PAs of Gold Level sponsoring hospitals. $75 for non-member physicians and PAs. Significant others attend free of charge! CME will be offered and we'll be giving a copy of the Sotile's book "Letting Go of What's Holding you Back" to all attending physicians and PAs.
Register online today
HERE!
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| We Look Forward to Seeing you at WCMS' Newcomers' Picnic |
Last chance to register for our Newcomers' Picnic! For those who have registered, we are so thrilled for you to 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.
Register here.
September 24 from 4-7pm.
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Mission Health president does not expect a BCBS agreement in 2017
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President and CEO of Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health System Ron Paulus, MD, told
Citizen-Times
negotiations between the health system and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina in Durham are nonexistent.
A contract between the two parties ends Oct. 5. However, their negotiations are "basically nowhere," Dr. Paulus said. Mission Health
declared
plans July 5 to leave BCBSNC's provider network due to rate reductions. In response, BCBSNC said it would not negotiate with Mission Health until it lifted the termination. Read full article here.
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"Listen To America" HuffPost Bus Tour in Asheville Sept. 25
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What: Morning Discussion - "A conversation about women's health and rural hospitals"
Moderators: Frank Taylor, Managing editor of Carolina Public Press and Meredith Melnick, editor of The Scope and Executive health and science editor of HuffPost
Panelists: Jacqueline Sitton, Family Nurse Practitioner with Park Ridge Health Pediatrics; Dr. Beth Buys, division director of OB/GYN for Mountain Area Health and Education Center (MAHEC); Lucretia Stargell, Vice President, business and service line development for Harrison Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital; Steve Heatherly, CEO of Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital.
When: Monday, Sept. 25, 8:30am-10:30am
Where: Asheville Visitors' Center, Lenoir-Rhyne University's Center for Graduate Studies View full event
here?
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Public Health Provider Alert From BCHHS: Updated Guidance on Care of Pregnant Women With Possible Zika Exposure
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In 2016, 103 travel-associated cases of Zika virus disease were reported in NC. So far in 2017 (as of 8/30/17), there have been 7 cases reported in NC.
- So far, all reported cases of Zika virus infection in NC have been associated with travel. Read full health alert here.
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FROM NCMB: Your "quick start" guide to the STOP Act of 2017
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This June, Gov. Roy Cooper signed the Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act of 2017 into law. The Act is intended to stem the opioid epidemic that has had such a severe impact in North Carolina, primarily by establishing practices aimed at reducing inappropriate and excessive opioid prescribing.
The Board has prepared a short summary of the Act that highlights provisions that will have the most direct impact on licensees. STOP Act provisions are listed in order of their effective dates. An expanded summary that includes information on additional provisions of the law that affect NCMB licensees is available at www.ncmedboard.org/safeopioids. Read full article here.
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ACA repeal revived
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Senate Republicans' last-gasp Obamacare repeal effort is gaining steam, with key senators who tanked the last push in July signaling new openness to the latest attempt and GOP leaders growing increasingly bullish.
While the proposal written by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) remains short of 50 votes, it also has just one hard "no" vote, from Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, and another expected "no" in Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Three "no" votes would kill the bill, but in an encouraging sign for repeal proponents, no one is stepping forward yet to deliver that final nail. Read full article
here.
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WCMS' Healthy Healer - FROM NCMB: Physician Burnout: A Coach's Perspective
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Study after study tells us there is an epidemic of burnout in our profession. As an emergency physician I have experienced it personally, and as a coach who works with physicians I see it every day in my clients.
The reasons for burnout are increasingly well understood. Rapid changes in healthcare have brought a loss of physician autonomy, increased administrative minutiae, and unreasonable performance expectations. These compound the more traditional challenges of constantly dealing with death and suffering, high-stakes decision making, and long, irregular work hours. Read more
here.
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FROM NCMB: Caring for pain patients in the midst of mounting opioids regulation
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This summer marked a milestone in North Carolina's efforts to stem the tide of opioid overdoses in the state with the passage of the Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act. The STOP Act aims to reduce overdose deaths through strategic provisions designed to prevent inappropriate and/or excessive opioid prescribing. NCMB supports these goals.
As Board President, I understand that the STOP Act contains necessary changes which, over time, should reduce the supply of prescription opioids circulating in NC and prevent patient harm. As a practicing physician, I cannot help but worry about the negative impact these changes may have on patients depending on how clinicians respond to intensified government and regulatory scrutiny. Read full article
here.
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2017 Great American Physician Survey Results
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In the 8th rendition of the Physicians Practice survey, 826 physicians were polled and revealed their attitudes towards their personal and professional lives. Overall, physicians say government regulations and third-party interference continues to be the largest barrier to good healthcare for patients. More than 40% of respondents said this was the case, up from 37.4% in last year's survey. Read results
here.
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2017 Recipient of the Dr. Brian Ling Memorial Scholarship Selected
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WCMS is pleased to announce that Asheville High School student Justin Sech has been awarded the scholarship. Justin is an excellent student eager to continue his education and well-deserving of this award.
Justin sent us a lovely hand-written note: "Thank you so much for this scholarship. I could not feel more honored to help carry on Dr. Ling's legacy. I've known his heartbreaking story from well before I applied for this scholarship and know his face well from passing by his portrait during my time volunteering at Mission Hospital over my summers. With this scholarship, I will help fund my education at Johns Hopkins University, where I intend to study Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, with a deep interest in pursuing medical research. I hope to one day use my education to help advance modern medicine and make my contribution toward a healthier, happier future." Read more
here.
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PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT CORNER
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Pay difference persists between male and female physician assistants
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Add another study to the pile that finds disparity between how men and women are paid-this one focused on compensation for physician assistants.
Research by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) found that female
PAs
are compensated 89 cents for every dollar paid to their male colleagues. That's unacceptable for one of the fastest growing health professions, which is almost 70% female, the AAPA said in an
announcement
. Read full article
here
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WCMS Job Board
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Medical Office Space: 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.
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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,
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| Miriam Schwarz |
Miriam Schwarz, MPA
WCMS CEO/Executive Director
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