mecklenburg medicine september 2013

Mecklenburg County Medical Society • Mecklenburg Medical Alliance and EndowmentFounders of: Bioethics Resource Group, Ltd., Hospitality House of Charlotte, Teen Health Connection, N.C. MedAssist, Physicians Reach Out

Mecklenburg MedicineA Publication of the Mecklenburg County Medical Society | www.meckmed.org

September 2013 • Vol. 43, No. 8

Mecklenburg CountyMedical Society

Mental HealthPeace of Mind

2 | September 2013 • Mecklenburg Medicine

Novant Health Heart & Vascular InstituteEvery day, the team of experts at Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute is changing the landscape of cardiovascular care in our community. From pioneering innovative treatments to conducting leading-edge research, we’re dedicated to achieving the highest clinical quality and superior outcomes.

Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute is proud to bring the knowledge and experience of Hawthorne Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeons, Mid Carolina Cardiology, Presbyterian Novant Heart & Wellness and Presbyterian Pediatric Cardiology under one new name.

Whether we’re managing risk factors or performing life-saving surgery, we’re with our patients for every step of the journey to cardiovascular health.

Learn more at NovantHealth.org/heart

World-class cardiovascular physicians, nurses and technology working together to save lives

Mecklenburg Medicine • September 2013 | 3

Contents

September 2013Vol. 43 No. 8

OFFICERSJanice E. Huff, MD

PresidentJames B. Hall, MD

President-ElectSimon V. Ward III, MD

SecretaryStephen J. Ezzo, MD

TreasurerMaeve E. O’Connor, MDImmediate Past President

BOARD MEMBERSLloyd L. Bridges, MD

Raymond E. Brown, PAJonathan A. Buice, MD

Scott L. Furney, MDHarold R. Howe, Jr., MDScott L. Lindblom, MDJohn P. McBryde, MD

Cheryl L. Walker-McGill, MDThomas N. Zweng, MD

EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERSGretchen Allen

President, Mecklenburg MedicalAlliance & EndowmentKeia V. R. Hewitt, MD

President, Charlotte Medical SocietyDocia E. Hickey, MD

NCMS Speaker of the HouseStephen R. Keener, MD, MPH

Medical Director, Mecklenburg CountyHealth Department

Darlyne Menscer, MDNCMS Delegate to the AMA

Douglas R. Swanson, MD, FACEPMedical Director, Mecklenburg EMS Agency

EXECUTIVE STAFFSandi D. BuchananExecutive DirectorTrisha G. Herndon

Director, Meetings & Special EventsStephanie D. SmithExecutive Assistant

MECKLENBURG MEDICINE STAFFEditor

Mark E. Romanoff, MDManaging Editor

Sandi D. BuchananCopy Editor

Lee McCrackenAdvertising

Mark Ethridge 704-344-1980Editorial Board

N. Neil Howell, MDJanice E. Huff, MD

Jessica Schorr Saxe, MDGraphic Design — Wade Baker

Mecklenburg Medicine is published 10 times per year by the Mecklenburg County Medical Society, 1112 Harding Place, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28204. Opinions expressed by authors are their own, and not necessarily those of Mecklenburg Medicine or the Mecklenburg County Medical Society. Mecklenburg Medicine reserves the right to edit all contributions for clarity and length, as well as to reject any material submitted. Mecklenburg Medicine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.

Non-members may subscribe to Mecklenburg Medicine at a cost of $30 per year, or $3.50 per issue, if extra copies are available.

Classified Ads: Open to members, nonprofits and non-member individuals only; advance approval of the Managing Editor and advance payment required. Member rate is 0, non-members $20 for the first 30 words; $.75 each additional word.

Display Ads: Open to professional entities or commercial businesses. For specifications and rate information, call Mark Ethridge at 704-344-1980. Acceptance of advertising for this publication in no way constitutes professional approval or endorsement of products or services advertised herein.

We welcome your comments and suggestions:Call 704-376-3688 or write Mecklenburg Medicine, c/o Mecklenburg County Medical Society, 1112 Harding Place, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28204.

1112 Harding Place, #200, Charlotte, NC 28204704-376-3688 • FAX [email protected] 2013 Mecklenburg County Medical Society

Features 7 PROACT: Demonstrating Behavioral Health Integration

10 MeckLINK Behavioral Healthcare Leads Charlotte Community in International Anti-Stigma Campaign: “Pledge to Plant” Sunflowers of HOPE

11 An Update on ACA and the Federal Insurance Marketplace

In This Issue ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5 President’s Letter: Bliss

12 Charlotte AHEC Course Offerings for September

13 Member News

13 MCMS Board Highlights

14 Upcoming Meetings & Events

14 Specialty Society Meetings 2013-2014

15 At the Hospitals

18 National Health Observances for September

18 Advertising Acknowledgement

Mecklenburg CountyMedical Society


You and us:One team

CarolinasHealthCare.org Carolinas HealthCare System


Joseph Campbell said, “Follow your bliss.” I am sure blissful is not how I would describe the state of my

fellow physicians and other healthcare professionals. You would have to live in a cave to miss the plethora of articles and discussions about “physician burnout.” Too numerous to recite, I will mention two.

The first is from the Archives of Internal Medicine, August 20, 2012, titled “Burnout and Satisfaction with Work-Life Balance Among U.S. Physicians Relative to the General U.S. Population.” As this article states, burnout is not a recognized psychological disorder but an “experience.” The ICD-10 code describes it as “a problem related to life-management difficulty.” Burnout among nearly 7,000 doctors was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Authors describe it as “a syndrome characterized by a loss of enthusiasm for work (emotional exhaustion), feelings of cynicism (depersonalization) and a low sense of personal accomplishment.” Emergency medicine, internal medicine, neurology and family medicine had the highest rates of burnout. Among their conclusions was the fact that almost one in two (45.8 percent) U.S. physicians has symptoms of burnout implies that the origins of this problem are rooted in the environment and care delivery system rather than in the personal characteristics of a few susceptible individuals.

The second article is from the 2013 Medscape Physician Lifestyle Report1. It includes some fascinating statistics and suggestions for individuals to consider about burnout. Two observations are particularly pertinent for dealing with the larger “system” issue. In his Medscape interview, Paul

Griner, MD, said “Physicians should participate actively in health reforms that return a greater level of control to their patients and themselves. Embracing the concept of team care is important. Moving from a philosophy of ‘I am responsible’ or ‘I am in charge’ to ‘we are responsible’ or ‘we are in charge’ is an important step.”

In the Medscape Primary Roundtable on burnout interventions, Roy Poses, MD, made the following observation: “Although extensive literature suggests that contributors (to burnout) include excessive workload, loss of autonomy, inefficiency due to excessive administrative burdens, a decline in the sense of meaning that physicians derive from work, and difficulty integrating personal and professional life, few interventions have been tested. Most of the available literature focuses on individual interventions centered on stress reduction training rather than organizational interventions designed to address the system factors that result in high burnout rates. Most interventions meant to improve burnout have treated it like a psychiatric illness, not a rational response to a badly led, dysfunctional healthcare system.”

So, this is my plea to everyone (physicians, CEOs, politicians, healthcare companies, medical education organizations and anyone else in between) to advocate for an improved healthcare system for all of us — physicians, other healthcare professionals and patients alike.

What do we do while we fix the system?

As Warren Pendergast, MD, medical director of the North Carolina Physicians Health Program (NCPHP) said in his article “Whither Physician Wellness” in NCPHP Metamorphosis (Fall-Winter 2012),

“We have not ‘gotten around to’ the concept of physician wellness. It’s often difficult to get patients to take care of themselves in all the ways they need to … and it may be even more difficult to think about holding ourselves accountable to an abstract standard of wellness.” But things are finally changing. Medical schools and residency programs are developing “wellness” and “resiliency” curriculums. Skills include mindfulness meditation, guided imagery, creative expression, journaling, laughter yoga, biofeedback, social support and others. Employers and healthcare organizations are starting to realize the value of “physician wellness” to prevent compassion fatigue and decreased productivity and to help retain the physicians in whom they have invested time and energy.

Fortunately, there are many resources available to healthcare professionals in Mecklenburg County and North Carolina. While we all need to work to “fix the system,” there is help now for you and your colleagues/friends. Remember, sometimes we (or they) are the last to know there is something wrong. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or ask someone else if they need help. (Does MD have to stand for malignant denial?) Take the Maslach Burnout Inventory or the Adult Apgar (S.S. Bintliff, Wellness Book for Emergency Physicians, ACEP, 2004). Other excellent reading materials and resources are listed at the end of this article. The North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) Forum, July 2012 articles, “Preserving a Scarce Human Resource: Healthy Physicians” by John-Henry Pfifferling, PhD, from the Center for Professional Well-Being in Durham, and “Practicing Self-Care: Resources for Physician Well-Being” by

BLISSBy Janice E. Huff, MD, President

President’s Letter


Christopher Snyder, MD, are a good place to start. The NCMB site, www.ncmedboard.org, has many other references, as well (under Professional Resources to Links and then Physician Well-Being).

Many employers have Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) that are confidential and inexpensive. CMC-Charlotte Metro facilities, has a Physician Health Committee chaired by William Bockenek, MD. This is a committee of the joint medical staff from CMC-Main/Pineville/Mercy/University/CR and is available to all physicians credentialed at any of these facilities regardless of their employer. All medical directors in the Carolinas HealthCare System Medical Group know what resources are available to help any of their physicians/PAs/NPs who would like any help with substance abuse/mental health issues/burnout, and should be contacted directly. Anyone with access to CHS Physician Connect can check the Medical Staff Resources: Work/Life Balance page, as well. Novant Health Medical Group has the Physicians Health and Effectiveness Committee, chaired by Stephen Ezzo, MD. Novant Health hospital system has a Practitioner Health and Effectiveness Committee, which can be accessed by contacting each department chair or chief of staff. The N.C. Physicians Health Program (NCPHP), whose mission is “improving the health and wellness of medical professionals with compassion, support, accountability and advocacy,” is available to help all physicians and physician assistants licensed in North Carolina. Beyond its traditional role in secondary and tertiary prevention and treatment, NCPHP is interested in helping physicians and others proactively take better care of themselves, and would partner with any organization toward that goal. This may be trite, but as a family physician, I am going to say it anyway, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”

What can I do? As individuals, there are many things we can do to “be well.”

We should practice what we preach to our patients and develop a sense of balance in all areas, including physical, emotional, spiritual, relationships, community and work/career. Consider one thing daily you are grateful for, or one person you love, or one thing you did that helped someone else. Take advantage of physician wellness activities offered by your employer, specialty societies and community organizations. Educate yourself about the causes of burnout and the opportunities for wellness. Do something nice for yourself — it is okay! It doesn’t always have to be about someone else. I thought about this recently on a trip we took to Yellowstone National Park. The Medical Society has an initiative to “get kids outdoors and into nature” and that certainly applies to adults, as well. Out in nature, it really is possible to forget about EHR inboxes, meetings, texts (especially when there are no satellite towers) and the ACA. You realize your partners really can take care of your patients just fine. President Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir had great insight about the benefits, beauty and inspirations of nature, so I will close with this one by Muir (and you don’t even have to go to Yellowstone — Charlotte has many parks, greenways and great neighborhoods to enjoy). “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”

To demonstrate your Medical Society does not just “talk the talk,” please let me, any of our officers, or Sandi Buchanan, know if you think a seminar on physician burnout or wellness would be beneficial, and we can plan an event for anyone interested.

Footnotes:1 Carol Peckham, Lifestyle and Burnout: A Bad Marriage. Medscape. March 27, 2013.

Resources: Maslach C. and Leiter M. The Truth about Burnout: How Organizations Cause Personal Stress and What to Do About It.

Jossey-Bass Publishers; 1997.

Lipsenthal L. Finding Balance in a Medical Life. California: Finding Balance, Inc., 2007

Lipsenthal L. Enjoy Every Sandwich: Living Each Day as If It Were Your Last. New York: Crown Archetype, 2011.

Remen R. Kitchen Table Wisdom. New York: Riverhead Books, 2007.

Nedrow A., Steckler N., Hardman J. Physician Resilience and Burnout: Can you Make the Switch? Family Practice Management, Jan/Feb 2013.

Germer C. The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions. New York: Guildford Press, 2009.

Rock D. Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long. New York: Harper Business, 2009.

www.thehappyMD.com

Center for Professional Well-Being: 919-489-9167, www.cpwb.org

North Carolina Physicians Health Program: 919-870-4480, www.ncphp.org

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation: www.charmeck.org/Mecklenburg/county/parkandrec/pages

PROACT: DemonstratingBehavioral Health IntegrationBy Jane Peck, Behavioral Health Manager, Community Care Partners of Greater Mecklenburg

In February 2010, the North Carolina Department of Medical Assistance gave approval for Community Care North Carolina (CCNC) to begin implementation of a Behavioral Health

Integration Initiative. CCNC’s 14 networks provide care management for 1.3 million Medicaid patients in the state of North Carolina. As a result of the Behavioral Health Integration Initiative, CCNC networks are helping primary care practitioners incorporate best practices for the evaluation and treatment of patients with behavioral health needs. Additionally, each network within CCNC also is collaborating with local behavioral health Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), to ensure the most appropriate and cost-effective care of patients with concurrent medical and behavioral health conditions.

At that time, as a participating network within CCNC, Community Care Partners of Greater Mecklenburg (CCPGM) put into place its own plan for implementing behavioral health integration for Medicaid CAII patients living in Anson, Mecklenburg and Union counties. This plan includes educating primary care practitioners about:• the benefits and availability of

co-locating psychotherapists within their practices to assist in assessing and treating patients with behavioral health conditions;

• monitoring tools for patients with long-term narcotic prescriptions;

• safe prescribing protocols for patients known or prone to misuse prescription narcotics; and

• processes to identify and plan interventions for patients with behavioral health and/or substance abuse conditions who are high users of inpatient or emergency services.

Also during that time, CCPGM developed a close working relationship with Area Mental Health (Mecklenburg’s LME) by beginning to do transitional care with patients being discharged from the hospital after a behavioral health episode of care. Two social workers followed an evidence-based model linking patients back to a behavioral health provider. This work brought Mecklenburg’s readmissions rate down from above the state average to just below the state average. The social workers carried heavy caseloads. It was clear this approach was effective, with more focus and staffing needed.

With the transition of Area Mental Health on March 1, 2013, to an MCO, CCPGM has forged an even stronger relationship with MeckLINK,

the Mecklenburg county MCO, which manages, coordinates and monitors services on behalf of Medicaid for persons with mental health, intellectual/developmental and/or substance abuse conditions. As a result of collaborative efforts, MeckLINK and CCPGM have implemented a transitional care program called PROACT (Preventable Readmissions Options and Care Transitions) to ensure behavioral health patients’ linkage to effective healthcare homes following a hospital stay.

PROACT seeks to improve the satisfaction of patients, their families and healthcare providers through increased access to preventive care and more

coordinated management of chronic conditions. It is based on a modified Transitional Care Model, utilized

in CCNC’s Standardized Care Management Plan. Transitional Care is an evidence-

based practice care model used to assist patients leaving one level of care for

another less-intensive one, most commonly from hospital to home. Transitional Care helps patients recover without lapses in follow-up, avoiding the need for unplanned re-hospitalization. Studies have shown that Transitional Care has comparable effectiveness with those discharged from inpatient

hospitalizations for behavioral health reasons as for those hospitalized for

medical reasons. PROACT is the embodiment of

Transitional Care for those hospitalized as a result of behavioral health conditions.

By virtue of access to patient information from a variety of sources, such as medical records, service

authorization status, and Medicaid claims data, PROACT staff members are able to coordinate effective discharge plans and provide immediate follow-up upon a patient’s return home. PROACT comprises RNs and licensed professional staff, who are assigned to existing CCPGM care management teams organized around primary care practices. A true collaboration exists in that:• Team members are a collaboration of staff employed by both CCPGM

and MeckLINK.• The PROACT manager reports jointly to MeckLINK and CCPGM.• Information is shared through a business/HIPAA agreement to enable

effective continuity of care. All PROACT staff members have access to several electronic medical record systems.

• Medication reconciliations are completed by a nurse during a home visit as soon as possible after a patient goes home. Assistance with filling prescriptions and obtaining medications is provided. The services


Feature


Feature

of the team-based CCPGM pharmacist also are readily available. • Patients have appointments scheduled with behavioral health service

providers and medical care providers. They are assisted, as needed, with keeping the appointments.

• At the end of the standard 30 days of Transitional Care (or sooner if the patient has demonstrated stability and appropriate services are in place), care is transferred to a CCPGM Nurse Care Manager and to a MeckLINK Care Coordinator or a behavioral health service provider. Providers accredited and authorized by MeckLINK can be selected by the patient. PROACT also is committed to impacting the health and well-being of

patients with behavioral health conditions who are high users of emergency department services. PROACT staff will use claims-based data, hospital registration information and anecdotal information to identify those patients in need of care coordination and intensive care planning. With access to many sources of patient-specific information, PROACT staff will be instrumental in providing critical updates to emergency care providers. This includes information about ED visits or hospitalizations at other facilities, current authorized service providers and clinical homes. Elements of the transitional care model used with hospitalized patients, such as face-to-face contact and home visits, will be employed, and linkages to medical homes provided.

As PROACT has developed in Mecklenburg County, CCNC has partnered with the N.C. Council of Community Programs, along with all 11 MCOs in the state, to form an initiative supporting the integration of physical and behavioral health care management. The overall statewide

initiative is called Total Care. A Total Care Innovations Team is developing a seamless integrated system of care for North Carolina Medicaid recipients. All are working together to develop consistent protocols for prioritizing patients, along with the collection, organization and analysis of data. While each network and MCO’s model of PROACT will need to be tailored according to its own population and geography, the potential benefit for the populations we serve is substantial and exciting. Stay tuned for updates in the months to come.

Jane Peck, PMHCNS, CARN-AP, LCAS, CSI, manages Community Care of Greater Mecklenburg’s behavioral health programs. She welcomes inquiries about how CCPGM’s integrated behavioral health care team can help your practice or patients. Contact her at [email protected] or 704-512-2292.

About Community Care Partners of Greater Mecklenburg

Since 2002, Community Care Partners of Greater Mecklenburg (CCPGM) has been providing care management for Medicaid Access II patients in Anson, Mecklenburg and Union counties in North Carolina. It is one of 14 networks within the state of North Carolina participating in Community Care of North Carolina’s initiative. At the heart of this public healthcare delivery system is a partnership that is directed by doctors, focused on patients and beneficial to providers, payers and taxpayers alike. For more information, visit www.ccpgm.org.

Belva Wallace Greenage Cancer Foundation

Friday, Sept. 20 • 7:30-10 a.m. • Charlotte Convention Center

“Claim Your Best Life”with Keynote Speaker

Russell Greenfield, MDGreenfield Integrated Healthcare

Tickets available online at www.BelvasCancerFoundation.org

SponsorsBank of America • Novant Health • Snyder’s-Lance

Save theDate!Save theDate!


Your Self-Pay Solution

SELF-PAY ISSUES?Our staff has benefited from working with some of the most diverse companies in the United States. Twenty years of competitive challenges have resulted in the creation of a successful self pay solution. Allow us the opportunity to put this valuable experience to work for your Practice and Staff. We understand results and provide patient-friendly treatment. People talking to People, providing an amicable solution. Contact us today to set up an appointment to discuss how we can work together to resolve the ever-increasing Self-Pay challenge.

Self-Pay Management Customer Service

Pre-Collect Primary Delinquent Account Recovery

Yourselfpaysolution.com

800/276-2423 704/841-2424 Fax 704/841-2426

www.PrinceParker.com

P R I N C EP A R K E R& A S S O C I AT E S , I N C .

Affordable pricing for yourpatients at all income levels

704.523.8027 - Ext. 10www.charlottespeechhearing.com

Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center is the only hearing center in this area that provides discounts based on income levels. It is our mission

to provide affordable hearing healthcare for those in need.

We have been serving the Charlotte area since 1967 and offer:

• Full diagnostic evaluations for• children and adults• Advanced Hearing Aid Technology• including Completely in the Canal Aids• Central Auditory Processing Services

Nancy J. McKeown, Au.D., Board Certified in Audiology741 Kenilworth Avenue, Suite 100, Charlotte NC 28204

Medical Office Suites Coming Soon to Dilworth2226 Park Road | Charlotte, NC

• Suites available from 2,000 SF to 8,800 SF

• Competitive lease packages with Upfit Allowances

• Located in front of Food Lion Shopping Center off Park Road in the Dilworth area

• Excellent building signage with front door parking

• Delivery Spring 2014!

For more information, contact:

Tiffany [email protected] 704.971.8906

2701 Coltsgate Road | Suite 300 | Charlotte, NC 28211

www.brackettflagship.com


Feature

MeckLINK Behavioral HealthcareLeads Charlotte Community in International Anti-Stigma Campaign: “Pledge to Plant” Sunflowers of HOPE

O n May 31, MeckLINK Behavioral Healthcare completed Mental Health Awareness month by participating in an international awareness campaign

that seeks to end the stigma of depression by asking supporters to “Pledge to Plant” a virtual or live sunflower in honor of the 350 million people living with the disease. Field for Hope was created by the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred) and is the largest-scale, global effort in history focused on raising awareness for depression research and education. According to the World Health Organization, depression is now the leading cause of disability worldwide.

The anti-stigma event marked the first of many to be held over the next 18 months as part of the White House Administration’s “National Dialogue on Mental Health.” A few days prior to the sunflower planting, MeckLINK was invited by The Deliberative Democracy Consortium and The National Institute for Civil Discourse to be among 10 lead sites in the United States launching community conversations and events around mental health. Creating Community Solutions is using proven public engagement principles to engage thousands of Americans in a range of settings, small-group discussions, large forums, online conversations and large-scale deliberative actions, to help people make progress on one of the most critical and misunderstood public issues we face.

Nearly 75 people participated on a beautiful spring morning, including the Board of County Commissioners, MeckLINK employees, the Mental Health Association, the Depression BiPolar Support Alliance, providers, consumers and local area neighbors, to plant sunflower seeds at the Little Sugar Creek Greenway Community Garden in uptown Charlotte. This month, the sunflowers will be harvested and donated to a mobile, and sustainable, mission-focused farmers market that will sell the flowers and then donate proceeds to a local mental health charity.

“At MeckLINK, one of our main goals is to educate the public about mental illness and depression. The first step in education is an understanding that these brain diseases are treatable. No one should be ashamed to talk about these medical issues for fear of criticism or job loss. By planting sunflowers, our community can create a united front, led by the statuesque sunflower and the color yellow as symbols of strength and mental wellness,” says Melissa Marshburn, communications specialist at MeckLINK. Visit our MeckTube channel to watch a video created after the event.

For more information and to participate in the “National Dialogue on Mental Health,” contact Web programs coordinator, Raquel Goodrich, with the National Institute for Civil Discourse, at [email protected].


Feature

An Update on ACA and the Federal Insurance MarketplaceBy Katie Benston, Chief Program Officer, Care Ring

A s we get closer to October 1, there are still many questions about the Health Insurance Marketplaces (previously known as Exchanges) that will open for

millions of uninsured Americans to enroll in new private or public health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

According to estimates from the N.C. Institute of Medicine, Mecklenburg County has 163,000 uninsured residents, including 24,000 children. Since North Carolina opted out of a state or partnership exchange, North Carolinians will apply for coverage through a federal insurance marketplace. With lower-than-expected funding and low expectations for promotion by our state government, North Carolina safety-net partners, physicians, clinics, hospitals and other providers will need to join together to help raise awareness to enroll the uninsured.

Premium tax credits and cost-sharing assistance are integral to open enrollment.

For uninsured residents between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (that would be between $23,550 and $94,200 for a family of four), ACA provides tax credits that reduce the family’s premium costs.

Uninsured residents with incomes up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level ($58,875 for a family of four) are eligible for reduced cost sharing (e.g., health insurance with lower deductibles and copayments).

How Can Consumers Get Help Enrolling in Health Coverage?

Enrollment starts in October 2013 and the new health insurance coverage begins January 1, 2014. Although the enrollment forms are available on the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare website at www.cms.gov, many consumers will need help with the application and enrollment process for health coverage. Therefore, it is important that enough people have the necessary skills and training to guide consumers competently through the process. There will be four types of assisters that will help consumers apply for and enroll in health coverage:

1. NavigatorsAll marketplaces are required to establish a navigator program.

Navigators will conduct public education activities to raise awareness about the marketplace/exchange, help consumers understand the eligibility and enrollment process and provide referrals to other consumer assistance resources. North Carolina is allocated $2.245M for the statewide navigator program, a proportion of national funding based on the estimated size of our uninsured population.

2. In-Person Assisters (IPAs)In-Person Assisters are similar to Navigators, except they can

be funded with establishment grant funds. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently announced new funding to help community health centers provide in-person enrollment assistance to uninsured individuals across the nation. North Carolina is eligible to receive 32 awards totaling $4,202,385.

3. Certified Application Counselors (CACs)The certified application counselor (CAC) already exists in many

states, where they help people apply for Medicaid. State Medicaid agencies will continue to have the option to certify entities as CACs, but exchanges also will be required to do so. The certification process will

ensure that CACs are qualified to help people apply for Medicaid, CHIP and plans sold through the exchange (as well as premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions).

CACs will not receive any public funding. CACs can be supported by organizations like hospitals, community

health centers, private providers, or local and regional funders. Being certified as CACs enables organizations that would likely be engaged in application assistance anyway to help consumers in a more formal capacity. For example, although not all community health centers and community-based organizations will be chosen to serve as navigators or IPAs, they are well-positioned to provide application assistance because they are trusted messengers.

4. Agents and BrokersLicensed agents and brokers can help consumers and small

employers select and enroll in health plans offered through marketplaces/exchanges. Each marketplace will have the flexibility to determine the specific roles that agents and brokers will play in providing consumer assistance.

The majority of the people who stand to benefit the most from the Affordable Care Act have no idea what their upcoming health care options are, so enrollment is going to be a challenge. The more healthcare partners in our community know about the process, the more effective we will be in helping the uninsured receive coverage.

Helpful Web Resourceswww.healthcare.gov — The official U.S. government site providing

ongoing news and information about the federal health insurance marketplace. This site is for consumers.

Mecklenburg County has 163,000 uninsured residents, including 24,000 children.


Charlotte AHEC Course OfferingsCharlotte AHEC is part of the N.C. Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program and Carolinas HealthCare System.

SEPTEMBER 2013Continuing Medical Education (CME)

9/10 Adult Critical Care Course for Non-Intensivists 9/14 First Annual Neurology Clinical Updates |

9/14 A Primary Provider’s Guide to Navigating the Successful Treatment of Allergy & Asthma Sufferers

Allied Health Education9/27-28 28th Annual Mid-Atlantic Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (MASPEN) Conference

For more information or to register for these courses call 704-512-6523 or visit www.charlotteahec.org.

Feature

www.marketplace.cms.gov — Provides the latest resources to help people apply, enroll and get coverage in 2014. This site is helpful for navigators, IPAs, CACs, agents/brokers, hospitals and other providers. This site will be a source for accessing marketing materials and you can sign up on this site for e-mail updates.

Health Insurance Marketplace Training Schedule

CMS Webinar Schedule on the Affordable Care Act and how the Health Insurance Marketplace will work. Visit www.marketplace.cms.gov/NewsEvents/Webinars/Spring-Summer-2013-Health-Insurance-Marketplace-Training-Schedule.pdf.

Affordable Care Act Tax ProvisionsThe Affordable Care Act contains some tax provisions that

are in effect, and more that will be implemented during the next several years. This site provides a list of provisions for which the IRS has issued proposed and/or final guidance; additional information will be added to this page as it becomes available. Visit www.irs.gov/uac/Affordable-Care-Act-Tax-Provisions.

Enroll America Enroll America is a collaborative organization, working with

partners that span the gamut of health coverage stakeholders — health insurers, hospitals, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, employers, consumer groups, faith-based organizations, civic

organizations and philanthropies — to engage many different voices in support of an easy, accessible and widely available enrollment process. You can sign up on this site for helpful updates at www.enrollamerica.org.

The Kaiser Family FoundationThe Kaiser Family Foundation’s website provides in-depth

information on health reform and state-by-state analysis. Visit www.kff.org/health-reform/.

Brochure to Help Consumers Learn Aboutthe New Health Premium Tax Credit

Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, has developed a new brochure to help explain the new health insurance premium tax credit to consumers. The brochure was tested with consumers to ensure it provided information in a way that gave users a general picture of their eligibility and inspired them to apply if they did qualify. Tools like this brochure will be critical to educating the millions of Americans who still do not know about this opportunity to make health insurance affordable through the premium tax credit. Visit https://sites.google.com/a/consumer.org/tax-credit-brochure/.

Footnote: Thanks to the North Carolina Hospital Association (www.ncha.org)

for assistance with this article.

Randolph Audiology& Hearing Aid Clinic“Tomorrow’s Technology for Today’s Ears”

• No-cost trial periodon hearing aids

• Auditory processingevaluations

• Evidence-basedhearing aid fittings

• Assistive listeningdevices

Wade Kirkland, M.A., Audiologist

704-367-1999Randolph Medical Park - Randolph Building

3535 Randolph Road, Suite 211Charlotte, NC 28211

www.randolphaudiology.com

Serving the Charlotte area for over 20 years

MCMS Board Highlights of May 2013 Meeting• Stephen J. Ezzo, MD, treasurer, presented a proposal from John Klimas, MD,

requesting a donation to Care Ring for the Physicians Reach Out Program. The Board approved the motion.

• Janice E. Huff, MD, president, reviewed the MCMS Committee Structure, chairs and liaisons and their areas of responsibility and asked the Board for suggestions.

• Dr. Huff asked the Board to let Sandi Buchanan, executive director, know if they have any suggestions for resolutions to submit to the North Carolina Medical Society Annual Meeting in October.

MCMS Board Highlights of July 2013 Meeting• Dr. Huff, president, presented five applicants for active membership: Angela N. Joyner,

PA-C; David R. Lane, MD; Bradford C. Mitchell, MD; Roshan S. Probhu, MD; and Amra Zuzo, MD. The Board approved the applicants.

• Dr. Huff proposed the MCMS Legislative Committee be disbanded. The Committee, comprised mainly of practice managers, has not met this year. The Board agreed to disband the MCMS Legislative Committee and continue to disseminate information to members regarding any scheduled legislative breakfasts. The Medical Society will inform the Board of Directors of any questions or actions presented by the Legislative Committee of the CAMGM (Charlotte Area Medical Group Managers).

• Dr. Huff, chair of the Smith Arthritis Fund Committee, reviewed the grant applications received for 2013. She stated the Committee recommended distributing the funds equally among the four applicants. The Board approved the recommendation of the Smith Arthritis Fund Committee.

Smith Arthritis Fund Committee Awards Four GrantsBy Janice E. Huff, Chair, Smith Arthritis Fund Committee

The MCMS Smith Arthritis Fund Committee is pleased to announce four grants totaling $3,000 were awarded in August for programs and studies which benefit, either directly or indirectly, patients who have arthritis.

The first grant was given to Arthritis Patient Services to provide funding to study the effectiveness of combining their 12-week Community Arthritis Project’s physical conditioning programming with their six-week “Eat Better, Move More” curriculum.

The second grant was given to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Carolinas Medical Center. This grant provides funding for a study entitled “Pain Mechanisms in Co-Cultures of Human Disc and Human Nerve Cells: Does addition of proinflammatory cytokines result in upregulation of pain-related genes?”

The third grant was given to the Levine Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics. This grant provides funding for a study entitled “Use Of Management Strategies Generated Through the Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).”

The fourth grant was given to the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., North Carolina Chapter. This grant provides funding for their 2014 “Ask the Experts” educational series to continue its efforts in educating individuals living with lupus in Mecklenburg County.

The Smith Arthritis Fund was established in 1979 when Carolyn Kirkpatrick Smith donated $41,500 for arthritis research. This fund is administered through the Mecklenburg County Medical Society under the guidance of Janice E. Huff, MD, who is the 2013 chair of the Smith Arthritis Fund Committee, along with H. David Homesley, MD; Ahmad A. Kashif, MD; and Scott L. Furney, MD, MCMS Board Liaison. The fund is designed to support research projects as they relate to the needs of patients suffering from rheumatologic diseases.

MCMSMembershipDirectoryIf you would like to purchase a copy of the 2013 MCMS Membership Pictorial Directory, call our office at 704-376-3688.

New Members Angela N. Joyner, PA-C Charlotte Radiology1000 Blythe Blvd.Charlotte, NC 28203704-355-1323Shenandoah University, 2007

David R. Lane, MD *Dermatology; *MohsDermatologic Surgery of the Carolinas15830 John J. Delaney Drive #225Charlotte, NC 28277704-919-1105University of Missouri, 2001

Bradford C. Mitchell, MD *Diagnostic RadiologyCharlotte Radiology1705 East Blvd.Charlotte NC 28203704-362-7075Georgia Regents University, 2007

Roshan S. Prabhu, MDRadiation OncologySoutheast Radiation Oncology200 Queens Road #400Charlotte, NC 28204704-333-7376University of Florida, 2008

Amra Zuzo, MD PediatricsLincoln Pediatric Clinic113 Doctors ParkLincolnton, NC 28092704-735-1441University of South Alabama, 2010

Member News



Upcoming Meetings & EventsMeetings are at the MCMS office unless otherwise noted.

SEPTEMBERn

Monday, Sept. 2MCMS office closed for Labor Day.

n Tuesday, Sept. 3Charlotte Dental Society Board

meeting.6 p.m.

n Tuesday, Sept. 3American Academy of Family

Physicians. Speaker: Thomas White, MD.Topic: Lipid Management.Georges Brassiere.6:30 p.m.

n Monday, Sept. 9MCMS Executive Committee

meeting.5:45 p.m.

n Tuesday, Sept. 10MedLink meeting.8:30 a.m.

n Tuesday, Sept. 10Charlotte Pediatric Society meeting.Speaker: Libby Edwards, MD.Topic: Pediatric DermatologyVanLandingham Estate.6 p.m.

n Tuesday, Sept. 10Fighting for Women with Fashion

Planning Committee meeting.Safe Alliance office.6 p.m.

n Wednesday-Friday, Sept. 11-13North Carolina Medical Group

Managers Fall Conference.Embassy Suites, Concord.

n Wednesday, Sept. 18MMAE Board meeting10 a.m.

n Wednesday, Sept. 18David G. Welton, MD Society

Luncheon.Charlotte Country Club.11:30 a.m.

n Thursday, Sept. 19Charlotte Area Medical Group

Managers.Myers Park Baptist Church.Noon.

n Friday, Sept. 20Child Health Committee meeting.7:30 a.m.

n Friday, Sept. 20November/December magazine

deadline.

n Monday, Sept. 23MCMS Board meeting.5:15 p.m.

n Tuesday, Sept. 24Fighting for Women with Fashion

Planning Committee meeting.Safe Alliance office.6 p.m.

Member News

Specialty Society Meetings 2013-20142013n

September 20-22N.C. Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons Annual MeetingGrove Park Inn Resort and Spa, Asheville

n October 25-26North Carolina Medical Society Annual MeetingRaleigh Marriott City Center

n November 1-3N.C. Orthopaedic Association Annual MeetingThe Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W.V.

2014n

January 17-19N.C. Dermatology Association Annual MeetingPinehurst Resort, Pinehurst

n February 1N.C. Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons CODEquest Coding CollegeGrandover Resort, Greensboro

n February 21-23N.C. Neurological Society Annual MeetingPinehurst Resort, Pinehurst

n February 28-March 1N.C. Chapter/American College of Physicians Annual MeetingGrandover Resort, Greensboro

n February 28-March 1N.C. Society of GastroenterologyPinehurst Resort, Pinehurst

n April 4-5N.C. Society of Pathologists Annual Meeting (Shelley Lecture Series)Ballantyne Hotel, Charlotte

n April 10-13N.C. Obstetrical and Gynecological Society Annual MeetingPinehurst Resort, Pinehurst

n July 12-14N.C. Dermatology Association Summer MeetingThe Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W.V.

n July 25-27N.C./S.C. Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery AssemblyOmni Grove Park Inn, Asheville

n August 8-9N.C. Spine Society Annual MeetingGrandover Resort, Greensboro

n September 5-7 Carolinas Chapter/American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

Annual MeetingMarriott Resort at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

n September 12-13N.C. Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons Annual MeetingCharlotte Marriott City Center, Charlotte (pending)

n October 24-25 North Carolina Medical Society Annual MeetingGrandover Resort, Greensboro (pending)

n October 31-November 2N.C. Orthopaedic Association Annual MeetingOmni Grove Park Inn, Asheville

MCMS Leadership Positions Open to Members

Mecklenburg County Medical Society members interested in serving as a director on the Board or as a delegate to the North

Carolina Medical Society should contact Maeve E. O’Connor, MD, chair of the Elections Committee, or Sandi Buchanan,

executive director, at 704-376-3688. Directors and delegates serve a two-year term beginning on January 1, 2014. The

Elections Committee will meet this summer to prepare a slate for 2014 elections to submit to the membership.


n Leading-Edge Clinical Trials at NovantHealth Heart & Vascular Institute Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute

physicians are proud to be the first in Charlotte to actively enroll patients in two leading-edge clinical trials:

PreSERVE AMI, a nationwide phase two trial, is testing the effects of infusing a patient’s own stem cells into recently damaged heart muscle. Headed at Novant Health by Robert Iwaoka, MD, the trial aims to determine if this method will restore damaged tissue and improve cardiac function after an AMI. Qualified patients — who are eligible for the treatment three days after successfully receiving a stent — undergo a bone marrow harvest from Novant Health oncologist, James Boyd, MD. The harvested cells are purified and specific stem cells, CD34, are isolated. The CD34 cells are infused back into the patient’s heart via a catheter. After a few minutes, the cells take root in the damaged muscle, growing new microscopic blood vessels, which will aid in the repair of the damaged muscle. Success is determined by the rate of improvement in the heart muscle after six months.

The phase three ABSORB trial, in conjunction with the Cleveland Clinic, is headed at Novant Health by Jerome Williams Jr., MD. It tests an absorbable stent that is inserted in a severely blocked coronary artery to scaffold it open, allowing for normal blood flow. This new stent, which is being tested on 2,250 patients nationwide, is absorbed by the body after two years, allowing the artery to resume natural dilation and constriction — a function inhibited by traditional stents. The stent holds plaque and debris against the vessel wall, while simultaneously delivering an anti-scarring drug that prevents scar tissue from re-occluding the vessel. The diseased vessel will have healed itself by the time the stent dissolves into water and carbon dioxide. This innovative technology has been in commercial use in Europe for the past year and will be submitted to the FDA for approval in 2015.

n Novant Health Waxhaw Family & Sports Medicine Offers Genetic Test to Aid in Concussion Care Most experts and governing bodies,

including the American Academy of Neurology,

recommend personalized concussion care.Some providers now have an innovative

tool to help them develop personalized care plans for patients who have suffered multiple concussions. Eric Warren, MD, a board-certified sports medicine and family medicine physician with Novant Health Waxhaw Family & Sports Medicine, is one of just several in North Carolina to offer a genetic test that can help determine patients’ likelihood of suffering additional concussions and their ability to recover.

The test checks the ApoE gene, several forms of which have been connected to a higher risk of disease and injury. This test can help patients decide when to return to play or if they should continue to play a high-impact or contact sport.

Dr. Warren considers the test results with other information to make recommendations. An athlete who has suffered multiple concussions but has a protective form of the ApoE gene could be at lower risk than an athlete who has had the same number of injuries but has a less favorable genetic makeup.

The test consists of a simple cheek swab in Dr. Warren’s office during a five-minute visit. Results are available within seven to 10 days. There is no risk associated with the test, and ApoE is the only genetic information tested.

To refer a patient, call 704-384-8640. n Heart Disease Assessment CME

Symposium: Save the Date Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute will

host a symposium on advancements in heart disease assessment for primary care physicians. Topics will include:• CV imaging• Dyslipidemias• Management of patients with valvular or

aortic pathology• Screening for sudden death risk in athletes or

patients with established heart disease• Assessment of cardio-oncology patients

The symposium will be Saturday, Oct. 5, 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Duke Mansion. Stay tuned for more details including registration.

n Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute Welcomes ElectrophysiologistNovant Health Heart & Vascular Institute

is pleased to welcome Adrian C. Dusa, MD, FHRS. Dr. Dusa is board-certified in electrophysiology, cardiology and internal medicine and will focus on ablation for atrial

fibrillation and other complex ablations. He brings experience in epicardial ablation for ventricular tachycardias and procedures for left atrial appendage closure.

Dr. Dusa graduated from the University of Medicine in Targu Mures, Romania. He completed residencies at University Hospital in Targu Mures and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio. He completed fellowships in general cardiology at University Hospital, the Heart Institute in Timisoara, Romania, and Indiana University in Indianapolis; interventional cardiology at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem; and cardiology research and electrophysiology at Indiana University. Prior to joining Novant Health, Dr. Dusa served as an assistant professor of cardiology and taught electrophysiology at the Heart Institute at the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Dusa’s specialties include:• simple and complex ablations,• intracardiac echocardiography,• bradycardia/tachycardia/resynchronization

device therapy,• stereotaxis magnetic navigation systems, and• device associated procedures including

subpectoral/axillary/abdominal device placements.To refer a patient, call 704-343-9800.

n U.S. News & World Report Names

Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center No. 1 in the Charlotte Metro Area

The U.S. News & World Report 2013-2014 Best Hospitals report ranks Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center the No. 1 hospital in the Charlotte metro area and one of the best in North Carolina.

Presbyterian Medical Center also ranked high-performing in nine specialties: cancer, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and gastroenterology surgery, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics and pulmonology.

Matthews Medical Center was recognized for high performance in gastroenterology and gastroenterology surgery, geriatrics, nephrology and pulmonology.

Forsyth Medical Center was recognized as high-performing in eight specialties.

U.S. News evaluates hospitals in 16 adult specialties. In most, it ranks the nation’s top 50 hospitals and recognizes other high-performing hospitals that provide care at nearly the level of their nationally-ranked peers.

At the Hospitals


n New State-of-the-Art RehabilitationHospital in ConcordCarolinas HealthCare System opened a new

facility to bring specialized rehabilitative care to the Concord area. Carolinas Rehabilitation-NorthEast is now open and caring for patients.

Located at 487 Lake Concord Road, the rehabilitation hospital sits near the campus of Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast in Concord. Licensed for 40 private beds and totaling 70,000 square feet, it offers a nationally-recognized level of care that is convenient to Cabarrus, Rowan, Stanly and Iredell counties.

In addition to this new location, Carolinas Rehabilitation operates rehabilitation hospitals in Charlotte and Mount Holly. It will open an additional inpatient location on the campus of Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville this fall. Carolinas Rehabilitation also provides outpatient rehabilitation services at 13 locations across the Charlotte area. n Stanly Health Services Joins

Carolinas HealthCare SystemThe Stanly Health Services Board

of Directors approved an agreement to transfer ownership of its System, including Stanly Regional Medical Center, to Carolinas HealthCare System. The change means the assets of Stanly Health Services will be owned by Carolinas HealthCare System, and it will become a fully integrated part of CHS effective October 1, subject to the approval of the CHS Board of Commissioners. This new agreement symbolizes a natural progression of the existing relationship that has been in place since 2009, when the two health systems entered into a Management Services Agreement.

n Trauma Center Receives Nationaland Regional RecognitionResidents at the F. H. “Sammy” Ross, Jr.,

Trauma Center, part of Carolinas HealthCare System’s Carolinas Medical Center, recently received both regional and national recognition for their accomplishments.

Andrew M. Nunn, MD, was awarded a 2013 American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) scholarship to attend the 72nd Annual Meeting of the AAST and Clinical Congress of Acute Care Surgery in San Francisco this month.

The AAST is committed to the development and education of young surgeons interested in trauma and acute care surgery, providing research funding and scholarships for medical students, residents, fellows and junior faculty. The trip will provide Dr. Nunn with the opportunity to engage with internationally-renowned trauma and acute care surgeons. Nunn currently plans to pursue a fellowship in acute care surgery and surgical critical care.

Additionally, Blair Wormer, MD, and Ciara Huntington, MD, received high honors at the North and South Carolina American College of Surgeons resident paper competition in Asheville, in July. Dr. Wormer won first place in the entire resident paper competition, while Dr. Huntington won second place in the trauma paper competition, and will move on to represent Carolinas Medical Center in the regional trauma competition.

n CHS Wins Premier Diversity Award Carolinas HealthCare System was

nationally recognized by the Premier healthcare alliance for its support of minority suppliers in Charlotte and surrounding communities. The System was presented the 2013 Premier Diversity Award for purchasing goods and services from diverse suppliers and for developing procurement strategies aligned with the communities it serves.

The award recognizes Premier member hospitals or health systems for establishing active programs to evaluate and support contracted minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and small business enterprises through the Premier portfolio. Of more than 2,800 eligible members, Carolinas HealthCare System was the only healthcare system to receive this distinction.

n CHS Enters National DataCollaborationCarolinas HealthCare System is

participating in a first-of-its-kind initiative to improve population health through data analytics and business intelligence. The

System is collaborating with other health systems, as well as IT experts, to launch Data Alliance Collaborative, or DAC.

DAC members are sharing their experiences and intelligence to co-develop solutions that integrate data across the continuum. They’re building data analytics designed by them, for them, in a collaborative format that accelerates efficiencies and cost savings while avoiding duplication of effort.

Other members of DAC include Catholic Health Partners, Fairview Health Services, Texas Health Resources, IBM and Premier healthcare alliance.

Among the first DAC co-development projects is a first-of-its-kind model designed to quickly notify providers of groups of patients who aren’t taking their medications. For example, these analytics will enable providers to pinpoint heart failure patients who haven’t filled prescriptions within 24 hours of discharge and immediately intervene.

n International Medical OutreachHelps Open ICU in Quetzaltenango,Guatemala This summer, Carolinas HealthCare

System representatives joined Guatemalan government officials, hospital staff and residents for the opening of the first set of comprehensive intensive care units (ICUs) in the city of Quetzaltenango.

The opening of the ICU, located in one of the country’s largest public hospitals, Hospital Nacional de Occidente, was made possible with support from Carolinas HealthCare System’s International Medical Outreach (IMO) program, which donated more than 14,000 pounds of equipment (worth over $1.2 million if purchased new), including bassinets, ventilators, patient monitors, stretchers and patient beds.

Quetzaltenango is Guatemala’s second-largest city, with a population of nearly 250,000. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in Central America. As a public hospital, Hospital Nacional de Occidente offers free care services and treats a large number of medically underserved patients, primarily those living in the Southwestern region of the country.

At the Hospitals


Jackson woke with his eyes crossed one morning, sending his parents on a mission to find a cure. They eventually found just that after meeting with Dr. Erin Schotthoefer at Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A.

See how Jackson’s vision was restored at www.goodsenses.com/jackson

WE JUST MAKE SENSE. GOODSENSES.COM 704.295.3000 800.654.3368

CEENTA_MeckMed.indd 1 8/5/2013 10:33:40 AM

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

CRMeckMedAd.pdf 1 2/5/13 9:12 AM


Advertising Acknowledgement

The following patrons made Mecklenburg Medicine possible.

Brackett Flagship Properties ..................................9

Carolinas HealthCare System ...............................4

Carolinas Specialty Hospital ...............................19

Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat Associates .....17

Charlotte Radiology .............................................17

Charlotte Speech & Hearing Center .....................9

LabCorp ................................................Back Cover

Novant Health .........................................................2

Prince Parker & Associates, Inc. ...........................9

Randolph Audiology & Hearing Aid Clinic .........12

Tucker Boynton Financial Group ............................8

NATIONAL HEALTH & WELLNESS OBSERVANCESSEPTEMBER

Alzheimer’s Association Memory WalkAmerica on the Move – Month of Action

Baby Safety Awareness MonthChildhood Cancer Awareness Month

Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness MonthNational Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month

National Childhood Obesity Awareness MonthNational Cholesterol Education Awareness Month

National Food Safety Education MonthNational Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

National Menopause Awareness MonthNational Pain Awareness MonthNational Preparedness Month

National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness MonthProstate Health Month

Sports and Home Eye Safety Month

n September 1-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . National Childhood Injury Prevention Weekn September 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Take A Loved One to the Doctor Dayn September 22-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Active Aging Weekn September 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .National Women’s Health & Fitness Dayn September 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Family Health and Fitness Day USA

Fighting for Women with FashionA Fall Fashion Presentation by Nordstrom

Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, 6-9 p.m.Foundation for the Carolinas | 220 N. Tryon St.

For more info, call 704-376-3688

Tickets are on sale now at www.meckmed.org.$75 each through Sept. 24 ($85 each after Sept. 24)

Hosted by the Charlotte Women’s Bar and the Mecklenburg County Medical Society Women Physicians SectionProceeds benefit the Safe Alliance Clyde and Ethel Dickson Domestic Violence Shelter

Wom

ens Physicians Section


Find out how CSH can help medically complex patients return to their highest

level of wellness.

Complex patients heal here.

Charlotte’s only long-term acute care hospital is proud to announce the grand opening of our state-of-the-art facility in South Charlotte.

We’re beginning our second decade of providing exceptional healthcare to medically complex, critically ill patients.

At CSH, our inteAt CSH, our inter-disciplinary team approach to care ensures that patients get the time and attention they need.

10648 Park RoadCharlotte, NC 28210

cshnc.com

Carolinas Specialty Hospital has a brand-new home.

Refer Your Patient

Admissions Line: (704) 208-4312cshnc.com/admissions

When healing takes time, we take care.


LabCorp [1/2H]

Mecklenburg CountyMedical Society1112 Harding Place, #200Charlotte, NC 28204

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

MCMS Mission:To unite, serve and represent ourmembers as advocates for our patients,for the health of the community andfor the profession of medicine.

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDCHARLOTTE, N.C.PERMIT NO. 1494

mecklenburg medicine september 2013

Documents

cardiovascular health

livesmecklenburg medicine

charlotte medical societydocia

teen health connection

hospitality house of

mphmedical director

facepmedical director

mdncms delegate