Tag Archives: Healthcare

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Revenue Cycle Solutions’ Robbins Receives ICD-10 Trainer Certification

WILMINGTON,N.C. — Maria Robbins, Manager of Billing and Coding for Revenue Cycle Solutions, a service of South East Area Health Education Center, recently became the only ICD-10 Diagnosis and Coding Trainer in the region.

ICD-10 is a medical classification for the coding of diseases maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO). All medical practices in the United States are required to implement ICD—10, which is replacing ICD-9, by October 1, 2013. Following the deadline, practices not compliant will have difficulty receiving reimbursements from insurance companies.

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SEAHEC Announces New Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator

WILMINGTON, N.C. — South East Area Health Education Center (SEAHEC) announces the addition of Lindsay Fletcher as the new Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator.  Prior to joining the SEAHEC, Fletcher served as Marketing and Communications Director for the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association, where she was responsible for all association marketing materials, member communications, publicity, website content and assisted with association events.

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69% Think Competition Between Health Insurers Better for Consumers Than More Government Regulation

Voters think less government red tape and more competition are the best ways to bring down health care costs.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of likely U.S. Voters believe greater free market competition between insurance companies would do more to reduce health care costs than more government regulation. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 23% feel the more effective course would be more government regulation.

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53% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law As Expectation of Repeal Hits New High

A majority of American voters continue to favor repeal of the health care law passed by Congress last year and the number who expect repeal has reached a new high.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of likely voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law, while 39% at least somewhat oppose it.  This includes 40% who strongly favor repeal and 29% who are Strongly Opposed.

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SEAHEC Family Medicine Residency Founding Physician and Faculty Member Retires

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Barbara Walker D.O., FAAFP, FACOFP, a physician with South East Area Health Education Center (SEAHEC), has announced her retirement after 14 years. Dr. Walker is one of the founding physicians practicing at Coastal Family Medicine in Wilmington, N.C.  She is also a member of the teaching faculty at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Residency in Family Medicine.

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Air Quality Officials Continue Health Notice for Coastal Plain of North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. — Smoke from wildfires could continue causing unhealthy air quality throughout the coastal region of North Carolina on Tuesday and Wednesday, air quality officials say.

Residents east of Interstate 95 could experience unhealthy air quality, and people are advised to avoid or reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors if they can see and smell smoke.

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Brunswick Community Hospital Announces July 31 Opening for Brunswick Novant Medical Center

SUPPLY, N.C. — Brunswick Community Hospital leaders have announced plans to open the new Brunswick Novant Medical Center, which will feature 78 beds and all private rooms, on Sunday, July 31.

“We are excited about opening the new hospital in a county where local residents have so passionately declared the need for increased access to healthcare,” said Denise Mihal, Brunswick Community Hospital president.  “Our leaders, physicians, nurses and staff will work to ensure that this hospital lives up to the community’s expectations and that it is a model of patient care both locally and across the state.”

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South East Area Health Education Center announces addition of Disaster Preparedness and Continuity of Operations intern

WILMINGTON, N.C. — South East Area Health Education Center (SEAHEC) announces the addition of Jason LoVerdi as the new Public Health Intern. In his new role, LoVerdi will assist SEAHEC in the creation and implementation of a Disaster Preparedness and Continuity of Operations Plan.

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Poll: 55% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law, 53% Believe It Will Increase Deficit

A majority of voters continue to support repeal of the national health care law and believe it will increase the federal deficit.

A recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law.  Thirty-eight percent (38%) oppose repeal.  These findings include 43% who Strongly Favor repeal of the measure and 26% who are Strongly Opposed.

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Dr. Eric Lescault and Dr. Michael Marushack to Present Free Seminar on Hip and Knee Replacement May 26 in Leland

LELAND, N.C. — At a free seminar on Thursday, May 26, at 2:30 pm, in Leland, Dr. Eric Lescault and Dr. Michael Marushack of Orthopaedic Specialists will share information on the latest advancements in hip and knee replacement surgeries.

At the seminar, which is part of Brunswick Community Hospital’s Focus on Health series, Dr. Lescault and Dr. Marushack will discuss the causes of hip and knee pain, including arthritis, as well as the many types of treatment available.  In addition, they will discuss what to expect before, during and after hip and replacement surgeries.

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Angela Thompson, MD, to Offer Free Seminar on Women’s Health

SUPPLY, N.C. — Dr. Angela Thompson is hosting a free seminar on women’s health, including information on when and how often women should have mammograms, Pap smears, bone density tests and more.

The seminar, which is scheduled for Thursday, May 19, is part of Brunswick Community Hospital’s Focus on Health lecture series and in honor of Women’s Health Week, which is celebrated May 8 through 14.  The seminar begins at 2:30 p.m. at the Brunswick Electric Community Room, located at 795 Ocean Highway in Shallotte. Light refreshments will be served, and seminar attendees will have the opportunity to register for health and beauty oriented door prizes.

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Brunswick Community Hospital Encourages Local Women to Participate in the National Women’s Health Week Pledge

SUPPLY, N.C. — Brunswick Community Hospital is recognizing the 12th annual National Women’s Health Week which began on Sunday, May 8. The week began with National Women’s Checkup Day, on Monday, May 9, by encouraging women to schedule an annual appointment with their primary care physician.

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University Physicians Surgeon Initiated into American College of Surgeons

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Dr. William Hope, a surgeon at University Physicians, a service of South East Area Health Education Center, was recently initiated into the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The ACS is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.

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Brunswick Community Hospital and Novant Health Receive National Award for Customer Service

SUPPLY, N.C. — Brunswick Community Hospital and Novant Health recently received the 2011 President’s Award from Professional Research Consultants (PRC), a nationally known healthcare research company.  Each year, PRC presents its top award to one organization or individual that has made an extraordinary contribution to healthcare.

Brunswick Community Hospital and Novant were honored for their success in permeating a customer-focused culture of service excellence throughout the organization.

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Poll: 57% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law

According to the latest poll from Rasmussen Reports, support for repeal of the national health care law has rebounded after falling below 50% for the first time since it was passed by Congress in March of last year.

The national telephone survey shows that 57% of likely U.S. voters now at least somewhat favor repeal of the law. Thirty-six percent (36%) oppose repeal. The new findings include 44% who strongly favor repeal of the measure and 26% who are strongly opposed.

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Poll: 51% See Free Market As Better Way To Reduce Health Care Costs

A recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of likely voters say free market competition between insurance companies will do more to bring down health care costs than more government regulation.  Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree and feel increased government regulation is the better way to go.  Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure.

Still, the number of voters who favor free market competition is down 15 points from late October 2009, when two-out-of-three voters (66%) felt that way.

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GE Brings National Healthcare Initiative to Wilmington

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Seeking to improve access to quality healthcare for underserved communities around the United States, the GE Foundation — the philanthropic organization of GE (NYSE: GE) — announced Thursday that it has selected New Hanover Community Health Center in Wilmington to receive a $250,000 grant over the next two years through its national GE Developing Health™ program.

New Hanover County has an uninsured rate of 24 percent (ages 19-64) and 18 percent of county children (under age 18) are in poverty.

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Civitas Poll: North Carolina voters support state legislation to opt out of federal healthcare law

RALEIGH, N.C. — Sixty-three percent of North Carolina voters support legislation to protect their right to opt out of the federal health care law, according to a new poll recently released by the Raleigh-based John William Pope Civitas Institute.

Sixty-three percent of voters think the North Carolina Legislature should pass a law to protect patients’ rights and prohibit forcing them into participating in a health insurance plan.  Twenty-five percent said such a law should not be passed, and 11 percent said they do not know.

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U.S. Chamber releases bipartisan poll highlighting small business leaders’ concerns with healthcare law

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Six months after enactment of the new health reform law, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today released a national bipartisan poll of small business leaders, shedding light on the uncertainty employers are feeling as a result of the new law. The poll of 590 small business leaders was conducted September 18-20 by Frank Luntz and Doug Schoen.

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CFBN Poll Results on the 1099 mandate in the new healthcare law

Cape Fear Business News recently asked readers their opinion of the 1099 mandate in the new healthcare reform law.

The issue: The healthcare reform law mandates that all companies issue 1099 tax forms not just to contract workers but to any individual or corporation from which they buy more than $600 in a year.

The results:

  • 67% – This provision has nothing to do with healthcare and will further harm our struggling economy by creating an added, unnecessary burden on business owners
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Brunswick Community Hospital Recognizes Circle of Excellence Winners

SUPPLY, N.C. — Brunswick Community Hospital recently recognized five exceptional employees with Novant Health’s prestigious Circle of Excellence award, which recognizes employees who consistently demonstrate excellence in the hospital’s core values of compassion, teamwork, personal excellence and diversity.

This year’s recipients include Denise Bordlemay, RN, of the intensive care unit; Sue Leach, RN, corporate educator; Carolyn Long of patient access, Deborah Rochelle, manager of service excellence and volunteers; and Nellrisa Smith of laboratory services.  These honorees were each nominated by their peers and selected by a committee made up of staff and leaders.

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NFIB: North Carolina insurance premiums to rise because of healthcare reform law

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gregg Thompson, North Carolina state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, released the following statement in response to the recent announcement that Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has asked the N.C. Department of Insurance to approve rate increases for two of their plans due to the federal healthcare law:

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Opinion: Government Knows Best – Federal Agencies Plow Ahead Without Public Input

by Randel Johnson and James Gelfand

If you were dismayed by the backroom deals and political horse trading that brought you the massive health care and financial reform bills, hold on to your hats—you ain’t seen nothing yet!

Americans have long been fascinated—and often disgusted—by how Congress passes laws. Many citizens became irate when they learned that most members of Congress hadn’t even read the health care bill, which clocked in at about 2,300 pages. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said famously, “We need to pass the health care bill to find out what’s in it.”

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Opinion: No Surprise on ObamaCare Costs

John Hood

by John Hood

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association is being described as “surprising” because it undercuts the promise of ObamaCare to cut health care costs by reducing emergency-room visits.

I have no doubt that some politicians and activists in North Carolina and beyond have found the study’s conclusions surprising. But they shouldn’t have – the truth about emergency-room costs has been clear for years to those willing to look at the evidence.

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Peter Schottlander, M.D., Joins Calabash Internal Medicine

CALABASH, N.C. — James Moreci, M.D., is proud to welcome Peter Schottlander, M.D., who is board certified in internal medicine, to the Calabash community.  Dr. Schottlander, originally from Manalapan, N.J., has joined Dr. Moreci at Calabash Internal Medicine at 9970 Beach Drive SW, Unit 1, in Calabash.

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Dosher Hospital to host drive-through drug collection event in Southport on Aug. 24

SOUTHPORT, N.C. – Dosher Memorial Hospital is sponsoring a drive-through drug and medication collection event on Tuesday, Aug. 24 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.  The event, dubbed “Operation Medicine Cabinet”, is intended to give residents in and around Brunswick County the opportunity to safely dispose of out-of-date or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications. The hospital will also be collecting pet medications and used hypodermic needles.

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57% Say Health Care Plan Bad For the Country, 59% Favor Repeal

According to a poll by Rasmussen Reports voter pessimism towards the new national health care bill has reached an all-time high, while the number of insured voters who feel it will force them to switch their coverage is up 11 points from early last month.

The survey finds that 57% of likely U.S. voters say the recently passed health care law will be bad for the country.  That’s the highest level of pessimism measured since regular tracking began following Congress’ passage of the law in late March.  Thirty-two percent (32%) say the health care plan will be good for the United States.

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Brunswick Community Hospital recognized for patient safety

SUPPLY, N.C. —  Brunswick Community Hospital was recently recognized as a leader in clinical quality and patient safety for its efforts to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections, specifically Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA infections, which are difficult to treat if they develop.

VHA Inc., a national health care network, presented Brunswick Community Hospital with a 2009 Excellence in MRSA Reduction Award for reducing hospital-acquired MRSA infections by more than 50 percent per 1,000 patient days in 2009 as compared to 2008.  Brunswick Community Hospital had only one hospital-acquired MRSA infection in 2009.

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Poll: 54% Oppose Health Insurance Requirement in new healthcare law

According to a poll by Rasmussen Reports, 54% of U.S. voters oppose the requirement in the new federal health care bill that every American must buy or obtain health insurance.  Forty-three percent (43%) favor the requirement, which was on the losing end of a vote in Missouri Tuesday and is being challenged in court by a number of states.

As on all questions involving the health care plan, the intensity is on the side of the opponents: 23% strongly favor the health insurance requirement, but 41% strongly oppose it.

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U.S. Chamber Event Highlights Impact of Health Care Law

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today joined with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the American Action Network to host a forum entitled “Behind the Curtain: The Health Care Law’s Impact on Small Business,” which brought together small business owners, policy experts, benefits consultants, and members of Congress to discuss the impact of the new health care law. At the event the Chamber launched a new website—www.HealthReformImpacts.com—to serve as a centralized location for the business community to learn about the implementation of the new law and to share their perspectives on how the law impacts their businesses.