North Carolina begins using new food code starting this Saturday

From the Star News: North Carolina on Saturday will begin using the federal food code governing restaurants and other food establishments. “These new rules allow us to keep up with changes in food preparation techniques, while keeping public health and safety in mind,” said David Rice, New Hanover County health director. The N.C. General Assembly […]

Poor health ranking prompts Avery County to improve clinical care

From the Avery Journal: Avery County Health Department is working with Toe River Health District and Cannon Memorial Hospital to address the startling findings of a study that ranked Avery County as having the worst clinical care of any county in North Carolina. The county health rankings study was sponsored by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation […]

State Employees Association of N.C. won’t endorse candidate in governor’s race

From the News & Observer: RALEIGH, N.C. — The State Employees Association of North Carolina’s political committee isn’t endorsing anyone in the race for governor, a boost for Republican Pat McCrory after the group endorsed his Democratic rival four years ago and prompted a campaign cash injection. The 55,000-member union for state workers and retirees […]

Mission Health responds to state’s rejection of Fletcher endoscopy suite

Press release From Mission Health ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 29, 2012) – Mission Health’s application for a Certificate of Need (CON) for an endoscopy suite at the Mission Pardee Health Campus in Fletcher, N.C. was declined today following a 5 month application process. At present, Mission Health has no further information as to “why” the application […]

Mission Hospital hosts meetings to discuss how to make Asheville safer for women and children

Press release From Mission Health ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 29, 2012) – Mission Hospital hosted the first of a series of meetings bringing together health practitioners, law enforcement, city leaders and support agencies to make Asheville a safer place for women and children. The kick-off meeting, held on July 16th at the hospital, included representatives from […]

Project Connect seeks donations for “Socks & Sundries” drive to help homeless community

Press release from the City of Asheville and Asheville-Buncombe Homeless Initiative ASHEVILLE – Project Connect brings the full community together to address the root causes of homelessness by providing tools and supports to individuals and families seeking to stabilize their housing. Now, more than ever before, the community is recognizing that collaborative problem solving is […]

When I go

Ron Scheinman says his philosophy of life helped him make difficult decisions about end-of-life care. ‘You never know what could happen,’ the 69-year-old observes. ‘You have to give these things a lot of thought.’ So when Scheinman and his wife, Karen Sparer, moved to North Carolina nearly 10 years ago, they took CarePartners’ Making Choices […]

Mission President and CEO appointed to N.C. Hospital Association Board of Trustees

From the press release from Mission Health: ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 28, 2012) – Mission Health President and CEO Ronald A. Paulus, MD, was recently appointed to the North Carolina Hospital Association (NCHA) Board of Trustees. Dr. Paulus was elected to the Physician or Hospital Trustee position by the NCHA membership at the organization’s annual summer […]

UNCA’s second annual Well-A-Bration features talk by Dan Savage, health activities

From the press release: UNC Asheville’s second annual Well-A-Bration, September 13-15, will feature music, a sports expo, healthy cooking and exercise workshops, and a keynote talk by author, activist and sex-advice columnist Dan Savage. Savage is nationally known for his syndicated “Savage Love” column and for his role in creating the “It Gets Better Project.” […]

Breaking the silence: Health care reform provides free domestic-violence screening

Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, most women can now have conversations about domestic violence with their doctor without having to worry about the cost. Effective Aug. 1, domestic-violence screening is one of eight free preventive services for women. Domestic violence survivor Sharone Owen shares her story about how one conversation with her doctor may have saved her life. (photo by Caitlin Byrd)

Mission Health to open new comprehens­ive care practice, first of many

There are no signs up outside of the two-story building yet, but Senior Vice President of Government and Community Relations for Mission Health Rowena Buffet Timms says there’s no question about it: Mission Health will bring a new family care facility to the Enka/Candler area within the coming months. Named Mission My Care Plus, the 11,000-square-foot facility features 15 patient exam rooms, two medical procedure suites, a full pharmacy, an X-ray machine and a physical therapy suite.  (Floor plan image courtesy of Mission Health).