WNC Wellness review: Mission to purchase MAHEC building; Pardee-sale talks concern officials

• Medical school at Asheville’s Mission Health System is here to stay:

“Mission Health System plans to buy the MAHEC Bridge Building and turn it into a dedicated center for medical education. Mission plans to purchase the building on Biltmore Avenue for $7 million. It will house the Asheville campus of the UNC School of Medicine, which currently includes 10 students who are doing their clinical rotations here, and a branch of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, which will enroll its first class in the fall of 2011.” – [Asheville Citizen-Times] 

• Health career workshop for Latino students set for Oct. 21:

“Latino students in grades eight through 12 and their parents are encouraged to attend Exito Escolar, a free workshop presented in Spanish 6-7:45 p.m. Oct. 21 in the computer learning center at MAHEC, 501 Biltmore Ave.” – [Asheville Citizen-Times]  

•  Henderson County to discuss potential Pardee sale:

“A day after the medical staff and leadership of Pardee Hospital voiced their opposition to behind-the-scenes consideration of a possible sale of the county hospital, Henderson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bill Moyer moved quickly Wednesday to schedule a discussion Oct. 20 at the board’s next meeting.” – [BlueRidgeNow.com]

• Canada declares common chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) toxic. Is the U.S. next?:

“The chemical has countless industrial uses, most often in the epoxy liner of cans and in plastic bottles. But BPA is also an endocrine disruptor, meaning that it has the capacity to mess with our hormones and potentially impact health—especially in developing fetuses—even at relatively low doses.” – [Time.com]

• New web-based map highlights physician population:

“Using AMA data from 2008, North Carolina is noted to have 44.1 surgeons per 100,000 population, with the highest number stemming from Orange County.” – [NC Medical Society] 

• Local blog discusses flu shot risks:

“I see both sides of the flu shot debate every day at this time of year. People ask me my opinion since I am in the health care field. This is not to be construed as medical advice or to replace the advice of your doctor. However as my friends keep reminding me…”well you’re a nurse, you should know this”…here is my 50 cents! ” – [Walking Upright blog]

• Life o’ Mike dinner, auction set for Nov. 7 at Asheville’s Tingles:

“Tickets are now available for Life o’ Mike’s second annual Eat at Mike’s, an evening of food prepared by local chefs, beginning at 5 p.m. Nov. 7 at Tingles Café at 27 Broadway St. […] Life o’ Mike is a local advocacy and education nonprofit focusing on America’s health care system.” – [Asheville Citizen-Times]

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC gets into mobile health app business:

“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina recently launched HealthNAV for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. It lets buyers find the closest urgent care center to them and store notes about their prescriptions and reminders as well as questions to ask their doctors. A drug finder tool compares drug prices, listing average drug costs and attempts to find cheaper options for those medications.” – [StarNews Online]

• Swine flu vaccine linked to rare nerve disease:

“Health watchdogs have admitted for the first time that there may be a possible link between the swine flu jab [vaccine] and an increased risk of developing a rare nerve disease.” – [Telegraph.co.uk]

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