Dear PaPS member,
We are facing circumstances never encountered before with the COVID-19 pandemic. As psychiatrists, we are on the front lines of providing care for our patients, searching for answers and stability during a time of uncertainty where updates are given not just daily, but on a minute-by-minute basis.
I want to formally thank you for your tireless dedication to your patients, their families, and to the health and well-being of all citizens across the Commonwealth. Your Society is working closely with the APA, the PA Medical Society and their medical specialty colleagues, and various departments within the Wolf Administration, to address your concerns and act as a clearinghouse for information crucial to meet the needs of your patients and their families.
The majority of questions our office is fielding relate to telehealth for those already providing this method of treatment and those venturing into this area to ensure there is no disruption of service for patients unable to come into the office.
As President of the Society, I am extremely proud of how our members have stepped up to ensure minimal disruption of service, regardless of the practice setting. I have spoken with our PaPS staff to come up with an approach to provide crucial information to our members. We have sent two recent emails with important information and will provide additional updates at least weekly, if not more frequently.
Our PaPS team is fully functional, working remotely to address your needs and to keep our organization afloat during this pandemic. There has been no disruption of service. If our updates do not address your concerns, please contact Deb Shoemaker, our executive director, via email at
dshoemaker@pamedsoc.org
or via phone at 1.800.422.2900.
Stay strong and healthy,
Keith R. Stowell, MD, DFAPA
President, Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society