WORD TO THE WISE Newsletter: April 2020 - Volume 20, No. 4

In this issue: President's update: Please respond if you could help in our local ER or ICU Update from your CMS BOD Rep: CMS physicians' forum and town halls New on the blog: Physician perspectives on COVID-19 Events: Weekly COVID-19 Physicians' Town Halls; financial assistance webinar; Parkview events in 2020; Robert Hawkins Tribute News and resources: Volunteer to provide telehealth visits; provider testing; Care Line for physicians; federal CMS calls; free meditation app News from CMS: COVID-19 resources News from AMA: Coronavirus resource center

UPDATE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT: Marcel Junqueira, MD

Colorado is in a state of emergency; physicians are the front lines You should have received an email from Dr. Tom Greidanus and myself earlier in the week about needing to understand our full workforce capacity should frontline providers in primary care, emergency medicine, ICU and/or pulmonology fall ill to COVID-19 or be quarantined for a period due to exposure. As many of you know, I practice in the ICU and Dr. Greidanus practices in the ER and, like all of you, we understand that we are at risk of contracting COVID-19. For this reason, I am asking you to respond to this email with your name, phone number, email address and specialty/training if you are willing to volunteer in either of our local Pueblo County hospitals and get emergency hospital privileges to do so. Reaching out to us does not commit you to service, it simply adds you to a list of providers who could step up to help in an event that the resources we have available are not enough. Thank you.

UPDATE FROM YOUR CMS BOD REP: Brad Roberts, MD

CMS supports you through this COVID-19 crisis The CMS Board of Directors meeting on March 13 marked the last time anyone at CMS -- staff or committees -- had any type of in-person meeting. Appropriately, it was during that meeting that we raised an emergency agenda item to discuss ways to help Colorado physicians through the pandemic. There are a few actions I urge you to take now, if you haven't already. Join the physicians' discussion forum on the Basecamp platform ( sign up here) to contribute to the ongoing discussion of physician response and concerns, participate in an upcoming virtual town hall (listed on the CMS events page), and explore the CMS COVID-19 microsite ( cms.org/covid-19). All of these resources are continually monitored and updated by CMS staff members and are greatly aided by physicians who take time to participate on Basecamp or send resources directly to staff. I am proud of the work of all physicians and the role the medical society has played in bringing us together.

New on the blog

Jacob Mathew Jr., DO: COVID-19 Update from PCMS Member Physician What is all the fuss about? It is just a virus right? Wrong. No one really knows the extent of the damage the virus can have on our health. This unknown is what leads many of us to be worried, and this concern is not only appropriate, but is healthy. If it leads you to practicing social distancing as much as possible, and staying home unless you need to perform essential tasks, then we still have a chance to decrease our risk. We are behind the ball. This is well known. But so is the rest of the world. We could not prepare for such a virus but knew it was potentially possible (anything is). As a result, please don’t panic when you see daily numbers of the number of deaths in certain cities, counties or countries. Just know that the risk is real and we have to do what we can to help. In a time where it seems like we are hopeless, we do have the power to stop the spread and hopefully limit future casualties. Read more here.

Vinh Chung, MD: Vanguard is here to serve you We at Vanguard Skin Specialists are grateful to our colleagues who serve on the front lines of the global COVID-19 crisis or work in hospital settings. We value your personal sacrifices and want to do our part to support you and this community. We commit to doing everything we can to keep patients out of the hospital and urgent care facilities. Click here to read some of the things our practice has started doing.

EVENTS

Register for weekly virtual physicians' town halls on COVID-19 Next event is April 8, 6 - 7 p.m. with HCPF Exec Kim Bimestefer PCMS invites and encourages you to join weekly virtual physicians' town halls each Wednesday evening 6 - 7 p.m. for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The next event is April 8 featuring Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing Executive Director Kim Bimestefer, who will provide an update on how the pandemic will affect Medicaid, as well as other panelists. Register here. PCMS is co-hosting the town hall with the Colorado Medical Society (CMS) and other specialty and component medical societies. There will be time for questions and answers, but space is capped at 500. The town halls are moderated by CMS President David Markenson, MD, MBA. All will be listed on CMS's events page, cms.org/events.

Webinar: Limiting the Financial Impact on You and Your Practice Friday, April 3, 12-1 p.m. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed tremendous stress on physicians and extraordinary strain on practices' cash flow. Click here to register for a CMS-hosted webinar this Friday, April 3, 12 - 1 p.m. for more information on financial assistance available to physician practices. Those unable to make it in person can view an archived version on the CMS COVID-19 financial support webpage at a later date.

Parkview Medical Center – 2020 Symposiums All Parkview classes, events, symposiums and large meetings have been canceled through April 30. Leadership will make a decision about May activities at a later date. Save the date for the following symposiums presented by Parkview Medical Center: Saturday, July 18, 2020: Surgical Services & Trauma Symposium Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020: Neurosciences Symposium Below are the 2020 Parkview Medical Group (PMG) All-Provider Meetings: Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m. And below are the 2020 Parkview General Medical Staff (GMS) meetings: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Date changed! Mental Health America of Pueblo Robert Hawkins Tribute & Award Ceremony - Aug. 14, 2020 The 19th Annual Robert Hawkins Tribute & Award Ceremony presented by Mental Health America of Pueblo will be held Aug. 14, 2020, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., at the Pueblo Community College Fortino Ballroom. This year's honorees are Dr. Robert Tonsing, Teah Miller and Dominique Mundt. Purchase tickets here.

NEWS AND RESOURCES

Urgent: Volunteer to provide free telehealth visits The Colorado COVID-19 Innovation Response Team -- organized by Gov. Jared Polis -- will be introducing a telehealth/telemedicine service providing support to ~800,000 uninsured and under-served Coloradans. They urgently need medical professionals and administrators to donate their time to provide these free telehealth visits. This work will be performed entirely from home, primarily via telephone and/or video calls. Callers will provide their symptoms over the phone, and those who need medical attention will be triaged to a queue for telephone-based care. PLEASE SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER HERE.

Alert: COVID testing for First Responders and Health Care Workers UCHealth Memorial Hospital located at 1400 Boulder St, Colorado Springs, CO will begin testing first responder and healthcare workers for COVID-19. The testing site will be open starting Monday, March 30, 2020, at 9 a.m. and will accept individuals for testing that meet the following criteria: You are a Healthcare worker or First Responder – must have identification or proof of affiliation You must be symptomatic – cough, shortness of breath, fever You must bring picture ID and health insurance card (no one will be turned away with no insurance) Do not take any fever reducing medication 6 hours prior to testing The testing site will continue operations every day, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, the lab capacity is limited to 125 tests at this site daily. Definition of First Responder: Any individual responding to the public health task or mission, as determined by the jurisdiction. Definition of Healthcare Worker: Any individual working or providing direct patient care in acute or critical settings (hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, emergency medicine). Please click here for more information.

COVID-19 Care Line for Physicians (Care Line): 720-810-9131 The Colorado Physician Health Program (CPHP) has established a support line for any Colorado physician or physician assistant to call if you need support and assistance in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. By contacting the Care Line at 720-810-9131, you will be linked with a peer who will listen and discuss stresses associated with the COVID-19 crisis, and caring for those suffering from the disease. Calls to the Care Line are free of charge. The Care Line is not treatment, but rather an opportunity for peer support in a confidential environment. Information provided by users will be kept confidential to the extent allowed by law. The Care Line is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and additional support phone calls (or video chats) can be scheduled after hours. If you are experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, you should contact 911. For more information go to the CPHP website.

Federal CMS calls Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (federal CMS) has been hosting regular calls with a variety of clinicians, hospitals, other facilities, and states in an effort to keep stakeholders updated on our COVID-19 efforts. Those unable to attend the calls live can access recordings of the calls along with transcripts here. They have committed to continue to host calls and share information through list serves and media. To keep up with the important work of the White House Coronavirus Task Force in response to COVID-19, visit www.coronavirus.gov. For a complete and updated list of federal CMS actions, and other information specific to the agency, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.

Headspace for health care professionals The current COVID- 19 public health crisis is an especially difficult time for health care professionals. Headspace, a meditation platform, is offering free access to Headspace Plus for all U.S. healthcare professionals working in public health settings. Helping those who care for us, care for themselves. Read more here.

NEWS FROM THE COLORADO MEDICAL SOCIETY

COVID-19 resources from CMS The Colorado Medical Society has compiled helpful resources on COVID-19 and is continually updating the microsite as new guidance, tools and information are available. Visit cms.org/COVID-19 for more on telehealth, care protocols and guidance, PPE/supplies, testing, workforce issues, and financial support. Plus, participate in weekly physicians' town halls on Wednesdays and periodic topic-specific webinars on Fridays; see all events here. Also join the COVID-19 physicians' discussion forum through the form on the COVID-19 landing page.

NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION COVID-19 (2019 novel coronavirus) resource center for physicians

The American Medical Association is closely monitoring COVID-19 and compiling up-to-the-moment information for physicians from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health departments. Click here for what you need to know about how to prevent, diagnose and treat the virus.

MISSION:   Fa cilitating meaningful collaboration of medical professionals in Pueblo County through social networking, education, and advocacy!    VISION:   To c reate a medical society that serves as a venue for collaboration for the betterment of healthcare in Pueblo County, and improve the practice of medicine and life of medical professionals, locally.

Board Officers: President: Marcel Junqueira, MD; President-Elect: open position; Treasurer: Kathleen Brown, MD; Past-President: Tom Greidanus, MD |  Directors: CMS Representative Brad Roberts, MD; Teresa Braden, DO; Ross Patrick, MD; Jacob Mathew Jr., DO; Cheryl Walker, DO; and Kevin Weber, MD |  Chief Executive Officer: Cheryl Law, MA, MNM

This newsletter is intended for the members and interested persons of the Pueblo County Medical Society. If you have received this and wish to opt-out call 719-281-6073 or use the “unsubscribe” link below.

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