FROM THE DESK OF WENDY YOUNG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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The Sonoma County Medical Association and Mendocino Lake County Medical Association is continuing to support our medical communities through the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic efforts. As stated previously, I understand that you are already receiving tons of email and updates, so I aim to be helpful, not redundant. With that said, this email is jam packed with content! You may have to come back to this one a few times to absorb the content.
As I mentioned previously, SCMA rallied the community to begin making masks in the event of a N95 shortage. I posted a call for home sewists on social media which led me to a Facebook group called 'North Bay Sewists Unite.' We went from 30 sewists to over 1100 home sewists making masks, at no cost to you. As of this morning, we have requests for
over 15,000 masks from hospitals, first responders, nursing facilities, schools, daycare facilities, grocery stores, etc.
If your practice needs, please use the donation request form below, but please be patient as we try to fulfill all the requests.
Here are a few websites that you might find helpful for daily overviews:
Update on the Care for Our Caregivers campaign:
This initiative, that began here at SCMA, has become bigger than SCMA. It is now on the Governor's desk awaiting approval for a statewide rollout. With the way things are moving these days, we may all find out at the same time at one of Governor Newsom's daily updates. Fingers [and toes] crossed that we will have resources and an extensive plan to care for our front line caregivers.
Contact: (707) 620-0808 | exec@scma.org: This is my home office line during the shelter in place order. Please feel free to contact me if I can assist you.
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Physician Survey - Financial Impact on your practice from COVID-19
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We know that physician practices are hurting right now. Working in collaboration with the local medical components, CMA released a
survey
request yesterday to our members and non-members alike
requesting immediate input on the financial impact of COVID-19 to your practice
.
In order for SCMA | MLCMS and the CMA to provide assistance and work with policy-makers and state and federal legislators,
we need to know what kinds of challenges you are facing.
This data will be critical in shaping our advocacy and actions to HELP YOUR PRACTICE RECOVER in the wake of COVID-19. (Deadline April 15).
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CMA sent a letter on April 2 to Governor Gavin Newsom outlining
action requests to provide financial relief to physicians
including stabilization grants, incentives for insurers and health plans, clinician wellness, suspension of over-payment requests and reducing administrative burdens.
These recommendations are designed to reduce hardship upon physicians and practices of all sizes as well as in hospital settings and through contracted groups.
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CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (CMA)
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Urgent call for all medical offices:
The primary care testing sites and the public health testing sites are in desperate need of swabs for testing. If you have Dacron tipped and plastic handled swabs, please consider donating to the effort. Even a few makes a difference!
Please deliver your donation of swabs to: 495 Tesconi Cir, Santa Rosa.
Have a message to get out in my next blast, email me at
exec@scma.org
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CMA COVID-19 RESPONSE TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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The California Medical Association receives hundreds of calls a day from providers looking for assistance. With the questions they receive, they have created the COVID-10 FAQ's:
COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions. This list is updated daily! Click to see if your questions/concerns about your practice, staffing, telehealth, etc. are already listed. If you have a question you would like to ask, email them to
communications@cmadocs.org.
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CMA offers a
Confidential phone line,
regardless of membership, for physicians and/or dentists. You can call on your own behalf, or a family member or colleague may call, to request help when a physician is facing problems of stress, substance abuse or mental health issues.
This line is completely confidential and serves in support of physicians to ease any personal burdens that may be affecting their well-being.
Callers are connected to a physician or dentist with extensive experience in helping health professionals.
Physicians’ and Dentists’ Confidential Line:
Northern California: (650) 756-7787
Southern California: (213) 383-2691
For a detailed explanation of what the Confidential Line
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TELEHEALTH TOOLKITS FOR GENERAL PRACTITIONERS
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- Amwell Grants and Public Funding Program: CMA Physician Services recently announced a partnership with Amwell, a leading telehealth solutions platform. Through this partnership, all California physicians have access to Amwell’s telehealth platform at a discounted rate for the next twelve months and no monthly fees until May 2020. However, CMA Physician Services recognizes that not all physician practices have the means to implement the Amwell telehealth solution into their practice, despite the discounted rate. The Amwell Grants and Public Funding Program assists Amwell customers seeking to secure funding to support implementing telehealth into their practice. Amwell does not provide or pay for grant writing on a practice’s behalf, but will provide expertise, tools, and grant monitoring to help obtain the funds. Eligibility: Must be an Amwell customer. For additional details, click here. Contact: Angela Connor, Director of Grants and Public Funding, at angela.connor@amwell.com or (910) 476-2520.
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA - GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM
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Governor Newsom has announced a COVID-19 Testing Task Force, a public-private collaboration working group with stakeholders across the state to quickly and significantly boost California’s testing capacity. The Testing Task Force’s priority is to ensure California has enough capacity and supplies to administer a significantly greater number of tests statewide. For more info:
California Coronavirus Testing Task Force
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It is recommended that
health care workers, first responders, and staff at facilities providing patient care wear surgical masks
while on duty and engaging in activities that involve close proximity to the general public, co-workers, and patients.
Sundari Mase, MD, MPH | Health Officer | Department of Health Services
(707) 565-4426 | Sundari.Mase@sonoma-county.org
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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
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Rumors can easily circulate
within communities during a crisis, stay informed with facts by visiting our
Rumor Control Page
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CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)
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Cases and latest updates
(Note: This page will be updated regularly at noon Mondays through Fridays. Numbers close out at 4 p.m. the day before reporting.)
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program:
Find more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans at:
SBA.gov/Disaster.
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SCMA BUSINESS PARTNER - RUSSEL VAN SISTINE
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Need to have a conversation with a financial expert?
Contact SCMA's Business Partner and Financial Advisor: Russell Van Sistine: Mobile: 707-766-4765 | Business: 707-542-7071. Russell is happy to have a quick conversation with you if you have questions or concerns as it pertains to the ups and downs of the stock market and your investments. He has shared these documents for your reference:
Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund: This provision provides financial relief to health care providers for expenses incurred due to the coronavirus, as well as revenue losses. “Health care providers” is defined broadly and includes hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, FQHCs, rural health clinics, health home aids, etc. Health centers can be reimbursed for expenses incurred for supplies as well as labor, staffing, training, etc. According to the bill, there will also be grants and loans available for future costs. Health and Human Services has not yet released guidance on how to apply for these funds. SCMA will update our members when info is available.
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AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION - VIEWPOINT
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Understanding and Addressing Sources of Anxiety Among Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Authored by: Tait Shanafelt, MD | Stanford University School of Medicine
Jonathan Ripp, MD, MPH | Ichahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Mickey Trockel, MD, PhD | Stanford University School of Medicine
The coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic has become one of the central health crises of a generation
. The pandemic has affected people of all nations, continents, races, and socioeconomic groups. The responses required, such as quarantining of entire communities, closing of schools, social isolation, and shelter- in-place orders, have abruptly changed daily life.
Health care professionals of all types are caring for patients with this disease. The rapid spread of COVID-19 and the severity of symptoms it can cause in a segment of infected individuals has acutely taxed the limits of health care systems.
Click to continue reading
The American Medical Association will be hosting a
live Town Hall on Thursday,
April 9th, 11–12:30 p.m. with AMA President Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, and a panel of AMA health care experts on challenges and concerns facing physicians during this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis.
Your participation is welcomed.
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- We started Homebound to help our Sonoma County community rebuild after wildfire. This day and every day, Sonoma's medical community and first responders are our heroes. Thank you to those fighting daily for the health and resilience of our strong town.
- CAP COVID-19 Resource Center: Essential Resources for Physicians Practicing Medicine in These Challenging Times: The Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP) wishes to provide California physicians and medical practices with the most up-to-date information and best practices for treating COVID-19 while protecting practice staff and other patients. We are pleased to offer you access to our COVID-19 resource page, which will continually be revised with key guidance and up-to-date best practices. Among the useful resources the site currently offers are printable office signage templates, healthcare provider resources, and guidance to implementing telemedicine in your practice. For more than 40 years, CAP has protected our physician members with trustworthy medical malpractice coverage bolstered by thoughtful, personalized guidance on risk management and practice management issues. Contact: Dorine Leong at 650-543-2183 or via email at DLeong@CAPphysicians.com.
- Berry & Fritzinger is grateful for the dedicated and talented medical professionals in Sonoma County who are on the front lines of protecting our community from this pandemic. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this pandemic, and we wish for everyone to remain healthy and safe as we work through these challenging times together. We realize that each medical practice will feel the effects of this pandemic in different ways. We are prepared to help you navigate this new reality.
- To help our medical community through this unprecedented time, you are encouraged to read these recent posts:
The impact of COVID-19 is constantly changing, along with information and guidance from state and federal agencies. Berry & Fritzinger is closely monitoring the COVID-19 legal developments and can help you understand how to apply these new laws to your practice.
You can reach David Berry, Esq. at 707-800-0550 or via email at
info@berryfritzlaw.com.
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Contact SCMA|MLCMS: exec@scma.org | Rachel@scma.og | (707) 525-4375
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