WORD TO THE WISE
Newsletter: May 2020 - Volume 20, No. 5
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In this issue:
- PCMS updates: Office open, staff departure, online profiles, marijuana establishment opposition
- New on the blog: Voluntary staff pay cuts; a poem
- Events: Parkview events in 2020; Robert Hawkins Tribute
- News and resources: HAN emails; COVID-19 provider testing; telemedicine grant; Refer to WIC and wear masks; HR advice; telehealth support; free VA app; emergency loan fund; hantavirus warning
- News from CMS: COVID-19 resources
- News from AMA: Coronavirus resource center
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Notice: PCMS Office
The physical PCMS office remains closed but the CEO operates virtually from home, and is working closely with the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment and other relevant partners to ensure that our members are educated and well informed on efforts to crush the curve of coronavirus locally. For the latest resources and information, visit
pueblocms.org/COVID19 or contact
cheryl.law@pueblocms.org.
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Staff departure
Effective May 1, 2020, part-time staff member Christina Avila-Marchet departed the company, moving on for personal reasons. Please direct all society questions or concerns to
cheryl.law@pueblocms.org, as we will not be securing a replacement at this time.
We are very appreciative for all the hard work that Christina did for us over the last 6 months, and she will be greatly missed. She played an integral role in event planning, marketing, managing the directory and membership files and updates, and acting as the point of contact for members and the community.
The Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer would personally like to wish Christina the best of success in all future endeavors.
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Online member profiles
PCMS is creating member profiles on the website. Profiles can be accessed by patients and the public by specialty, name, practice, and telemedicine services. Thanks for your patience while one staff member creates 325 online profiles.
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Marijuana hospitality establishments
PCMS opposes "Marijuana Lounges" and is continuing collaborations with the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment and other essential partners to expand smoke free protections locally. Here's how you can get involved:
- Attend the work session with County Commissioners about Marijuana Lounges scheduled for Tuesday, June 2 at 2 p.m. at the Pueblo County Courthouse Chambers room 137. Drs. Libby Stuyt and Carl Bartecchi will be our presenters but the meeting is open to the public and other doctors can be in the audience.
- Any medical provider is invited to submit content that could be posted online.
- Consider speaking about this issue in a video of less than one minute that we could share on social media. Contract communications staff could record a video or conduct a brief video interview/Q&A.
- Former council member Chris Nicoll, SFPG member, created a Facebook page, Smokefree Pueblo. Click here to like his page and click here to read his February commentary on the importance of putting marijuana lounges to a vote.
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Vinh Chung, MD: Leaders Eat Last
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Dermatologist Vinh Chung, MD, and many of his practice staff all pitched in to take voluntary pay cuts or cut hours to support members of their team who need their paychecks most.
Read more here.
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For inspiration: "The Sun Is Rising"
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Author: Monica Anita Gupta
The sun is rising with each shivering step I take.
It’s still dark out, but I see pink creeping into the blue:
spring pastels to match the canary yellow gowns inside.
Cotton candy dreams. A veneer of peace.
A flock of birds welcomes it in, nibbling,
eager for a taste of life,
thirsty for the warmth of sun.
Show me how you fly, you birds.
How, on little nibbles, you get by,
consuming little, yet soaring
long and wide and far and singing,
enthused about the dawn you’re bringing,
with faith in the power of the morning sun.
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Parkview Medical Center – 2020 Symposiums
All Parkview classes, events, symposiums and large meetings have been canceled. Leadership will make a decision about other 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.
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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.
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CDPHE HAN Updates: Release from Isolation guidelines; COVID-19 symptoms similar to TB
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released two importan HAN advisories last week. The first, on May 5, gave instructions to providers on updated "Release from Isolation" and "Return to Work" guidelines. The second, on May 8, indicated that many symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) overlap with COVID-19, and that anyone with signs or symptoms of pulmonary TB should have sputum collected for TB and be referred to the state or local TB program.
Please look for the HANs in your inbox from May 5 and May 8 for more information. You are strongly encouraged to sign up to subscribe to receive Health Alert Network (HAN) broadcast emails. To do so, email
cdphe_epr_sit@state.co.us with your full name, position and county of employment.
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Update: COVID testing for First Responders and Health Care Workers
Pueblo County's COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing site is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through May 30 at the Colorado State Fairgrounds (enter through Gate 4 off Mesa Ave. and Gaylord Ave.) The site offers testing of
symptomatic and asymptomatic health care workers and first responders, anyone who is symptomatic (including children) who can administer self-test independently, and contacts (symptomatic or asymptomatic) to patients who test positive for COVID-19.
Expanded symptoms: Symptoms may include a cough, difficulty breathing, a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, headache, chills, shaking with chills, new loss of sense of taste or smell, muscle pain and sore throat.
Read more here.
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OeHI telemedicine grant opportunity and CMS COVID emergency funding
The Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) approved $7.9 million in COVID-19 Emergency Funding to the Office of eHealth Innovation (OeHI) in the Lt. Governor’s Office, and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF). This CMS Federal Fund match leverages Health IT Roadmap funds to support Colorado’s emergency response efforts through telemedicine innovations, technical connectivity/technical assistance to health information exchanges, COVID-19 reporting and analytics, and safety net provider public health reporting and surveillance. This funding, established through the American Recovery and Reimbursement Health Information Technology Act, is intended to support the meaningful use of electronic health records by eligible medicaid providers.
All telemedicine projects must be submitted by Friday, May 15 by end of business day for consideration for funding.
Find more information here.
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Information on the CARES Act
Congress passed and Pres. Trump signed the U.S. Government signed the CARES Act (The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) on March 27. This economic relief package was created to provide fast and direct economic assistance for American workers, families, and small businesses, and preserve jobs across various industries. With most governmental changes, they take time to implement, not everything is perfect, and the details needed to explain it do not fit on one page.
The CARES Act is over 800 pages.
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Reminders from PDPHE: WIC is open during the COVID-19 outbreak and masks for physician offices are required
Refer patients to
coloradowicsignup.com who are pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding or a parent/caregiver of a child up to age 5 and are receiving Medicaid, SNAP or TANF or 185 percent of the poverty income guidelines.
Additionally, wearing face coverings is required in physicians' offices per the orders linked below.
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HR advice during the COVID-19 pandemic
The article provides information on the following:
- The consequences of termination vs. furlough of employees
- Severance pay and its impact on a 401k plan
- Distribution of notices
- Employer contributions: should they be eliminated?
- Thinking twice about plan termination
If you have any questions, contact Brad Radochonski, director of retirement for COPIC Financial Services: 720-858-6279 or
bradochonski@copic.com.
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COVID-19 emergency declaration blanket waivers for health care providers
The federal government has put in place certain protections for health care providers during the COVID-19 crisis.
Click here for a 40-page document from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services detailing the waivers.
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Telehealth support from CDPHE
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Colorado State Emergency Operations Center have collaborated to create a dedicated website to help providers implement telehealth.
Click here for more on getting started, regulations, resources, volunteer opportunities and funding opportunities.
The Office of eHealth Innovation invites physicians to share their telehealth experience.
Please complete this form. This information will be used to inform learning collaboratives, policies, infrastructure and funding opportunities.
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Free VA wellness resource: COVID Coach app
The U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs has made available a free app called COVID Coach as a self-care resource. The app also provides information on additional vetted wellness apps.
Find more information here.
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Southern Colorado Community Lending launches emergency loan fund
In light of the sweeping impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on our small business community, Southern Colorado Community Lending (a subsidiary organization of NeighborWorks Southern Colorado) has established the Small Business Emergency Microloan Program to provide financing needed to strengthen small business enterprises in this time of acute need that have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. There are about 20 loans left. 0% interest for nonprofits. Access the application and eligibility criteria
here.
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Public urged to take precautions to avoid hantavirus illness during spring cleaning
The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment is warning the public to avoid hantavirus exposure while cleaning cabins, recreational vehicles, buildings, sheds and barns that may have been closed up for winter. Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents and can cause varied disease syndromes in people worldwide. Infection with any hantavirus can produce hantavirus disease in people. Infection can occur when humans inhale dirt and dust contaminated with mouse urine and feces, when working in or cleaning out rodent-infested structures or possibly from a bite. Read more from the CDC
here.
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COPIC Medical Foundation pledges $250,000 for protective masks for Colorado medical providers
In response to the emergent COVID-19 health crisis, the COPIC Medical Foundation has pledged $250,000 for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) for Colorado medical providers. Working in partnership with Gov. Jared Polis’ Innovation Response Team Task Force, the Foundation’s support allowed for the purchase of 85,000 KN95 masks. These masks will be distributed through the Colorado Department of Public Health to local health departments and then out to hospitals, facilities, and clinics across the state. Regarding the donation, COPIC Medical Foundation Board Chair Sophia Meharena, DO, FAAP, shared, “The Task Force’s efforts to secure PPE align directly with our [Foundation’s] mission to improve the quality of health care through reduced adverse outcomes. Supporting the purchase of masks for the safety of both patients and frontline health care workers is how we can do our small part as a foundation to support the people of Colorado.” Learn more about the COPIC Medical Foundation
here.
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NEWS FROM THE COLORADO MEDICAL SOCIETY
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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 physicians' town halls or virtual grand rounds educational events on Wednesdays;
see all events here. Also join the COVID-19 physicians' discussion forum through the form on the
COVID-19 landing page.
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NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
COVID-19 (2019 novel coronavirus) resource center for physicians
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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.
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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.
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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
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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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