WASHTENAW COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
Legislative action & community outreach since 1827
The WCMS E-Newsletter is a bimonthly publication highlighting major medical, public health, and community issues affecting physician and medical student leaders in Washtenaw County. Distribution occurs every other Thursday and is a unique benefit of WCMS membership.
COVID-19 TESTING & VACCINE STATUS
Testing Summary (Current as of January 27):
  • Washtenaw County COVID-19 Case Status
  • Confirmed & Probable Cases - 16,374
  • Total Deaths - 223
  • 2 week snapshot (January 7- 20): 1,108 cases and 4.1% weekly test positivity rate
  • Looking for COVID-19 testing sites in Washtenaw County? Follow this link.
  • Michigan COVID-19 Case Status
  • Confirmed Cases - 604,233
  • Total Deaths - 15,314
  • Looking for COVID-19 testing sites in Michigan? Follow this link.

Vaccination Summary (Current as of January 26):
  • Washtenaw County Vaccine Status (Region 2S)
  • 78,950 vaccines distributed (Pfizer - 72,150 / Moderna - 6,800)
  • Facility type:
  • Federally Qualified Health Center - 200
  • Hospital - 65,625
  • Local Health Department - 13,125
  • 46,504 vaccines administered (+25,507 over 2 weeks)
  • 35,271 1st dose (+15,873 over 2 weeks)
  • 11,233 2nd dose (+9,634 over 2 weeks)
  • Michigan Vaccine Status
  • 1,479,075 vaccines distributed (Pfizer - 734,175 / Moderna - 744,900)
  • Facility type:
  • Correctional Clinic: 2,100
  • Federally Qualified Health Center - 6,900
  • Hospital - 746,900
  • Local Health Department - 291,575
  • Long Term Care - 500
  • LTC Program - 430,200
  • Local Tribal Center - 900
  • 802,106 vaccines administered (+505,518 over 2 weeks)
  • 659,075 1st dose (+393,718 over 2 weeks)
  • 143,031 2nd dose (+111,800 over 2 weeks)
NEWS & STORIES
WCHD Recommends all Local U-M Students Stay In Place, Avoid Gatherings

To help slow the spread of COVID-19 - including the more easily transmitted B.1.1.7. variant - the Washtenaw County Health Department is recommending that all currently enrolled University of Michigan students living on or near the Ann Arbor campus stay in place at their campus-area addresses starting today through Feb. 7.

This recommendation, which has the full support of the university, is directed at all U-M undergraduate, graduate and professional students enrolled in the Winter 2021 term and currently residing on or off campus in Washtenaw County. Students are being asked to remain at their campus-area addresses and to not gather with others outside of their household members. To access the full news release, please click here.
WCHD COVID-19 Vaccination News
Update as of 1/25 at 6:30 PM

  • "Michigan Medicine, IHA, and the VA have limited supplies. If you are 65 years or older and a patient with Michigan Medicine, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System or IHA, please check websites or wait for them to contact you. Do not call at this time.
  • The WCHD is taking appointment requests for individuals eligible under the revised 1B phase (Michiganders ages 65+ or 1A not already vaccinated). Please use this link to request an individual appointment, and this link for organizational requests. A completed request does not mean an appointment is available yet. Scheduling may take weeks or months. A registration link (or call) will be made when an appointment is available.
  • If you cannot complete the link online, call us at 734-544-6700. Please reserve phone lines for those who cannot use online resources."

For the latest updates and news on vaccination from WCHD, please visit their webpage. To sign-up for WCHD's COVID-19 email updates, please follow this link.
Access the Winter 2020 Edition of the WCMS Bulletin

Access the digital 4th quarter issue of the WCMS Bulletin: 
  • What Happened to Health Can't Wait,
  • General Session on COVID-19 and Washtenaw's Public Health Measures,
  • Upcoming MSMS House of Delegates,
  • 2021 Membership Renewal Reminder, and More!

Contact the Society Office to submit a piece for publication or to request a printed copy of the WCMS Bulletin!
Submit a Resolution for the Spring MSMS House of Delegates

Resolutions are the vehicles used to debate and determine the policies, priorities, and direction of MSMS. WCMS’ Executive Council will be considering members’ resolutions at the February 4 meeting in advance of the 2021 MSMS House of Delegates (HOD) set for May 1-2.
A well-crafted resolution is essential to present the most effective case for issues that are of the greatest importance and concern to organized medicine. The WCMS Executive Council reviews resolutions to foster support and offer guidance prior to submission to MSMS. WCMS assumes responsibility for resolution submission to MSMS if approved by the Executive Council before the March 1 deadline. For information on how to write a resolution, please click here.

EVENTS
WCMS COVID-19 Workgroup: Thursday, Feb. 4 at 6:00 PM

Since March, WCMS has convened regular COVID-19 teleconferences to discuss resource allocation, emergency preparedness, and tracking and tracing among Washtenaw's health systems and physician leaders. The workgroup is led by University of Michigan infectious diseases specialist and WCMS Executive Council member Sandro Cinti, MD. The workgroup also receives updates and modeling data from UM Public Health epidemiologists. To access recordings and resources from past meetings, please follow this link.

All interested WCMS members are encouraged to join the next virtual meeting on Thursday, February 4 from 6:00-7:00 PM. Please contact the Society Office for login credentials.
WCMS Legislative Committee: Monday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 AM

WCMS members are encouraged to join the first, virtual Legislative Committee meeting of 2021 on Monday, February 8 from 7:30-9:00 AM. Legislators typically in attendance include: Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, State Senator Jeff Irwin, and State Reps. Donna Lasinski and Yousef Rabhi. Committee members and legislators will be discussing the medical societies' legislative priorities for the year.

All WCMS members are welcome to attend. To request virtual meeting access, please contact the Society Office.
Medical Student/Young Physician Event on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 PM

Join WCMS and the Oakland County Medical Society for the upcoming virtual "Business of Medicine" event for medical students and young physicians on February 16 from 6:30-7:30 PM. Speakers will be discussing:
  • contract negotiation
  • financial planning
  • interview/match preparation

Click here to RSVP! After registering, you will receive a Zoom confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
We're Looking for Leaders!

WCMS at the MSMS House of Delegates
The House of Delegates (HOD) is the official policy-making body of MSMS. Resolutions are the vehicles used to debate and determine the policies, priorities, and direction of MSMS. Each year, physician and medical student members serve as delegates, review resolutions, testify in reference committees, and vote on important policy decisions. WCMS is allocated 13 delegate slots in 2021.

WCMS Executive Council
The Executive Council is the voting body that supervises the function and activities of WCMS. Council members determine annual events, legislative priorities, and community outreach directives. The Executive Council now meets virtually the first Thursday of each month.

WCMS Committees and Task Forces
Each committee meets approximately three-four times annually and members are simply asked to share a passion for the subject and interest in learning skills in the field.
  • Environmental/Climate Change Task Force
  • Finance Committee
  • Legislative Committee
  • Membership Committee
  • Programming Committee

To apply and learn more about WCMS leadership opportunities, please follow this link.
2021 Membership Renewal

WCMS and MSMS are here to help throughout your career in medicine. We are proud to serve you and keep you connected with legislators, public health experts, and colleagues. Our staff, tools, and resources are available to you around the clock.

Membership to WCMS and MSMS runs on a calendar basis (January-December). If you have not yet renewed your 2021 membership, please click here to not miss out on important member benefits and news.

If you need help accessing your account or would like to renew over the phone, please call the MSMS Membership Department: (517) 336-5716.
*Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of members, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Washtenaw County Medical Society.