In This Issue
Featured news
CalVaxGrant deadline extended to Oct. 15
Apply now for COVID-19 provider relief funding
HOD meets Oct. 23
Latino Health Forum set
for Oct. 7–15
Physician wellness webinar Oct. 21
Other highlights
KP graduates first family medicine residents
Physicians' financial questions answered
Vaccinations required for healthcare workers
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Fall 2021 is here! So much to do in the last quarter of the year for SCMA/MLCMS as we prepare to merge and become SMLMA. Our first order of business will be to create a board of directors that serves our expanded region and the varied interests of Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties. Please watch for our call for physicians to join the new combined 2022 Sonoma-Mendocino-Lake Medical Association Board of Directors. In addition to naming a President-Elect to serve alongside 2022 President Patricia Hiserote, DO, we will be seeking physicians to join the board from various regions including Healdsburg, Sonoma Valley, Santa Rosa, Mendocino, Lake County and Ukiah, as well as group representatives including Kaiser, Sutter, Providence, and Adventist Health. Until you hear from us on this important matter, I hope you will take some time to consider what you can bring to the table as a local leader. Wanna join the board—you don't need to wait for my email. Please contact me now at exec@scma.org. I look forward to working with you!
The 2021 Contribution Award nominations are now closed. We received quite a few nominations, which will now go to committee for review. Thank you for submitting the nominations. Stay tuned for announcement of our 2021 awardees.
The SCMA Business Partnership program is thriving in support of the local medical community. This program is made up of local businesses who choose to support the medical community and work with SCMA to think outside the box in providing service to members. Last month we asked if you had any financial questions for our certified financial planner, Russell Van Sistine. You responded, and he created a great YouTube video response. [See link below.] Well done, Russell! We look forward to the next installment. Thank you for helping keep the spirit of the SCMA investment group alive and well during the pandemic.
Real estate advisor, Sudha Schlesinger, from Engel & Volkers, invites influential practice/group representatives and anyone considering buying or selling a home soon or in 2022 to dinner at Mayacama Golf & Country Club on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 6:00 p.m. Sudha will share insights in market sales and purchases in Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino and Lake counties— including current and expected trends, desirable neighborhoods, interest rates, staging to sell, qualifying for loans, etc. You do not want to miss this dinner. The location is stunning, the food and wine are delicious, and our host is the best at listening to what you need/want and negotiating on your behalf. Come say hello to SCMA Business Partner Sudha (and me). RSVP to susan@scma.org. See you there!
Support the medical community in 2022. Want to join the SCMA (SMLMA) Business Partnership program? Contact susan@scma.org for details and an application.
Do you have qualified patients who are seeking a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot? Direct them to the Fox Home Health vaccine clinic at the Roseland Community Center, located at 779 Sebastopol Road in Santa Rosa. Could not be easier! No lines, no appointment needed. Well done, Cheryl Fox. Keep up the good work in our community!
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As always, the SCMA Team is here in service to you and our community. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
Yours in health and service,
Wendy Young, Executive Director
Sonoma County Medical Association
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COVID-19 DEVELOPMENTS AND UPDATES |
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LAST CHANCE TO APPLY
CalVaxGrant deadline extended to OCT. 15!
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Physician practices (independent practitioners and groups with fewer than 200 physicians) can still apply for a practice support grant to cover expenses related to providing COVID-19 vaccines. Funded by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and administered by Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC), CalVaxGrant is offering $10,000 per office location for physician practices to support vaccination efforts.
To be eligible for funding, organizations must be registered with CAIR2, have an IIS ID, and have completed Section A of the myCAvax application. If you are not yet registered with CAIR2, click here to start the process. Once these steps have been completed, you may apply for a practice support grant at https://www.phcdocs.org/Programs/CalVaxGrant.
The SCMA Team is making phone calls to PCP and Pediatric offices
to offer help and assist with questions regarding the CalVaxGrant process.
Please feel free to call us at 707-525-4375.
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Mendocino County doctors beg local residents to
get COVID-19 shots in 'dire situation'
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In late August, Mendocino County physicians and medical workers issued an alarming public letter urging residents to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19, because they said infected patients were overwhelming local hospitals, filling emergency rooms and intensive-care units in a “dire situation.”
Dr. Andrew Coren, the county’s health officer, said that while he did not sign the letter published online on the open Medium platform, he supported its goal of encouraging more people to get inoculated. Roughly 64% of eligible residents in the county are fully vaccinated. Read full story in North Bay Business Journal and Press Democrat.
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Preventing racial and ethnic biases during
pandemics and other crises
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To empower healthcare personnel to provide equitable care during crises like COVID-19, Diversity Science, a professional services firm focused on accelerating progress towards diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare, has developed three online training courses tailored to physicians, nurses, and nonclinical frontline staff.
The online courses, FREE on Diversity Science’s website, were developed with support from the California Health Care Foundation and under the guidance of Diversity Science’s Michelle van Ryn, PhD, MPH, CEO and senior scientist, and John Dovido, PhD, senior scientist. Each of the training courses is approximately 25 minutes.
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APPLICATION PERIOD NOW OPEN
New Provider Relief Funds available for physicians
The Biden Administration has released the remaining $25 billion of the $185 billion that was deposited into the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Provider Relief Fund to assist physician practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seventeen billion will go to all providers, with an additional $8.5 billion to rural providers.
All physicians may now apply for this Phase 4 funding. See CMA and HRSA websites for more information.
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Answers to tough questions about booster doses |
Communication resources from the Public Health Communications Collaborative—including answers to tough questions—can help you respond to questions about COVID-19 vaccine booster doses and support our local vaccination outreach. Check the website for a wide array of resources and messaging tailored to different audiences. |
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Click images for current info in each county. |
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Save these links in your browser for quick reference. The county websites contain frequently updated information for COVID-19 testing locations and vaccine events that you can share with patients. |
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KP graduates first family medicine residents |
Class members shown below are Drs. Julet Baltonado, Elia Cole, Lauren Glaser, Daniel Ayala-Ortiz, Alexis Hoffkling and Tracy Krinard. Four of the group have accepted local positions and will be staying in Sonoma County! Please join SCMA in wishing the graduates every success as they embark on their medical careers.
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For information regarding the residency
program, please contact:
Kimberly Eisert
Residency Program Administrator
707-393-4015
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SEVEN-DAY VIRTUAL CONFERENCE SERIES
28th annual Latino Health Forum: Health Inequities
Oct. 7–15 • 12:00–1:30 p.m.
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Save the dates! You are invited to the 28th annual Latino Health Forum, which will be held virtually Oct. 7–15, 2021. This year's topic is Health Inequities: The Evolution of the COVID Response, What We've Learned and How We Can Heal. Daily workshops will be hosted on Zoom from 12:00–1:30 p.m. Check the new website for updated information regarding registration and this year's array of speakers.
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HOUSE OF DELEGATES meets Oct. 23 |
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The CMA House of Delegates meeting will be a one-day virtual session held on Saturday, Oct. 23. The HOD session will include delegate voting, a live debate between the candidates for the office of President-Elect (including SCMA's own Dr. Catherine Gutfreund), as well as an election, Major Issue educational sessions, presentations, awards, and interactive surveys.
To expand opportunities for member engagement, HOD will be holding virtual Major Issue town halls with HOD Representative members offering testimony on the recommendations. The District X delegation, led by Dr. Brad Drexler, is busy preparing for the initial meetings and Oct. 23 session. Reports and information will be posted in CMA's House of Delegates forum. Want to join HOD District X Delegation Caucus? We have a few alternate positions available for 2022. Contact rachel@scma.org to join this group of physicians who enjoy advocating for the profession and practice of medicine! Be a voice in the conversation.
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Physicians urged to contact lawmakers on two issues |
CMA is asking physicians to reach out to their Members of Congress to ask that they cosign two high priority letters for physicians and their patients. In a Dear Colleague letter being circulated by a bipartisan group of Congressional representatives, the California and Texas delegations are asking the U.S. Secretary of Education to fix the PSLF regulations to allow California and Texas physicians to fully participate like their colleagues in every other state. And, physicians are also facing a stack of Medicare financial hits. Click here for details and letters.
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New guide for patients impacted by 2021 wildfires |
Under a law enacted in 2018, health plans and insurers are required to act quickly to ensure patients in areas affected by wildfires and other disasters have continued access to care. Plans and insurers operating in counties affected by an official state of emergency must within 48 hours of the emergency declaration notify the California Department of Health Care Services about the actions the plan has taken or is in the process of taking to ensure that the healthcare needs of its enrollees are met.
CMA has published a guide to help patients navigate these services. The guide includes phone numbers to call if patients are experiencing difficulty refilling prescriptions, replacing medical supplies or obtaining access to care, as well as links with more information about other services each payor is offering.
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Sonoma Health magazine debuts in December
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Sonoma Health, a new annual magazine from Sonoma Media Investments, will debut in December 2021. As a consumer focused-publication, Sonoma Health will cover health issues and resources for the community at large. Content will be segmented into three categories: Self-Care, Community Health, and Medical Advances.
Although the magazine will not be published by SCMA, we look forward to a widely distributed, Sonoma-based publication that promotes health and wellness in our community. Articles will be written by both physicians and freelance journalists about health issues important to the general public. A Medical Advisory Board comprised of local physicians will vet the magazine’s medical content.
Initial distribution will be to 45,000 Press Democrat subscribers, practicing physicians in Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties, and various healthcare providers. The magazine will include coverage of the 2021 SCMA Contribution Awards.
Join the Medical Advisory Board or write an article:
Advertising and marketing opportunities:
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COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED
SCMA Wellness Committee seeking support
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SCMA's Physician Wellness Committee is seeking members to help guide programs and develop resources for SCMA and MLCMS physicians—including many opportunities in conjunction with the Bay Area Clinician Wellness Collaborative. The Bay Area group, with participation from seven area counties, is accelerating efforts to address physician burnout and compassion fatigue, and to prioritize physician wellness at local and regional levels. Details about the collaborative to follow in separate communications.
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Free CME webinar presented by Dr. Linda Clever, RENEW |
Submit your questions for Dr. Clever before the webinar at edanmeier.renew@gmail.com and join this timely and important conversation on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 6:15 p.m.
- Identify professional, societal and personal issues that must be addressed to maintain good health for physicians and patients.
- Employ effective ways to find calm.
- Identify an array of approaches and solutions to concerns about care of patients and ourselves.
- Discover resources to enhance personal, patients' and even the healthcare system's health needs.
AACMA designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.
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OCTOBER CALENDAR: WEBINARS AND EVENTS |
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California Medical Association
Enduring a Pandemic: How Diverse Clinical Settings Adapted and Succeeded
The 18th annual Network of Ethic Physician Organizations (NEPO) summit will be held in a new virtual format. Program is divided into a morning session (CME accredited) from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m and an afternoon session starting at 1:00 p.m. Event details here.
Virtual Grand Rounds: COVID-19 Clinical Updates
Attendees will hear from Erica Pan, MD, California’s State Epidemiologist, about the state of COVID-19 in California, efforts to keep the virus at bay, progress on vaccines and vaccination efforts, and the hope for keeping schools open this year. Experts at the forefront of research on the viral genomics of COVID-19 who have spearheaded large international collaborations investigating the emergence, spread and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 will also address the group.
Online Wellness Engagement Groups – Tuesday Series
The California Medical Association's wellness program (CMA Wellness) is pleased to offer free, online wellness engagement groups for healthcare providers who conduct patient screenings for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Each monthly webinar is organized around a prevailing theme with a stakeholder co-host to provide a variety of perspectives with a general discussion and breakout rooms. Registration is required.
Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 – Dec. 14, 2021 • 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. REGISTER HERE
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Sutter Health
The Sutter Health Virtual Grand Rounds is a Continuing Education (CE) webinar series hosted by Sutter Health Network providers for all medical professionals across Northern California. Interactive Q&A session takes place with each live event. Learn about the entire series here.
Presented by William M. Gilbert, MD
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH SERIES
Breast Cancer Prevention, High Risk Screening and Survivorship
Presented by Kristie Bobolis, MD, Amanda Wheeler, MD, FACS, and Milana Dolezal, MD
Breast Tumor Boards and Multi-Disciplinary Care with RN Navigation
Presented by Amanda Wheeler, MD, FACS, and Nitin Rohatgi, MD
Latest Advances in Breast Oncologic Care
Presented by Noran M. Barry, MD, FACS, Nitin Rohatgi, MD, Daniel Schiffner, MD, Eileen Consorti, MD, FACS, and Anne Peled, MD
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Shriners Hospitals for Children: Northern California
Brachial Plexus Birth Injury: From Infancy through Adolescence
Presented by orthopaedic surgeon Claire Manske, MD
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit Designation for 1.0 contact hour
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Answers to your financial questions |
Answers to questions that were received by Sept. 15, 2021, are shared via the links below. Questions ranged from retirement planning to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing. Our thanks to SCMA Business Partner Russell Van Sistine, CFP® for providing research and opinions in text and video formats. Please check the YouTube videos, which are presented in easy-to-follow conversational formats.
The Q&A content is for informational purposes only, and not intended as tax or legal advice. Please contact your financial planner or tax advisor for specific information regarding your individual situation. Mr. Van Sistine can be reached at 707-708-3453 or russell@sonomawealthadvisors.com
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FREE RESOURCES & GUIDANCE
CDPH vaccine requirements for medical practices
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To help physicians address the impacts of the Aug. 5, 2021 Order by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) requiring that all healthcare employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 30, the Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP) offers the following free resources:
CAP, a leading provider of medical malpractice coverage for California physicians, is committed to providing resources like these to help you navigate current challenges in healthcare, including those that continue to arise as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
Learn more about CAP's medical malpractice coverage.
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Congratulations to our new SCMA and MLCMS members! |
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We are pleased to have you aboard and look forward to supporting your practice. |
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Ukiah/Adventist Health
Family Medicine
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When you join the California Medical Association and the Sonoma County Medical Association or the Mendocino-Lake County Medical Society, you join nearly 50,000 members statewide who are actively protecting the practice of medicine and defending public health. Click the SCMA or MLCMS name above to download an application or sign up online at the link below. |
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IN THE NEWS
Congratulations to Dr. Julet Baltonado, recipient of SCMA's scholarship for the 2021 Bay Area Physician Leadership Program! The program runs from Sept. 21 to Jan. 18, in eight interactive virtual sessions led by nationally recognized faculty.
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Petaluma Valley Hospital with Providence was recently recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) for its achievement of providing the highest quality of stroke care. The hospital received the AHA’s 2021 Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus award with special recognition for Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. The AHA and the American Stroke Association recognize hospitals with this designation for demonstrating continued success using the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus programs.
The Gold Plus Quality Awards are the most advanced level of recognition acknowledging hospitals for consistent compliance with seven key quality achievement measures over a consecutive 24 months or more. Read more here.
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HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program) has an opening for a full-time Community Liaison to assist in developing community partnerships and initiating opportunities to expand seminars and individual counseling services. Self-directed individual with good interpersonal skills and bilingual ability can help make a difference in this nonprofit organization. Salary is competitive; position includes both remote and office work. For details, check the HICAP website or contact Frank Nelson at frankn@sasnb.org.
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Operation Access is seeking volunteer physicians to provide surgical and specialty care for low-income and uninsured adults in Northern California. You determine the frequency of participation and types of cases you accept. Please contact Operation Access to learn more about how you can get involved: 415-733-0052 or visit the Operation Access website.
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Contact SCMA or MLCMS: exec@scma.org
or rachel@scma.org | 707-525-4375
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