Consider these sobering facts.

As our colleague Robert Lam, MD, Director of Physician Wellness at UCHealth, writes, "there exists a stigma around treating mental illness for physicians. Untreated mental illness contributes greatly to the suicide epidemic. Suicide is one of the most preventable causes of death. Some of the most powerful tools include our connections and community with each other. Be the one to ask a colleague if something seems off “are you ok?”"

Here are some things you can do or share with someone you care about.

PCMS will continue to make wellness resources available to our members. Be well.

I encourage all PCMS members to participate in this year’s virtual Colorado Medical Society Annual Meeting. It will be this Friday evening, the 17th, at 6 p.m. The first half of the program will feature CDPHE Chief Medical Officer Eric France, MD, MPH/MSPH, as he gives the latest information on the Delta variant and other COVID-19 related updates. The second half of the program will have our installation of officers, raffle prizes, and live music. It is a great opportunity for us to come together and celebrate this last tough year as a physician community. Please follow this link to register: www.cms.org/events/2021-annual-meeting

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Sami Diab, MD, for his service as our outgoing CMS president, as well as congratulate and welcome his successor, Mark Johnson, MD, MPH. Dr. Diab has been a pleasure to work with during an incredibly challenging time with the trials of the pandemic as well as both economic and political struggles. Thanks for a job well done Dr. Diab.

The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment has launched a one-stop webpage to provide caregivers of children access to Pueblo County childhood resources. The Pueblo County Childhood Resources webpage supplies a list of services, programs, and tips for Pueblo’s next generations to grow in a healthy and safe environment. Separated out by the child’s age, the resource webpage is a complete toolbox for parents, grandparents, childcare teachers, friends, neighbors, and anyone that cares for a child to use daily in supporting youth from prenatal to young adulthood. Visit the Pueblo County Childhood Resource webpage: https://bit.ly/PDPHEChildResources.

Gov. Jared Polis announced Sept. 2 that $60 million in grant funds are now available for primary care practices to assist them with expenditures that come with housing and vaccinating patients against COVID-19. Depending on practice size, practices can apply to receive between $60,000 and $120,000. More information here. Resource page.

On Aug. 12, the FDA authorized an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine for certain immunocompromised individuals. Medicare will pay for administering an additional dose of vaccine (Pfizer and Moderna) at the same amount as for other of the COVID-19 vaccine (approximately $40 each). Use CPT code 0003A for the Pfizer vaccine and CPT code 0013A for the Moderna vaccine. More information here.

Speakers Cathy Ow, MD, and Christina Reimer, MD, will address the women in medicine topic with a refreshed scope, encouraging anyone and everyone to attend so you know what being a woman in medicine means and how we can make it better, together. Physicians can earn up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Full accreditation information available here. Email paige@nocomedsoc.org to register.

Join the Pueblo County Medical Society for the 5th Annual Symposium, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

The purpose of the Symposium is to educate and connect primary care providers with specialists to discuss the latest procedures offered to treat patients. This event will provide CME credits and we anticipate physicians and advanced practice providers of various specialties to attend the symposium. NPs or PAs will receive a certificate of participation to turn in to their accrediting body. Register here! More information here.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Questions? Contact us.

Date: Oct. 8, 2021

Time: 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

All proceeds benefit Mental Health America Pueblo

More information: https://www.pueblomentalhealth.org/tribute-dinner

The next COVID-19 Provider Roundtable will be held Oct. 13. Zoom Meeting URL or join by phone: 888-475-4499; Meeting ID: 922 1777 4016; Passcode: 285455. 1 CME Credit available to providers who attend this presentation. *Evaluation must be returned to receive CME credit* Return to: Sandra Proud - fax 584-4038 or email: sandra_proud@parkviewmc.com.

Additional resources:

Parkview Medical Center is accredited by the Colorado Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Parkview Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

It's not too late to register for the Colorado Medical Society's 151st Annual Meeting, Friday, Sept. 17.

Event features:

MISSION: Facilitating meaningful collaboration of medical professionals in Pueblo County through social networking, education, and advocacy! 

VISION: To create 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; Secretary: Kathleen Brown, MD; Treasurer: Robert Tonsing, MD; Past-President: Tom Greidanus, MD | Directors: CMS Representative Brittany Carver, DO; Jacob Mathew Jr., DO; Ross Patrick, MD; Brad Roberts, MD; Cheryl Walker, DO; and Kevin Weber, MD | Chief Executive Officer: Cheryl Law, MA, MNM

Visit our website at www.pueblocms.org