Last month marked a year since COVID-19 was discovered in Colorado and our lives have changed dramatically in the months since. But now, as all Coloradans age 16 and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and age 18 and up can receive the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine, I hope you share in the feeling of hope that we are finally overcoming this devastating public health crisis. Here are some resources to share with your patients who may be looking for vaccine appointments:

Thank you for all of your work to care for patients and encourage them to get their COVID-19 vaccinations. Together we are making a difference.

The CMS Board of Directors held a special meeting on Thursday, April 1, on the Colorado Option Health Plan under consideration by the Colorado legislature. Using survey results directly from members, as well as discussion from the Council on Legislation and Committee on Value in Health Care, the board voted to strongly oppose the bill in its current form, but pledged to continue to work with our partners in the House of Medicine toward a better bill.

Also of recent importance, the special mediation meetings regarding unification have come to an inclusive compromise. CMS and its component societies were able to come to an agreement on the topic of local-only memberships. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you all just how receptive and helpful the newest leadership within CMS has been. I truly appreciate their willingness to hear our concerns as a component society and look forward to our futures together. PCMS continues to advocate for you and our community at a local level and CMS continues to advocate for us all as a whole at the state level. Together, we will all continue to answer our calling as physicians and protect/care for our patients.

PCMS -- working through our physician leaders, members and CEO Cheryl Law -- has an impressive slate of work that benefits not only doctors but also patients and businesses in our community, from public health to education to access to care. Click here to scan our 2021 activities. Interested in getting involved? Contact cheryl.law@pueblocms.org.

PCMS is beginning the production of its 2021 ONLINE Medical Directory. Please email directory@pueblocms.org with all updates no later than noon, Friday, July 30, 2021. A suggestion for submitting edits would be to make a copy of your 2020 listing and send us a copy with your updates. We also request color photos. Accuracy is important to us. The Directory is the only comprehensive listing of Pueblo providers and available as an online resource, it could be accessed by more physicians and patients than ever before.

PCMS is planning the 5th Annual Symposium in October 2021. The purpose will be to educate and connect primary care providers with specialists to discuss the latest procedures offered to treat patients. A post-Covid discussion will also be included. The venue will be in-person depending on the pandemic. There will be no cost to attend. More details are coming soon. If you’re interested in participating as a volunteer speaker or have a recommendation for content, contact cheryl.law@pueblocms.org.

Mental Health America Pueblo is seeking nominations for a new award to be presented at their annual Robert Hawkins Tribute Dinner. In addition to honoring the 2020 Robert Hawkins award winners -- Dr. Robert Tonsing, Teah Miller, and Dominque Mundt -- MHAP will honor a Behavioral Health Pandemic Hero.

Nominate an individual who has demonstrated courage or extraordinary services to address the challenges of the pandemic, whether counseling, providing medication, peer support, tele-behavioral health, IT support, medical care, custodial care, or any other service that has reached beyond the boundaries of traditional care or position responsibilities. Please see the nomination form for more information. Deadline: Friday, April 30. The Robert Hawkins Tribute and Awards Ceremony will be held Friday, Sept. 24 at Pueblo Community College.

The Southeastern Colorado Area Health Education Center asks members of the health care community to nominate nurses for the 2021-22 Regional Nightingale Nurse Recognition for the southeastern region. Take this opportunity to recognize a nurse deserving of this honor. Southeastern Colorado AHEC, only, is also accepting LPN nominations to be recognized at a regional level in the Pueblo event. The deadline to submit your nomination is June 1. Click here for the nomination forms.

The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce invites you to attend the 2021 Business Awards Luncheon to honor the recipients of the Business Leader of the Year and Business of the Year awards. April 8, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. $30 per person or $500 per table. RSVP to terrik@pueblochamber.net.

Vanguard Skin Specialists invites the Pueblo Medical Society to a private movie screening at Cinemark Tinseltown - Pueblo on April 8. Minari is nominated for 6 Academy Awards and is written/directed by Lee Isaac Chung (brother of Vanguard CEO Leisle Chung). The award-winning film is inspired by Lee and Leisle’s childhood of growing up in rural Arkansas. Vanguard Skin Specialists is sponsoring this private screening in gratitude to those who sacrificed much over the past year. Complimentary tickets for frontline doctors, frontline health care workers, first responders and other community heroes. Learn more and register here. Watch a trailer here.

The next COVID-19 Provider Roundtable will be held April 14. Zoom Meeting URL or join by phone: 888-475-4499; Meeting ID: 924 2312 9708; Passcode: 455358. 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.

This webinar will explore a variety of breastfeeding topics including maternal mood and anxiety disorders and how they affect lactation. Presentation by Katie Halverstadt. Register at bit.ly/3rBO49p. CME credits available provided by Parkview Medical Center.

The Health Policy & Affordability Webinar Series is hosted by the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing to pull experts and stakeholders together to discuss emerging opportunities to reduce health care costs for Coloradans, employers and Medicaid.

Topic: Hospital Affordability Policy & Community Investments

Date: April 14, 2021

Time: 12 - 1:30 p.m. MST

Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mhcn1s_mSRWxHyS4N81F4Q

The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast Series is designed for community members to hear firsthand how legislation will affect their business and quality of life. Community members can also communicate their concerns, comments and questions to their legislators. Members: $25, non-members: $30. RSVP to jill@pueblochamber.net.

Do you know what 420 Day is? The National Marijuana Initiative is symbolically holding an Anti-420 Day on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. This conference is for parents, teachers, coalitions, law enforcement, counselors, and all adults with young people in their lives who need to understand the latest scientific data on the harms of marijuana on youth. Your donation is your registration! You'll learn from nine marijuana experts, all of whom are part of the National Marijuana Initiative (NMI). These instructors will present a full day of continuous youth marijuana prevention education to bring you up to speed on recent research on the dangers of today's high-THC marijuana on adolescent brain development, mental illness, and suicide, to name a few topics. Learn more and register here.

Join the Pueblo Child Advocacy Center for a night of four pours and paired bites curated by Sommelier and the Chef, comedy, music, mixology, factoids, auction, and wine pull and more. Enjoy from home; you'll get your wine and food delivered to you or pick it up beforehand at a central location. Reservation required. More information here.

The Colorado Medical Society is excited to launch its new Partners in Medicine (PIM) Program. Founded in 2020, Partners in Medicine is a forum to develop an open dialogue and connection between industry leaders and physician members of the Colorado Medical Society in the furtherance of patient care and helping physicians achieve personal and professional satisfaction.

CMS has partnered with a host of respected and leading health care industry and wellness providers to offer services in many areas of physician need. Current offerings cover HIPAA compliance, practice staffing and management, mental health resources, financial assistance and advice, telehealth, billing, transcription and even travel planning. And we’re growing, adding new Partners throughout the year! View more information here.

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; Teresa Braden, 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