As you can see below and have heard in the news over the last couple weeks, the Omicron surge of this COVID-19 pandemic has receded almost as quickly as it arose. Thankfully so!! Our company was severely impacted by COVID infections, isolations, and quarantines by nearly 25% of teammates in Jan and Feb, and Long COVID problems remain an unfortunate reality for some. |
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With current levels of population immunity from both vaccination and prior infections, along with new medications and treatment strategies, the risk of medically significant disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 is greatly reduced for most people. At the same time, we know that some people and communities, such as our oldest citizens, people who are immunocompromised, and people with disabilities, are at higher risk for serious illness and face challenging decisions navigating a world with COVID-19. Many will continue to voluntarily mask as a self-protective measure when in crowded, indoor settings. For now, we all should expect to continue masking in airports and on public transportation and in hospitals, nursing homes and other high-risk settings. As always, anyone with COVID or flu-like symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask. And please remember to use medical/surgical masks, since cloth masks are very unreliable to prevent aerosol spread.
Some of you have inquired about our dermatology office safety protocols, considering the recent CDC updates to masking and distancing guidelines. While some practices have now begun relaxing our spacing in waiting areas and our limited visitor policy, these modifications will be made at the local market and practice level based upon community standards and risks. We will continue to screen patients and staff for COVID symptoms and still require masks, given the many elderly and vulnerable patients we serve and the persistent medium to high Community Level of most of our markets. (see map below) I am optimistic that over the coming weeks to months we can fully return to pre-pandemic safety protocols and I know everyone looks forward to that day as much as I do.
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Now, in addition to caseloads, the new CDC guidance also will consider hospitalizations, current beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and hospital capacity. The new metrics would put more than half of U.S. counties – where more than 70% of Americans live – in areas of low or medium risk, and these communities can eliminate their indoor mask mandates in non-health care settings.
"We are in a stronger place today as a nation with more tools today to protect ourselves and our community from COVID-19 like vaccination, boosters, broader access to testing, availability of high-quality masks, accessibility to new treatments, and improved ventilation," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said last Friday.
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Other COVID News
- Additional studies published recently strongly confirm the higher risk of severe COVID infections in pregnant mothers who are unvaccinated. If you, a family member or friend are pregnant and have not yet been vaccinated or confirmed as infected, I strongly encourage you to speak with your Obstetrician about the dual benefits of COVID vaccination for the health of you and your baby.
- COVID vaccine in children – Pfizer’s vaccine is approved and recommended for 12-17 yr. olds and shows good efficacy and safety
- But, a 3-fold lower dose in 5-11 yr. old children showed a dramatically reduced effectiveness against infection during the Omicron surge, although it did reduce hospitalizations and severe disease. FDA and Pfizer are now awaiting additional studies and likely will increase the dose to attain better protection in this younger age group
- The ‘stealth’ Omicron variant BA.2 has been identified throughout the US. It is more contagious than the original Omicron BA.1 strain AND can re-infect people who were infected with BA.1. BUT fortunately, it is not more immune-evasive and does not cause more severe disease in general. Experts do not currently fear any further surges due to the ‘stealth’ Omicron mutant.
- Most experts anticipate future surges as variants will very likely develop, but our arsenal of mitigation strategies, vaccines, boosters, antiviral medications, and rapid testing should keep us from significant disruptions to society and our economy. We may need to deploy these measures from time to time but we have learned so much that I am very optimistic we have turned the corner.
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Helping Hands
I know that Bill Southwick our CEO has communicated with us regarding this charitable arm of QualDerm Partners, in which we can provide teammates in some form of financial distress a ‘helping hand’ to get through their current circumstances. I just read the most recent report indicating 17 instances where teammates needed assistance due to personal illness, care of a family member, natural disaster, or other unexpected expenses. Through everyone’s generous donations QDP was able to prevent evictions and provide food, medications and utilities to some of the very same people sitting next to you at work each day. We never know when a crisis will strike any of us and I would encourage all of you to please consider a donation, 100% of which flows directly to QualDerm employees in need.
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Quality Council
Quality Council Chair Dr. Dave Brodland from Zitelli & Brodland in Pittsburgh PA recently led our 2022 Kickoff meeting for the Quality Council and welcomed both returning and new member physicians. Click here to view the QualDerm Quality Council.
The Quality Council serves to guide and advise the management team in all matters involving patient care and ensures our providers maintain clinical autonomy while providing the safest and highest quality care and patient service. The 2022 Quality Council agenda was robust, and the level of engagement was extremely rewarding for me to witness, as all these busy physicians volunteer to donate many hours of personal time to help keep the “Qual-ity” in QualDerm. We have remarkably talented and experienced dermatologists and APPs within our company and Dr. Brodland will be reporting to you all in the future as we progress through a number of exciting initiatives and projects we feel will further serve our mission and distinguish QDP as the premier dermatology company.
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As we seem to be winding down from COVID and entering the endemic phase of the pandemic, I just want to reiterate how appreciative I am of the support you have all shown to each other and our patients during these very trying times. Two years of high anxiety and uncertainty, furloughs, staffing shortages, fearful, confused and challenging patients, personal illness and sick family members, financial challenges and loss of life has certainly left us all with some battle scars. But I am very proud to be associated with all of you who worked together and overcame the difficulties to provide compassionate, safe and excellent care to our patients. Thank you so very much!!
Dr. A
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