Dilip Elangbam, MD, FACP, CMD
As of today, the death toll from SARS-CoV-2 infection is 2.4 million worldwide, and on the rise.
The late ophthalmologist Dr. Li Wienling in Wuhan, China issued early warnings about the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in December 2020. Chinese scientists and doctors confirmed the outbreak; the coronavirus spike protein genome was sequenced - CCUCG-GCGGGCA,and a large hospital was made in record time to contain the spread of the virus. The source of that infection was quickly identified as a novel coronavirus, related to those that had caused outbreaks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) from 2002-2004 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012.
The World Health Organization declared the public health emergency of international concern on 30 January 2020. By March 2020, in the US, there were 30,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and by August, 50,000 new cases per day. Today, the number is 27,229,862 total cases and 473,699 COVID -19 related deaths. The national ensemble predicts that a total of 515,000 to 540,000 COVID-19 deaths will be reported by March 6, 2021. An “ensemble” forecast combines each of the independently developed forecasts into one aggregate forecast to improve prediction over the next four weeks.1 As of today, according to Worldometers, coronavirus cases:109,180,109, deaths: 2,406,975, recovered: 81,223,069 in 219 countries and territories.2
2.4 million people dead, so what went wrong?
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PMDA Joins Coalition to Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Access to Vulnerable Residents in Long-Term Living Facilities of All Care Levels |
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Brian B. Kimmel, DO, CMD, President |
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On January 25, 2021, PMDA joined with the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and the Pennsylvania American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association, Pennsylvania Health Care Association, the Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association and LeadingAge PA in urging Governor Thomas Wolf to activate all existing long-term care and independent pharmacies signed up with the CDC to help expedite and complete the post-acute care facility vaccination process.
On behalf of the PMDA Board of Directors and members, l supported the call to mobilize the LTC pharmacies. Given their existing relationships and service structures with Pennsylvania’s long-term care facilities, these LTC pharmacies are in a unique position to accelerate not only the immediate vaccination of LTC residents and staff across the entire spectrum of LTC facilities, but to also create a sustainable pathway moving forward, ready to vaccinate new patients and staff as they enter the LTC environments.
Pennsylvania, with more long-term care communities than any other state, needs the all-hands-on-deck approach to meet the challenge of vaccinating our most vulnerable citizens residing in SLF, ALF, personal care homes, and congregate care settings. The letter to the Governor, attached here, makes a case for enlisting the existing network of LTC pharmacists to expedite the administration of the vaccine and lays out a process to transfer COVID-19 vaccines from the Federal Pharmacy Partnership to the LTC pharmacies.
In response to our letter, the Department of Health met with coalition partners on February 3, 2021 to discuss the situation and the group’s recommendations. Coalition members expressed the shared goal of getting our LTC communities vaccinated as soon as possible and discussed a means for ongoing vaccination after the completion of initial clinics. As was discussed during the call, the DOH representatives were given a list of LTC pharmacies in Pennsylvania already contracted and capable of receiving vaccine through their group purchasing organization network administrators. PMDA and its coalition partners will continue to urge the DOH to activate these additional pharmacies for vaccination.
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Current Postings
BC/BE Internal Medicine, Family Medicine or Geriatric Physician - $20,000 Signing Bonus!
Adfinitas Health | Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, PA
BC/BE Geriatrician
Full-Time | Penn Medicine, Lancaster General Health
Geriatrician
Lehigh Valley Health Network
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PMDA Spring Meeting
May 15, 2021 | Virtual
Plan to join us! More details will be made available soon.
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The PMDA Trainee Education Fund supports PMDA’s efforts to educate, recognize and inspire post-acute and long-term care clinicians in training in the benefits and rewards of a career in the PALTC continuum. Your contribution will allow us to continue to offer complimentary registration to the Annual Symposium for fellows, residents and students and support PMDA’s contribution to AMDA’s Futures Program. Help us invest in the future of practice in PALTC medicine. |
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PMDA's Spring 2020 Conference on Post-Acute and Long-term Care Issues in the Era of COVID-19 Available for Download |
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PMDA has packaged the conference presentations and PowerPoints for easy access to the important topics covered during the 2020 virtual spring conference, including:
- Advanced Care Planning and Breaking Bad News presented by Alexander Nesbitt, MD
- Transitions of Care in the Era CO of VID-19 presented by Firas Saidi, MD, CMD
- Telemedicine, New COVID Codes and Modifiers presented by Michael Owen, PA-C
- Outbreak Management in the LTC Setting/PPE/ Lessons Learned presented by Joshua Uy, MD
Each recording is $15 plus 6% sales tax.
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AMDA's Latest COVID-19 Resources
AMDA membership is not required to access, however you will need to create an account (which is free) if you don’t already have one.
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There are many reasons to register for PALTC21, AMDA’s Virtual Annual Conference, being held March 11-14, 2021. They include great education sessions that offer credit, lots of networking opportunities, on-demand sessions that offer additional credit, and much more. The agenda features expert speakers discussing the topics on the minds of practitioners everywhere. |
Join the AHRQ ECHO National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network
Project ECHO is actively recruiting nursing homes around the country to join an interactive community of practice to collaboratively advance improvements in COVID-19 preparedness, safety, and infection control.
Nursing homes can join through their local training center or by using the link below. If you have enrolled with a training center, there is no need to fill out this form.
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Recently Archived Webinars |
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AMDA On-The-Go
Podcast Series
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(01-27-21)
(01-17-21)
(01-14-21)
(01-11-21)
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AMDA membership is not required to access AMDA’s COVID-19 Vaccination Toolkit, however you will need to create an account (which is free) if you don’t already have one.
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