PCMS is proud to announce a new program -- Nature Scripts -- championed by Brad Roberts, MD. PCMS received a $5,000 grant to create the program for Pueblo providers to prescribe nature and exercise to patients. Our hope is that Nature Scripts will help with the growing concern over health conditions our community appears to be facing due to COVID, obesity, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. PCMS established this community engagement project with the help of other stakeholders: Park Rx America, Pueblo Department of Health and Environment, and Pueblo Parks and Recreation.

We invite you to the launch event next Friday, June 11, 12-1 p.m. at the Nature Center. Lunch will be provided and promotional materials (t-shirts, water bottles) will be given to all attendees. View an agenda here. RSVP to cheryl.law@pueblocms.org. We plan to start small (PCMS members only) and expand this program to all prescribers and Puebloans. Thank you for your commitment to patients; we all make a difference in our community's health.

Hello everyone! As June starts, our vaccine rate as a county is improving but still not where we need it to be. Please continue to discuss options with your patients and quash misinformation. Currently over 135 million people have received full vaccination against COVID-19 across the USA. These vaccines are safe and we need to spread the news.

On an encouraging note, summer is coming, stores and restaurants are opening, and there is a lot going on this month! Not only did June 3 mark the centennial anniversary of the flood of 1921, which shaped our community and city in many ways, but June is also Pride month. The events associated are prime examples of our gradual return to some sort of normalcy and assembly as a community.

Also of importance, CMS is spending countless hours and using all resources available to continue to represent us at a legislative level. The Colorado Option Plan has been a major topic of discussion. As a board, the decision was made to change our position to neutral on this bill. There are still major flaws with the bill, but this position was felt to be the most advantageous to keep us part of the conversation as well as preserve our future political relationships. The current status of this bill is that it has gone back to the House for approval after previously passing both the House and Senate.

Most importantly, they did listen to us and removed the verbiage requiring mandatory physician participation. Two of the other bills that I see affecting our community most involved independent scope of practice for PAs and telehealth medical marijuana prescriptions. CMS was opposed to both, and both bills were successfully killed.

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.

The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment has created a substance use dashboard, providing population-based data for Pueblo County on a variety of metrics: overdose deaths, health-related data, naloxone use, opioid prescriptions and more. View it here.

CDPHE vaccination toolkit: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has created a communications toolkit for primary care physicians to help encourage their patients to get vaccinated. It contains ready-to-use email, text, and social media messages encouraging patients to get vaccinated or to set up an appointment once you enroll as a COVID-19 vaccine provider. Messages have also been translated into Spanish. The toolkit also includes links to graphics and print resources. Download it here.

AMA COVID-19 vaccines guide for physicians: The American Medical Association COVID-19 vaccines guide for physicians contains background and actions, evidence-based messaging guidance and best practices for consideration in external communications on COVID-19 vaccine topics. Available in English and Spanish. Download here.

NCMS COVID-19 vaccine town hall: Pfizer in collaboration with the Northern Colorado Medical Society will host a virtual town hall on Wednesday, June 9, 6-7:30 p.m.to equip physicians with the best knowledge on vaccine confidence to help guide your discussion with patients who may be experiencing vaccine deliberation. Register here.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has updated their information sheets for monoclonal antibodies as the recommendations for mAbs have evolved due to COVID-19 variants. Bamlanivimab as a monotherapy is no longer under an emergency use authorization; however, it can be used as a combination therapy as can the Regeneron cocktail to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in at risk, non hospitalized individuals.

The next COVID-19 Provider Roundtable will be held June 16. Zoom Meeting URLor join by phone: 888-475-4499; Meeting ID: 974 7027 6875; Passcode: 343219. 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.

Northern Colorado Medical Society, with support from Colorado Medical Society, presents the next event in the NCMS Virtual Education Series: "Opioid Management." Learn about robust opioid oversight that has been implemented and work that still needs to be done, plus the expansion of medical assisted treatment (MAT) with speaker Lesley Brooks, MD. It will be held virtually June 17, 12:30-2 p.m., and physicians can earn up to 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Full accreditation information available on the registration page. Register here.

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.

The Colorado Medical Society will host the 151st annual meeting and installation of officers the weekend of Sept. 17-18. Save the date for an engaging virtual program!

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