| doh_update_on_covid_19_vaccine_plans | DOH Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Plans | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20200924/doh_update_on_covid_19_vaccine_plans | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-md-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2020/May/COVID-19-Response-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="COVID-19 Response graphic" />
</div>
<h5>September 24, 2020</h5>
<h2>DOH Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Plans</h2>
<p>
As possible COVID-19 vaccine candidates move forward in testing, the Washington State Department of Health has provided an update outlining its plans for distribution of the vaccine, including prioritizing groups to receive it.
</p>
<p>
While Washington was not one of the five federal regions chosen as a pilot for the CDC's planning, the state did receive an interim playbook for the lessons learned from the pilot projects. DOH is developing its plans based on those lessons and will return those plans to the CDC by Oct. 16.
</p>
<p>
Because the supply of a coronavirus vaccine will be limited when it is approved and first released, the vaccine will not be offered to everyone. Prioritization will happen at the federal level first. Because there won't be a lot of vaccine available in the first round, the state will work on further prioritization. Health care workers are among the priority groups under consideration to receive the vaccine first.
</p>
<p>
Vaccine distribution will adjust over time as the number of available doses increases, moving from limited to broader populations in a phased approach.
</p>
<p>
The federal government will cover the cost of the coronavirus vaccine, although it is possible that health care providers may charge a fee to administer the vaccine, and/or for the cost of an office visit. Health insurance will most likely cover these fees. DOH will work with other state agencies to understand and address barriers related to health insurance coverage, and to make the vaccine accessible at no cost to people without health insurance.
</p>
<p>
The full update from DOH is available at <a href="https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&amp;eventID=2020091149">this link</a> .
</p>
</div> | 9/24/2020 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| staying_open_staying_safe_washington_states_covid_19_public_private_collaborative | Staying Open, Staying Safe: Washington State's COVID-19 Public-Private Collaborative | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20200924/staying_open_staying_safe_washington_states_covid_19_public_private_collaborative | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-md-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2020/August/COVID_Virtual_Grand_Rounds_645x425.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="COVID-19 virtual grand rounds graphic" />
</div>
<h5>September 24, 2020</h5>
<h2>Staying Open, Staying Safe: Washington State's COVID-19 Public-Private Collaborative</h2>
<p>
This next session in our COVID-19 Virtual Grand Rounds webinar series will feature Bill Robertson, president and CEO of MultiCare, and David Carlson, DO, chief physician officer of MultiCare, who will discuss the statewide public/private collaboration to address Staying Open, Staying Safe issues identified in Gov. Jay Inslee's Healthcare Reopening Proclamation 20-24.1.
</p>
<p>
The goal is for the Washington health care system to remain 1) fully open and operating at all levels for all types of care, and 2) safe for both care givers and consumers of care. Session presenters will outline the public/private collaborative's recommendations for PPE strategic sourcing and distribution, as well as COVID-19 testing, tracking, tracing, and data management. This activity has been approved for <em>AMA PRA Category 1 Creditâ„¢</em>. WSMA members can register for the webinar <a href="[@]Shared_Content/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=CGR101420">online</a>.
</p>
</div> | 9/24/2020 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| survey_reveals_1_in_4_physicians_knows_a_physician_who_has_committed_suicide | Survey Reveals 1 in 4 Physicians Knows a Physician Who Has Committed Suicide | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/20200924/survey_reveals_1_in_4_physicians_knows_a_physician_who_has_committed_suicide | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-md-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2020/September/Physician-Suicide-Prev-Ribbon-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="physician suicide prevention ribbon" />
</div>
<h5>September 24, 2020</h5>
<h2>Survey Reveals 1 in 4 Physicians Knows a Physician Who Has Committed Suicide</h2>
<p>
The Physicians Foundation has released the results of a national survey, which finds that nearly one in four physicians (22%) knows a physician who committed suicide and the majority (58%) express feelings of burnout.
</p>
<p>
The survey, <a href="https://physiciansfoundation.org/research-insights/the-physicians-foundation-2020-physician-survey-part-2">COVID-19's Impact on Physician Wellbeing</a>, is the second in the Foundation's three-part series, 2020 Survey of America's Physicians, examining how COVID-19 is affecting and is perceived by the nation's physicians.
</p>
<p>
In addition to the 22% of physicians who know a doctor who committed suicide, findings from the survey include:
</p>
<ul>
<li>Twenty-six percent of physicians know a colleague who has considered suicide and 15% know a colleague who has attempted suicide.</li>
<li>Eight percent of physicians have had thoughts of self-harm as a result of COVID-19's effects on their practice or employment, with younger physicians reporting thoughts of self-harm at a higher rate than older physicians.</li>
<li>Thirty percent of physicians cited feelings of hopelessness or having no purpose due to the changes of their practice or employment as a result of COVID-19.</li>
<li>Seventy-eight percent cite a lack of population compliance with COVID-19 distancing and mask-wearing protocols as their number one source of frustration during the pandemic and 70% cite lack of reliable COVID-19 tests.</li>
</ul>
<p>
The Physicians Foundation is helping to raise awareness of the epidemic of physician suicide through its Vital Signs initiative. Learn more about the initiative and the resources available to physicians on the <a href="https://physiciansfoundation.org/physician-wellbeing/vitalsigns/">Vital Signs website</a>. The WSMA is a signatory society of The Physicians Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to empower physicians.
</p>
<p>
If you or someone you know is struggling, the following resources that have been recommended to the WSMA by other physicians:
</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.physiciansupportline.com/">The Physician Support Line</a> is staffed by psychiatrists to provide free and confidential support to physicians on the COVID-19 front line.</li>
<li>The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, available at 1.800.273.TALK (8255), offers free 24/7 support.</li>
</ul>
<p>
For more mental and physical health resources aimed at supporting clinicians during crises, visit the <a href="[@]WSMA/Resources/COVID-19_Response/Care_for_the_Caregiver_During_COVID-19_Outbreak/WSMA/Resources/COVID-19/Care_for_the_Caregiver_During_COVID-19_Outbreak/care_for_the_caregiver_during_covid_19_outbreak.aspx?hkey=997ed483-e3fa-466e-bd81-a66e0fc1575b">WSMA website</a>.
</p>
</div> | 9/24/2020 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |