COVID-19 Professional Resources
State Orders on Non-Urgent Procedures
Proclamation guidance for medical practices
The WSMA has collaborated with the Washington State Medical Group Management Association to offer new guidance on the proclamation for medical practices. If you have questions on this new WSMA resource or what the proclamation means for you and your practice, contact the WSMA policy department at policy@wsma.org.
Health System Reactivation
COVID-19 Risk Assessment "Dial Dashboard" - A high-level overview, updated weekly, of the main data points discussed among state leaders and the level of risk experts perceive around the current numbers. This data informs decisions related to the governor's Safe Start reopening plan for the state.
Washington Healthcare Forum Recommendations for Health System Reactivation - Recommendations developed by the Washington Healthcare Forum, with input from the WSMA, delivered to Gov. Inslee and Washington's COVID-19 health systems response director V. Admiral Bono, MD. The recommendations outlines steps to increasing elective patient care in Washington in a manner that comprehensively addresses the foundational concerns of the March 19 gubernatorial proclamation on nonurgent procedures. The recommendations are for all hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient care facilities, and dental practices. (April 15, 2020)
Testing for COVID-19
The Washington State Department of Health is encouraging broad testing at this time, and has expanded criteria for who should be tested for COVID-19 to include the mildly symptomatic and their close contacts. Symptomatic patients should be tested within 24 hours or referred to another testing site, and provided guidance on the need to isolate (for ill persons) and self-quarantine (for exposed contacts).
Visit the DOH's Health Care Provider Resources and Recommendations page (under Testing Patients for COVID-19) to check for updates on the above guidance and for other testing information.
Also:
Provider alert re: in-state COVID-19 testing
On July 10, the DOH issued a provider alert strongly encouraging Washington clinicians to use in-state labs for COVID-19 testing so that we can shorten the turn-around time for test results. The following is a list of Washington-based labs that have confirmed their willingness to provide molecular COVID-19 testing to hospitals and clinics. Please feel free to reach out to these labs to discuss: Download the list of in-state laboratories and their contact information (July 10, 2020).
Other Professional Guidance
COVID-19 Discussion Forum
The WSMA offers a private discussion forum dedicated to issues related to the pandemic for physicians and PAs in Washington state, regardless of membership status.
Visit the forum.
Continuing Medical Education on COVID-19
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The CDC holds regular Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Calls. More information.
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Honoring Choices PNW is holding a series of free webinars on communication skills and tools that physicians, advanced practitioners, and other members of the health care team can use as you respond to the COVID-19 crisis. This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Click here for session details and to register online.
- The WSMA hosts a bi-weekly call on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. for critical care physicians and advanced practitioners to discuss patient cases and develop recommendations for care. This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. To join the calls, please email brendan@wsma.org with your name, credentials, specialty/title, and organization.
- The PNW Chapter of the Society of Hospital Medicine hosts a weekly webinar on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. intended for hospitalists to provide updates regarding COVID19 related illness, including diagnosis, treatment and other operational concerns. This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. For more information, visit: https://www.hospitalmedicine.org/clinical-topics/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-resources-for-hospitalists/media/
- The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education has an extensive listing of online COVID-19 CME activities.
COVID-19 Communication Skill Building Tools and Training
VitalTalk crowdsourced the COVID-ready communication playbook, which provides practical advice on how to talk about difficult topics related to COVID-19.
Respecting Choices® is offering an open-source toolkit for those caring for high-risk COVID-19 patients. The toolkit includes guidance for conversations about treatment preferences before a medical crisis, as well as resources to support specific treatment decisions in high-risk individuals. Washington Health Care Authority certified Respecting Choices' patient decision aids on "Help with Breathing" and "CPR"; both of which are included in Respecting Choices' open-source toolkit, along with many other resources.
Honoring Choices® Pacific Northwest, jointly sponsored by the WSMA Foundation and the Washington State Hospital Association, has partnered with Respecting Choices to offer an online course to physicians and advanced practitioners in Washington state. Three-module online course are free of charge and will enhance your ability to effectively introduce and motivate patients to participate in basic advance care planning (ACP); guide and document basic ACP conversations with patients and families; and successfully integrate and bill for basic ACP in everyday practice. Get started at: wsma.org/BasicACPModules.
Caring for High-Risk COVID-19 Patients
Respecting Choices® has just announced it is offering an open-source toolkit for those caring for high-risk COVID-19 patients. These patients are feeling especially vulnerable, as are their loved ones. The toolkit includes guidance for conversations about treatment preferences before a medical crisis, as well as resources to support specific treatment decisions in high-risk individuals.
Washington Health Care Authority certified Respecting Choices' patient decision aids on "Help with Breathing" and "CPR"; both of which are included in Respecting Choices' open-source toolkit, along with many other resources.
Additionally, Honoring Choices® Pacific Northwest, jointly sponsored by the WSMA Foundation and the Washington State Hospital Association, has partnered with Respecting Choices to offer an online course to physicians and advanced practitioners in Washington state. Through a grant from The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the online modules are free of charge for WSMA members and members of the Honoring Choices PNW initiative (use discount code: HCPNWPartner) until February 2021. Designed for physicians and advanced practitioners, the three-module online course will enhance your ability to effectively introduce and motivate patients to participate in basic advance care planning (ACP); guide and document basic ACP conversations with patients and families; and successfully integrate and bill for basic ACP in everyday practice. This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Get started at: wsma.org/BasicACPModules.