COVID-19 Professional Resources

WSMA professional resources to help Washington's physician community respond to COVID-19. For questions on COVID-19 clinical issues not covered here, contact your local public health officer. For information on COVID-19 vaccines, visit our dedicated COVID-19 Vaccines webpage.

Restrictions on Non-Urgent Medical Procedures

On Jan. 13, 2022, Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee announced a temporary pause of all "non-urgent" surgeries and procedures in hospitals for the next four weeks. Restrictions are outlined in a new proclamation, Proclamation 20-24.3 and again they pertain to the hospital setting specifically. In conversations with the WSMA, the governor emphasized that physician discretion is still permitted to facilitate access to care in situations where delays may result in harm to patients (for specific language detailing criteria to weigh against when considering potential harm to a patient's health and well-being, see the bottom of page 2 into page 3 of the proclamation).

Reflecting the resolved supply chain issues, under the governor's order all hospitals are required to use personal protective equipment at the conventional level ("conventional PPE status") and PPE should not be rationed. If any facility or medical group has trouble procuring PPE they are encouraged to contact the state.

Crisis Standards of Care Triage Team Operational Guidebook

In the event of an overwhelming surge, after all mitigation strategies have been exhausted, Washington state recognizes that crisis standards of care include first and foremost the implementation of CSC triage teams. The Washington State Crisis Standards of Care Triage Team OperationalGuidebook (October 2021) contains the tools and information needed to implement CSC triage teams within a health care facility or system.

Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers

The WSMA is helping physicians and practices across Washington implement this new mandate, regardless of practice type. Working with the law firm Montgomery Purdue PLLC, the WSMA has prepared guidance, including sample clinic policy and exemption forms and an on-demand vaccine mandate webinar Q&A. Visit Implementing the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate at Your Practice for more information on these resources (sign-in required – to establish an account with the WSMA, click on ‘sign in’ at the top of the page).

Masking and Visitation

• Interim Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 Source Control in Healthcare Settings
• Interim Guidance for Visitors in Inpatient Hospitals and Outpatient Settings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Mask signage for outpatient practices - Download the sign for your office or setting
• Other signage and infection prevention materials for facilities and practices

Monoclonal Antibody Treatments

Some monoclonal antibodies can now be administered subcutaneously in a physician’s office, and some are being offered by the federal government to physicians and providers for free. Monoclonal antibody treatment are recommended as part of the National Institutes of Health COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines and the Infectious Disease Society of America Guidelines on the Treatment and Management of Patients with COVID-19.

In Washington state, given the mix of SARS-CoV-2 variants, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends two monoclonal antibody treatments: REGEN-COV and Sotrovimab. The federal government is offering REGEN-COV to providers for free. So far, these treatments have been shown to be effective against all SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The Washington State Department of Health is urging physicians to consider using monoclonal antibodies to treat eligible patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness. Learn how you can help.

Use of Ivermectin for Treatment of COVID-19

Ivermectin is not FDA-approved for treatment of COVID-19.

• Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19 | FDA Ivermectin | COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines
• NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines on Ivermectin

Other Professional Guidance

• CDC Quarantine and Isolation Guidelines
• Reporting COVID-19 deaths: Washington State Department of Health: Preliminary guidance for reporting COVID-19 deaths
• HIPAA: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: HIPAA Privacy and Novel Coronavirus
• HIPAA: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Notification of Enforcement Discretion for telehealth remote communications during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency
• Washington State Hospital Association: Hospital response to COVID-19
• American Medical Association: COVID-19 resource center for physicians
• COVID-19 and Chronic Pain Management handout

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

• The CDC holds regular Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Calls. More information.
• 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.

On-Demand COVID-19 Virtual Grand Rounds Webinars

Visit the WSMA On-Demand Webinars page for archived presentations from our COVID-19 Virtual Grand Rounds series featuring physician experts on a variety of clinical topics. These on-demand sessions are for WSMA members only.

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.

Post-COVID-19 Recovery Resources

Understanding of long-term effects of COVID-19 continues to evolve. The Washington State Hospital Association features resources dedicated to post-COVID-19 recovery, including professional resources, information for your patients, links to online support groups, news stories, infographics, and more. Visit the WSHA Post-COVID Recovery Resources webpage.