COVID-19 Response

The WSMA, Washington state officials, and the state's health care community have mobilized in response to an outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and its associated respiratory illness, COVID-19.

For an update on the spread of the coronavirus in Washington, visit the Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Outbreak Summary webpage.

For breaking updates on the state's COVID-19 response, including general guidance on emergency proclamations, visit Washington State Coronavirus Response (COVID-19) website.

Patients are advised to check with their local county health department for local guidance and resources. Visit the Washington State Department of Health's COVID-19 Outbreak Summary page for a breakdown of confirmed infections by county and links to county public health departments.

Check the CDC website and World Health Organization website for updates on the outbreak at the national and international level.

Clinical and Practice Guidance on COVID-19

WSMA members can review our COVID-19 resource pages for professional/practice resources:

• COVID-19 Telehealth and Reimbursement
• COVID-19 Clinical Guidance and Testing
• COVID-19 Patient Education
• Financial Viability During COVID-19
• Care for the Caregiver During the COVID-19 Outbreak
• COVID-19 Discussion Forum

For those of you working in an outpatient practice, please familiarize yourself and your staff with the Washington State Department of Health's guidance for outpatient practices:

• Washington State Department of Health's COVID-19 Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings

Other sources for professional guidance:

• Hospital response to COVID-19 - Hospital and patient guidance from the Washington State Hospital Association
• American Medical Association COVID-19 resource center for physicians
• Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education - The ACCME has compiled a list of educational resources about COVID-19 for physicians, all of which include CME credit. The education consists of online courses, video, or articles, and most of these resources are free.

Emergency Health Practitioner Volunteers Needed

The Washington State Department of Health is enrolling and activating emergency volunteer health practitioners in preparation for health system requests and surging. This will help the state meet emerging demands for health care workers. Learn more about enrolling to become a volunteer.

The Washington Medical Commission has carried out emergency rulemaking to re-license retired physicians, waive CME requirements, and allow these people to receive payment for their efforts. Read the Washington Medical Commission statement for details.