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.

Health Care Emergency Proclamations Scheduled to End

Emergency proclamations put in place early in the pandemic related to the following subjects are scheduled to end on Oct. 27, 2022:

• Continuing education for health care professionals
• Certificate of need
• Long-term care facilities
• Restrictions on elective procedures
• Temporary practice permits

For details, see "Gov. Inslee Announces Termination of Emergency Proclamations Related to Health Care" from the Aug. 12 WSMA Membership Memo. Physicians and practices are advised to prepare now to transition as the end of these flexibilities draws near.

COVID-19 Therapies

COVID-19 therapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies Sotrovimab, Bebtelovimab, and Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab (Evusheld), and antiviral medications Molnupiravir and Paxlovid, are available in Washington state through allocations from the federal government. Currently all therapeutics are being underutilized and there is an overstock of Molnupiravir.

• Professional resources, including FAQs, EUA sheets, and more from the Department of Health.
• DOH Therapeutic Providers List (Google sign-in required)
• Data sheet that breaks down distribution by county/federally qualified health center/retail pharmacy partner: COVID-19 Therapeutic Allocation Data (XLSX).

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
• Mask signage for outpatient practices - Download the sign for your office or setting
• Other signage and infection prevention materials for facilities and practices

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

On-Demand COVID-19 Webinars

Visit the WSMA On-Demand Webinars page for archived presentations from our COVID-19 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.