WDH: State Health Improvement Strategy
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is inviting state residents to participate in the next stage of preparing an overall state health improvement plan for Wyoming.
The State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) Steering Committee is guiding the state health improvement planning efforts. The general process is outlined in the image below. The priority-selection process resulted in the following areas of focus: Behavioral Health, Access to Health Care, and Unintentional Injury.

WDH needs YOUR help and guidance. Please join WMS members from across the state in bringing your medical expertise to this forum. Register for a session below.
Save the Date - WLM
Expansion of COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended expanding the use of booster doses for individuals aged 18 years and older who received a primary series of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech/COMINARTY or Moderna). All individuals aged 18 years and older who received a primary series of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may receive a booster dose at least 6 months after completion of the primary series. This Health Advisory provides a summary of current recommendations for booster doses and additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
AMA Special Meeting Updates
Nearly 700 physicians, residents and medical students gathered for the November 2021 AMA Special Meeting.
Proposals were considered across a wide range of clinical practice, payment, medical education and public health topics, including:

  • Strengthening U.S. public health infrastructure and opposing limits placed on public health authorities.
  • Combating public health disinformation.
  • Enhancing privacy for people who use mail-order DNA testing kits.
  • Limiting the authority to grant medical exemptions for vaccinations.
  • Improving maternal health and eliminating maternal health inequities.
  • Refining recommendations for evidence-based policing reform.
  • Ensuring that a diverse range of skin tones is represented in dermatology medical education.
  • Requiring health insurer transparency regarding patients’ out-of-pocket costs for individual prescription drugs.
  • Bolstering the physician workforce in rural communities.
  • Advocating for heat exposure protections for outdoor workers.
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association needs your help in identifying and nominating a select group of 30 teens across the AHA’s SouthWest region (Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming) to join fellow changemakers and use their voice to make a difference. 
These teens will run for the Teen of Impact’s Class of 2022, where they will build on the relentless force of the AHA, saving lives and gaining invaluable experience and connections along the way.  Who do you know who might want to run?
 
Teen of Impact Nomination Process:
 
  1. You identify a potential nominee
  2. You reach out the teen & their family to let them know that because of their passion and ability to make a difference you would like to nominate them to be a part of an exclusive group that has been chosen to run for Teen of Impact for the American Heart Association.
  3. Share the attached one-sheeter that explains the opportunity and impact they will make.
  4. Once the teen and their family confirm interest, email Tonya Bradford (tonya.bradford@heart.org) with this information:
  5. Teen Name, Email and Contact #
  6. Parent(s) Name, Email and Contact #
  7. Date(s) / Time(s) parents and teen would be available for introduction zoom call with American Heart Association.
  8. Once American Heart Association receives this information, we will reach out to the family with a calendar invite for an official nomination call. 
Over the past year, the American Heart Association has been working with The FrameWorks Institute on fine-tuning messaging around tobacco. As a result, the AHA will be hosting two upcoming workshops in support of tobacco policy campaigns working to build messaging focused on framing tobacco disparities as a health and social justice issue. 

You are invited to participate in either one or both of these opportunities. The links for registration and the description of each of the trainings are below.  
 
Register here for the workshop for active campaigns focused on flavors sales elimination policies, the workshop will be Thursday, December 9 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm CST. You are encouraged to invite your campaign “team” – both within the AHA (ex. Grassroots, communications, community impact) as well as members of your coalition. 
 
Register here for the workshop for active campaigns focused on tobacco policies other than flavors (ex. tobacco taxes, cessation funding, tobacco retail licensing, PUP repeal). This workshop will be Friday, December 10, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm CST. You are encouraged to invite your campaign “team” – both within the AHA (ex. Grassroots, communications, community impact) and members of your coalition as well.
 
We ask that all registrants who have not participated in either of the trainings led by Frameworks (November 10 during the advocacy retreat or the November 12 Media Advocacy Coordinating Call) view the presentation prior to the workshop: FrameWorks Presentation Advocacy Retreat Nov2021
Wyoming Women in Medicine
Blue Cross Blue Shield Update
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming (BCBSWY) is actively recruiting for the role of Associate Medical Director. This is a great opportunity for a medical professional looking for a change in pace, while also still wanting to contribute to the health and well-being of more than 100,000 BCBSWY Members. 

COVID-19 Immunization Data
Click image to view full sized report.
To view the latest COVID-19 vaccine information in WY visit the Wyoming Department of Health's Provider Information Page.

Here you will find:
  • Vaccine program provider enrollment
  • Required training for COVID-19 vaccine coordinators
  • COVID-19 vaccine resources and information
  • COVID-19 vaccination program templates and forms
  • CDC's V-Safe After Vaccination Health Checker
  • Wyoming Immunization Registry (WyIR) Resources
Message Brought To You By: UMIA
Harm Events

Harm events are inevitable. But when they happen, the data have consistently shown that early, open and transparent communication with the patients/residents and family aids in maintaining trust between the affected parties and the clinicians involved. And it even reduces the likelihood of a claim being filed.

Communicating after a harm event is a stressful undertaking. But having procedures in place for how to initiate and handle these conversations provides a solid foundation for clinicians and care teams, making it easier to know what to say, how to say it and how quickly to respond to these events. Practicing disclosure conversations with peers and other care team members can help clinicians navigate these delicate interactions, preparing them for the questions that patients/residents and families may ask. 
Click image to read full article.
Online Education Opportunities
WBI - Issues in the Identification and Treatment of Eating Disorders Focus 
December 1, 2021 at 1 pm

Wyoming Behavioral Institute and Reasons Eating Disorder Center will offer a one-hour webinar on Wednesday, Dec. 1 from noon to 1 p.m. on issues in the identification and treatment of eating disorders. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric condition and are among the most common chronic illnesses of adolescence. 
Summit Medical - How to Empower and Align APPs to Drive Quality Care and Efficiency
December 2, 2021 at 2 pm

Experienced APP Leaders Joann Bourlier-Childress PA-C and Darrel Morrison, RN, FNP, BC, CRN will share:
  • How their unique approach to APP training and leadership results in highly knowledgable, versitile, empowered APPs
  • Why investing in APP training and empowerment addresses staffing shortages and recruiting and retention challenges
  • How increasing APP engagement drives hospital quality and efficiency metrics
HRSA - Provider Strategies to Boost COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence
December 9, 2021 at 10 am

This webinar developed by HRSA’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs in Denver is designed to enhance healthcare providers’ ability to engage with, motivate, and promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence in their patients so that more individuals can be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The webinar will highlight principals to increase trust and acceptance of the vaccine, targeted communication, behavior change strategies, such as motivational interviewing, and managing misinformation. For questions, contact KPatton@hrsa.gov.

For more education opportunities visit the

There is A LOT of content on the calendar!
Check it out today!!
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