A bi-weekly newsletter from your physician organization
Monday, January 15, 2021
REMINDER: COVID-19 vaccine available to physicians/staff through today
Today, Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 is the last day for physicians and practice staff to receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Ascension's hospital-based vaccine clinics. All practice physicians and staff are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at these clinics. Proof of employment (badge or pay stub) is REQUIRED.

Click here for details on Ascension's vaccine clinics for TPA physicians and practice staff. After today, these clinics will close for first doses of the vaccine. Please REMEMBER to arrive one hour before the clinic closes for the Pfizer vaccine.

Family members, patients, friends, vendors, etc. are NOT eligible to receive the vaccine at these clinics, even if they are 65 years and older. Please visit the state's coronavirus website for details on the vaccine guidelines.
COVID-19 vaccine toolkit helps educate staff, patients
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) launched the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination roll out on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to Michigan resident age 65 and older; front line essential workers including police officers, first responders, front line state and federal workers, and jail and prison staff; and preK-12 teachers and childcare providers. MDHHS is accelerating implementation of vaccination of individuals 65-74 years due to concern around disparity in life expectancy by race/ethnicity for this group (Phase 1C, Group A).

There is a startling large number of Americans declining the COVID-19 vaccine, despite safety assurances from MDHHS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers and other leading health organizations. The vaccine plays an important role in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Patients may look to their physicians for information and advice on taking the vaccine.

MDHHS provides many vaccine-related resources, including simple, yet helpful infographics on how mRNA vaccines work and the vaccine development.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed a COVID-19 vaccine communications toolkit to help practices educate patients on the safety and importance of vaccinations.

CDC provides helpful talking points for conversations with patients. This two-page, printable handout provides quick answers to possible common questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

It is also important to communicate the vaccine's importance to practice staff. This CDC poster helps share messaging with staff.

SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS:
If your practice uses Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to engage with patients, these social media graphics and messages can help educate people on the vaccine.
Telemedicine tools help encourage patients to get care
Many Americans are still concerned about leaving home or catching COVID-19 at the doctor's office. Telemedicine continues to be an alternative to engage patients in their care when possible.

The Physician Alliance created a variety of resources to promote telemedicine to patients.

  • Engaging patients in telemedicine flyer
  • Tips for implementing telemedicine flyer
  • Telemedicine social media graphics
  • Telemedicine coding tip sheet
Rides offered to COVID-19 vaccine clinics
A partnership with United Way, Lyft and several other companies will offer free rides to and from COVID-19 vaccination sites for low-income, uninsured, and at-risk communities when the vaccine becomes available to the public. The United Way's 211 program will coordinate the transportation with Lyft.

United Way's Ride United program provides transportation and delivery options for those facing transportation barriers to receive medical care, food, job and other needs.

Practices can also access community resources via NowPow, the online directory available at no cost to TPA members. To request a login to NowPow, register here.
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