Every so often in American history a year comes along that is just out of place with the right path of our country and the world:
- 1918-1920 Spanish Pandemic and WW I
- 1929 The Great Depression
- 1941 Pearl Harbor and the US entrance to WW II
- 1968 Multitude of events with the assassinations, protests, and the Hong Kong Flu
- 1986-87 The Challenger disaster, Chernobyl, and stock market crash
- 2001 9/11 disasters with follow-up events
And now 2019-2020, COVID-19 and Lantern flies.
This year we have faced amazing challenges that have altered not only the world, our country, our profession, but also PMDA. Our traditional ways of medical management and learning have been altered and our medical landscape has changed forever. Prior to the pandemic, telemedicine was a new concept mentioned only by companies that “specialized” in the concept. Now everyone at all levels, patients included, are sharing telemedicine care. We have seen our regional meetings go virtual and our 2020 Annual Symposium has gone virtual as well. Our organization has made major adjustments to accommodate these changes. We have had wonderful cooperation from PA Med as well as Penn State to assist us with functional programming. Unfortunately, with the pandemic events, PMDA has taken some financial hits as well.
Throughout all these challenges, PMDA has maintained its goal of being the source of leadership in post-acute skilled care and long-term care. PMDA’s educational programs continue to be a primary resource for answers, solutions, and assistance. Through the remarkable work of our Public Policy Committee, PMDA has advocated on behalf of our members and our patients, raising our collective voices to champion best practices across the full LTC continuum. And with the reactivation of the Practitioners’ Forum, the listserv designed to foster discussion and information sharing regarding administrative, clinical, and best practices issues related to LTC medicine, PMDA members are able to tap the expertise of colleagues across the state to assist with the topics of the day.
I bring this information to the forefront as now is the time for all who are part of PMDA to step up to the plate and be counted. Without the usual motivation of our annual face-to-face meeting, dues renewal payments are behind where they need to be to fund all the initiatives PMDA wishes to pursue. I graciously request of all to check to make sure that you are up to date in your 2020 dues and going forward to 2021 dues.
We are looking forward to a wonderful Fall Annual Symposium on November 6.
Joshua Uy, MD leads off with a discussion on “Multimorbidity: Considerations in LTC.” Alexander Nesbitt, MD discussing “Delirium and Designing a Comfort Care Med Set for LTC,” will follow. We then jump over to “Late Pulmonary Complications of COVID-19 and Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome” presented by Pulmonologist Brian Burlew, MD. Next, Yukari C. Manabe, MD, FIDSA from Johns Hopkins University will give us an “Update on COVID-19 Diagnostics and Antibodies.” During the lunch hour we will have our first-time virtual annual business meeting (should be a blast), and an industry sponsored symposium from Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Since no lunch is being served there are no academic restrictions on attendance.
In the afternoon we start with a lecture on the hot topic of “Opioid De-prescribing and Documentation” given by Emily Hajjar, Pharm MS. After a break, we will finish the day with our most treasured and home grown AMDA President Dave Nace, MD, MPH, CMD, who will give his powerful presentation on “Five Articles That Could Affect Your LTC Practice,” followed by his highly anticipated talk on public policy and AMDA highlights. Don’t miss it!!
We also encourage you to attend the industry sponsored symposium scheduled for Thursday November 5, 7:30-8:30. The virtual program will be hosted by UCB, Inc.
With all the challenges, PMDA continues to surge forward. Education and collaboration continue to be a priority. Our goal is to have a great turn out virtually this year and hope that next year, in a healthy environment, we can return to our annual symposium as an in-person event.
Now more than ever, we must remain strong together, maintaining our team and unit to keep PMDA a quality, strong organization, well recognized not only to our members, but throughout the nursing home, assisted living, and personal care consortium.
As an historical thought, America has always rebounded after tough times. The “Roaring Twenties” followed the 1918-1920 pandemic. After the 1929 depression, the New Deal put America back to work. After Pearl Harbor, the sleeping giant awoke to survive the dark days of WWII. From 1968, the country learned acceptance. Peace prospered in the 1970’s. After 1986-1987, the space program continued, and the stock market corrected and grew. And yes, the Iron Curtain came down. Following 2001, America came together to unite to resolve and avenge the terror. Now in 2020, together we can and will survive the pandemic challenge. In long-term care, we are the centerpiece of “doing the right thing” for our patients. We must continue to be the leaders to all that need our support. Just maybe the result, like the “Roaring Twenties” a hundred years ago, will be restorative.
I encourage you to continue your membership and to align with PMDA for years into the future. As health care workers we care about healing and helping all humans all the time. PMDA is an association for everyone and our diverse and inclusive organization is made strong by our members.
Stay strong. Be safe. I am looking forward to seeing all of you virtually at our November 6 symposium.
