Happy March! Spring is in the air (at least for those of us lucky enough to live in Sonoma County)! I can happily report that the SCMA vaccine clinic at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds is seeing 600+ people daily and with 30+/- volunteers and/or staff at each clinic since January, we have not had a single reported case of COVID-19 among our team. I report this to give you hope for returning to "normal" soon.

CMA has made requesting PPE supplies a bit easier with an online ordering portal. Please see "Need PPE?" article below for full details. We are still collaborating with the State of California Office of Emergency Services to ensure that local medical offices have the supplies you need to run your practice.

In other news, I am super thrilled that our very own SCMA member, Catherine Gutfreund, MD, has decided to throw her hat into the political arena—running for the 2022 president-elect role in the California Medical Association. As I told her, this was the best news I have had in two years! Helping SCMA members advance in their leadership commitment is stuff that really motivates me! Dr. Gutfreund has been a member for 21 years, is a past SCMA president and has been serving our members through the CMA House of Delegates for many years now. Please see more about her candidacy further down in this newsletter.

Have some feedback for SCMA? I welcome your thoughts and insights! I hope that you too feel that the vaccination clinics are a service to our members (and your patients) and support the mission of our organization as it pertains to supporting and enhancing the health of our community.

Yours in health and service,
Wendy Young, Executive Director
707-620-0808 | exec@scma.org
COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATES
SCMA clinics expand vaccination efforts
SCMA's vaccination clinic is currently open at Santa Rosa Fairgrounds Grace Pavilion. At press time, we are vaccinating through the County’s designated tiers including healthcare workers with direct patient contact, age 70+ and on designated days—agricultural workers. By the end of this week, the SCMA clinic will have administered 12,233 doses of the vaccine representing 6,116 fully vaccinated individuals!

We have been asked to focus only on second-dose appointments and had to cancel all first-dose appointments last week and this week due to the midwest winter storms that created a vaccine shortage. My understanding is that production halted at the Moderna plant when employees could not get to work in the snow! We are hopeful that once the Blue Shield third party administration services are in place, we will be able to continue to serve the community through the vaccine clinic, but this is still to be determined.

Dr. Steve Olson, (pictured above) is a retired Kaiser physician and regular vaccinator volunteer at the clinic. Steve is posing with an image from our art installation at the clinic encouraging vaccinations in the Latino community. SCMA partnered with the Sonoma County Winegrowers Association and the Sonoma County Vintners Association, opening two days at 600 appointments each day for winery production workers and Sonoma County agricultural field workers.

If you are a Spanish-speaking physician, NP, or RN and/or can join us as a Spanish translator for the March 18 and 19 clinics, please contact SCMA at volunteer@scma.org. Please add in the subject line of your email “March 18-19 Spanish-Speaking Volunteer.” THANK YOU to all the physicians and healthcare volunteers staffing the vaccination clinics! We can’t do this without you.

Please consider a donation to the Medical Society of Sonoma County! Your tax deductible donations help us to continue our clinic initiative!
Click the button above or to donate by check or credit card,

Please mail checks payable to ‘Medical Society of Sonoma County’ to
1613 Madeira Circle, Petaluma, CA 94954.
If requested, we are happy to send you a receipt for your tax records.
Contact Rachel at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org.

Want to be a part of the solution? Volunteer to help at the SCMA clinics! Please email volunteer@scma.org to connect with volunteer coordinators who can help you with pre-clinic participation training modules. Our coordinators will help you find a clinic role that serves you best.

Want to donate supplies or provide lunch for the staff/volunteers for a future SCMA vaccination clinic? Please contact our clinics logistics director at cliniclogistics@scma.org for details on what current needs are or how to donate lunch! We have approximately 30 staff/volunteers each day and try to treat them well!
SCMA’s red carpet
Clinic mixologist
Post-vaccine waiting area
"This is Our Shot" campaign
Help lead the way by encouraging vaccination and reassuring the public that COVID vaccines are safe, effective and necessary. Physicians can help fight misinformation and encourage our community to get vaccinated. Read media story in The Washington Post.

Join the "This is our Shot" grassroots campaign to elevate your voice and build vaccine trust for a COVID-free world. Sign up and download the toolkit.

Please post your “vaxxie” (a selfie getting your COVID vaccination) or share information about why people should get vaccinated on social media to counter vaccine opponents. Use hashtags #thisisourshot #vaccineswork #covidvaccine #trustscience Read more here.
Vaccination hesitancy communication training
SCMA member Dr. Brian Prystowsky has created a three-part training that demonstrates how to navigate SARS CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy discussions with patients.

The videos are accessible via the links below (not searchable to avoid public viewing and antivax activity). Please share with healthcare professionals who would benefit from this training. 


For searchable, patient-friendly "Doc and Elephant Explain Coronavirus Vaccine" videos, visit Dr. Prystowsky's YouTube channel.

Vaccine conversation starter
Hesitancy among healthcare workers and the community to get the COVID vaccine threatens to slow down progress to reach herd immunity. Your patients consider you to be the most trusted source of vaccine information when it comes to vaccinations.

THANK YOU to the Santa Clara County Medical Association for sharing its vaccine conversation guide, which SCCMA developed to answer common questions patients may ask about the COVID-19 vaccine, along with information for responses. The guide also includes tips for having vaccine conversations with your patients.
COVID-19 DEVELOPMENTS AND UPDATES
COVID-19 relief package allows PPP deducts up to $150k
Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders have announced an agreement on a package of immediate actions intended to speed needed relief to individuals, families and businesses suffering significant economic hardship from the COVID-19 recession. “If physician practices don’t receive the full extent of the support they need, we risk threatening patients’ access to care and the future viability of our healthcare delivery system,” said Dr. Bretan. READ MORE
County COVID-19 updates
Click the images below for current information and statistics in each county.

Need PPE?
Supplies available to all member and nonmember practices

Due to ongoing disruption in Personal Protective Equipment supply and increasing demand, the California Medical Association with the help of the State of California Office of Emergency Services has established a portal to provide PPE at no cost to practices that are experiencing challenges in procuring PPE and/or facing financial hardship due to increasing costs.

CMA is collecting a nominal shipping/handling fee with each order to offset the actual costs associated with managing the program, which include warehousing, packing and freight preparation, and actual shipping costs. CMA will offer this program for as long as supplies are available. ORDER HERE.

For questions, please contact member services at 800-786-4262 or through CMA's contact form.
SCMA NEWS
Dr. Gutfreund announces candidacy for CMA presidency
I am Catherine Gutfreund, a family physician practicing in Santa Rosa, a mom, a world traveler (in non-COVID times), an avid knitter and a passionate advocate of organized medicine. I have been a member of the District X delegation for the past 20 years and served SCMA as president.
 
I am running for 2022 CMA president-elect and welcome your support! My vision and experience, along with my compassion, make me the best choice to serve you. I will do that by listening and understanding your concerns, and then leading to remove obstacles in our practices so we can continue to do what we do best, care for patients.
 
I will work tirelessly on your behalf, and together, we can impact the health and wellness of Californians for generations to come. I would be honored to have your support for the office of CMA president-elect. For my full candidate’s statement and additional background information, please click here or contact me at Catherine.A.Gutfreund@kp.org.
SUPPORTING COMMUNITY
SCMA clinic offers vaccinations for ag workers
As efforts to vaccinate essential agricultural and production workers struggle to proceed throughout California and the nation, Sonoma County’s farmers, vintners and health communities have been successfully partnering to get thousands of COVID-19 vaccination doses to these essential workers throughout the region.

The program is a cooperative effort involving the Sonoma County Winegrowers, the Sonoma County Vintners, the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, local community health centers including the West County Health Center, the Sonoma Valley Health Center, the Alliance Medical Center, the Alexander Valley Health Care, and the Sonoma County Medical Association. 

Our SCMA clinic volunteers dedicated two full days in February to vaccinating vineyard and wine production workers at Grace Pavillon, administering first doses of the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine to more than 1,200 people. Second doses to follow in March. Read the full story in Sonoma County Winegrowers E-News Bulletin.
PHYSICIAN WELLNESS
BEGINS APRIL 24, 2021
Enrolling now for next 12-week program
You can have the life you want. I can show you how.

Hello! I'm Emily Shaw, MD — a Sonoma County family physician and certified life coach. My 12-week coaching program specifically designed for community-minded physicians helps doctors improve their relationships, their experience at work and home, their quality of life generally, and so much more. It is a combination of weekly, small group sessions to go over core coaching topics as well as weekly private, individual coaching built around each individual's personal goals.

The current session started in January and participants are already vocal about their results. They're saying things like "I can't imagine life without this class!" And "This has been a rudder for me. A North Star." Their spouses are noticing a difference in the way they're acting at home. They're coming home earlier. They're spending more time with their kids. They're more patient, loving, and feeling more connected. They're showing up as the people they want to be at home and at work. WOW! 

Only 6 spots currently left for April program. 
Reserve your place now!

To discuss more details including tuition, please contact me at emilyshawmdcoaching@gmail.com.

In solidarity with you all,
Emily Shaw, MD, Chair, SCMA Physician Wellness Committee
MARCH WEBINARS AND CLASSES
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Medicare Changes:
2021 and Beyond
Online 60-minute training for physicians, practice managers and medical office professionals includes:


  • Telehealth and other communications technology
  • New CMS E/M 2021 Guidelines
  • The Quality Payment Program (MACRA) Year 5
  • Compliance with the current MAC 
  • Other Medicare Part B issues

Presented by Cheryl Bradley, Associate Director in CMA's Center for Economic Services. Cheryl has over 25 years of experience in the Medicare Program and working with providers in all specialities across California Medicare contractors. Don't miss her lively and informative workshop!

Register now for CMA's March webinars
Telehealth Series for Small and Medium Sized Practices: (Pt. 11) Telehealth Strategy
In this interactive session, physicians will learn how to build a strategy to incorporate telehealth into their practice, both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thursday, March 4, 2021 • 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. REGISTER HERE

Virtual Grand Rounds: COVID-19 Vaccines and Virus Variants
Hear from state experts regarding the epidemiology of the virus and its variants, the state of the vaccine rollout, in-depth information on vaccines in use — as well as vaccines in development — and the latest information on personal mitigation techniques and strategies.
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 • 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. REGISTER HERE

Legislative Advocacy Day Training
In preparation for CMA's Virtual Legislative Advocacy Conference to be held
April 5–9, 2021, CMA's Center for Government Relations will host a special training webinar (members only).
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 • 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. REGISTER HERE

GME Webinar Series: Board-Certified Physicians: Key to Continuity Sites
Physicians, practice managers and providers can expect to learn the foundational elements of preparing clinical facilities to successfully design medical residency programs.
Thursday, March 25, 2021 • 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. REGISTER HERE
Sutter Health
The Sutter Health Virtual Grand Rounds is a Continuing Education (CE)* webinar series hosted by Sutter Health Network providers for all medical professionals across Northern California. Learn about the entire series here

Atypical Preeclampsia: Clinical Presentation and Management
Presented by William Gilbert, MD
Thursday, March 11, 2021 • 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. REGISTER HERE

Presented by Gnanagurudasan Prakasam, MD
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 • 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. REGISTER HERE
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Shriners Hospitals for Children
Join Shriners for its 2021 Virtual Provider CME series—monthly webinars at no cost to providers.

Pediatric Burns: What Every Pediatric Provider Needs to Know
For pediatricians, primary care providers, RNs, and school-based nurses.
Tuesday, March 16, 2021 • 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. REGISTER HERE

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit Designation for 1.0 contact hour for each program.
NEW SCMA MEMBERS

Congratulations and welcome to our newest SCMA members! We are delighted to have you on board and look forward to supporting you and collaborating with you and your colleagues.
Sanyogeeta Bhaway, MD
Internal Medicine

Tucker Bierbaum, MD
Emergency Medicine

Elliott Brandwene, MD
Emergency Medicine

Maria-Claudia Campagna, MD
Internal Medicine

Janet Chiang, MD
Endocrinology

Julie Clark, MD
Obstetrics & Gynecology

Giac Consiglieri, MD
Neurological Surgery

Catherine Davis, MD
Internal Medicine

Marlon DeCastro, MD
Internal Medicine

David Della Lana, MD
Family Medicine

Laurie Doolittle, MD
Pediatrics

Asia Downing, MD
Internal Medicine

John Elliott, MD
Internal Medicine

Omar Ferrari, DO
Emergency Medicine
Bobby Field, MD
Obstetrics & Gynecology

Jana Fix, MD
Internal Medicine

Michael Gelb, MD
Psychiatry

Michael Glamore, MD
Urology

Shana Hill, MD
Pulmonary Disease

Douglas Jicha, MD
Vascular Surgery

Jon Karch, MD
Critical Care Medicine

Ognjen Katan, MD
Critical Care Medicine

Sara Keck, MD
Medical Oncology

Leroy Keiser, MD
Medical Oncology

Sae Hee Ko, MD
Vascular Surgery

Anthony Kosinski MD
Obstetrics & Gynecology

Trieneke Kylstra, MD
Family Medicine

Stella Lai, MD
Neurology

Adamane Lalithmohan, MD
Cardiovascular Disease
Nahla Makhoul, MD
Internal Medincine

Eran Mataron, MD
Internal Medicine

Thomas Morales, MD
Gastroenterology

Ridgely Muller, MD
Emergency Medicine

Kateri Murray, MD
Hospital & Palliative Medicine

Tiffany Ngai, MD
Infectious Disease

Albert Nguyen, MD
Critical Care Medicine

Paul Nicholas, MD
Psychiatry

Anna Paulsson, MD
Radiation Oncology

Brett Schulte, MD
Sugery

Melissa Strange, MD
Pediatrics

Donald Whisler, MD
Rheumatology

Kirellos Zamary, MD
Sugery

Grace Zhang, MD
Ophthalmology
MEMBER BENEFIT SPOTLIGHT

CMA has been an outspoken voice in protecting the autonomy of public health officers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to advocate on all fronts to ensure that the interests of physicians and their patients are addressed at state and federal government levels.

CMA and its county medical societies also support California's physicians with a multitude of services ranging from free professional resources to an extensive network of benefit partners.

To learn more, see the flier at the left or call CMA's call center during weekday business hours at 800-786-4262.

CMA/SCMA/MLCMS membership benefits at a glance
Together, we are taller and stronger
When you renew your membership or join the California Medical Association and SCMA or MLCMS, you add your voice to nearly 50,000 members statewide who are actively supporting the practice of medicine and public health initiatives like SCMA's COVID-19 vaccination clinics. Membership is affordable and easy to maintain; monthly payment plans are available. Call 800-786-4262 or click the button below to join online.
ADVOCACY ALERT
ALLOWS PPE EXPENSE DEDUCTIONS ON STATE TAXES
Contact your legislators: Support AB 80
AB 80 is a critical piece of legislation that will help front-line physicians and community practices keep their doors open so that they can continue to provide necessary care for California residents. Physician practices have faced devastating reductions to revenues and increases in costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with 87% of practices reporting ongoing fiscal concerns. CMA is urging physicians to contact the governor and your legislators to ask for immediate action to bring California’s tax treatment of PPP loans into conformity with federal tax laws.
SCMA BUSINESS PARTNER CORNER
FREE ON-DEMAND WEBCAST:
Enhance your practice's telemedicine Program
The rapid pace that practices have had to adopt telemedicine over the past year has left many questions unanswered and gaps unfilled. In this webcast, Virtual Care: The Next Medical Frontier, presented by the Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP), Dr. S. John Korangy, MD, MPH, addresses fundamental challenges many physicians experience when implementing virtual care programs and provides a framework for a successful operation.


Learn more about CAP's medical malpractice coverage.
Contact: Dorine Leong | 650-543-2183 |DLeong@CAPphysicians.com
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
IN THE NEWS

St. Joseph Health Medical Group has added three new family medicine providers to the group in Santa Rosa. William Markoff, MD, James Trapnell, MD, and Jennifer Warren, RN, MSN, FNP, will all see patients at 500 Doyle Park Drive. See full details and appointment information here.


CAN YOU HELP?

Operation Access is seeking volunteer physicians to provide surgical and specialty care for low-income and uninsured adults in Northern California. You determine the frequency of participation and types of cases you accept. Please contact us to learn more about how you can get involved. Call 415-733-0052, email info@operationaccess.org or visit our website.

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For updates on future SCMA vaccination clinics and volunteer opportunities, please join our mailing list. When you sign up for our email communications list, you'll receive the latest information and resources from SCMA and MLCMS.
DID YOU KNOW?
SCMA and MLCMS members can place FREE classified ads in News Briefs. (Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word.) To place a classified ad or display banner, contact Susan Gumucio at susan@scma.org or 707-481-8995.

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When you shop at smile.amazon.com and designate the Medical Society of Sonoma County as your charitable organization, a percentage of your purchases is donated to MSSC—which works in tandem with SCMA to support physicians and healthcare professionals in Sonoma County. Thank you and HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY from the SCMA Team!
Contact SCMA|MLCMS: exec@scma.org
or rachel@scma.org | 707-525-4375