SCMA/MLCMS
From the desk of: Wendy Young, Executive Director
(and the entire Team from the Sonoma County Medical Association
and Mendocino|Lake County Medical Society)
(707) 525-4141 | exec@scma.org
The Sonoma County Medical Association will continue to compile relevant resources to support our local medical community novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. I do understand that you are already receiving tons of email and updates, so I aim to be helpful, not redundant.

Please contact SCMA with any questions or concerns so that we can be sure we are getting you the information you need. You may call our main office line at (707) 525-4375 or email me at scma@scma.org. We are working remotely and are monitoring phone messages and emails. We will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Note: If you have information that you believe is imperative to share with your Sonoma County physician and medical staff colleagues, please drop me a brief email with your info and I will share in follow-up communications as needed. Let's work together to share info that is important to the medical community. I am happy to be the conduit.

If you have an urgent question and need to speak to somebody immediately, please call me, Wendy Young, Executive Director, on my cell phone at (707) 236-2589.
CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (CMA)
CMA COVID-19 RESPONSE - SIGN UP TO HELP!

The following is a letter shared by California Medical Association's (CMA) president, Peter Breten.

Dear Physician Colleagues,

During these trying times I am asking all physicians to answer the call to provide your time, energy and skill to help California help our patients. COVID-19 is putting a tremendous strain on all physicians, especially those on the front lines, and the state is in the middle of experiencing an unprecedented surge in patient care needs.

We are working with the State of California to identify physicians that are willing to help care for patients, both COVID-19 and non COVID-19, in hospitals and new facilities around the state. There are paid and volunteer positions available - and there's no wrong door in service to your community.

To pursue volunteer opportunities, please fill out CMA’s Google form. Paid positions can be explored on the California Medical Assistance Team (CAL-MAT) website . CAL-MAT is comprised of highly trained medical professionals and other specialists coordinated by the State Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) for rapid field medical response, and interested physicians can start the enrollment process here .

It also does not matter what your specialty is. Remember, we were all interns once. We need you. We have all had diverse training and worked in all kinds of environments, and all of us can provide necessary service. This is a call for all hands-on deck.

Please lend your hand.

Thank you,
Peter N. Bretan, Jr., M.D.
CMA President

TELEHEALTH TOOLKITS FOR GENERAL PRACTITIONERS
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released two comprehensive toolkits on telehealth that are specific to general practitioners as well as providers treating patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). 

Under President Trump’s leadership to respond to the need to limit the spread of COVID-19, CMS has broadened access to Medicare telehealth services so that beneficiaries can receive a wider range of services from their doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility. CMS is expanding this benefit on a temporary and emergency basis under the 1135 waiver authority and Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act. Under this new waiver, Medicare can pay for office, hospital, and other visits furnished via telehealth across the country and including in patient’s places of residence starting March 6, 2020. A range of providers, such as doctors, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers, will be able to offer telehealth to their patients. These benefits are part of the broader effort by CMS and the White House Task Force to ensure that all Americans – particularly those at high-risk of complications from the virus that causes the disease COVID-19 are aware of easy-to-use, accessible benefits that can help keep them healthy while helping to contain the community spread of this virus.
 
Each toolkit contains electronic links to reliable sources of information on telehealth and telemedicine, which will reduce the amount of time providers spend searching for answers and increase their time with patients. Many of these links will help providers learn about the general concept of telehealth, choose telemedicine vendors, initiate a telemedicine program, monitor patients remotely, and develop documentation tools. Additionally, the information contained within each toolkit will also outline temporary virtual services that could be used to treat patients during this specific period of time.

You can find the Telehealth Toolkit for General Practitioners here:  https://www.cms.gov/files/document/general-telemedicine-toolkit.pdf

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM
COUNTY OF SONOMA
For the latest local information and resources on Coronavirus, please go to https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/.
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
What Is 'Essential?' Read the Public Health Order

The Health Order for all Sonoma County residents to Shelter in Place outlines a few exceptions for essential services and activities. If you're questioning what is and is not allowed, the text of the Order is your best resource. Please take a moment to read it in full, if you haven't done so yet. Additionally, some FAQs are available to provide further understanding (these are being updated as questions arise). When in doubt, keep in mind the intent of the Order —which is to create social distancing as much as possible. By each of us cooperating and taking personal responsibility, we can help to protect ourselves, our loved-ones and our community from the coronavirus.


FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
Rumors can easily circulate within communities during a crisis, stay informed with facts by visiting our Rumor Control Page .
CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)


Cases and latest updates (Note: This page will be updated regularly at noon Mondays through Fridays. Numbers close out at 4 p.m. the day before reporting.)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program: Find more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans at: SBA.gov/Disaster.
MEMBER TO MEMBER
FamilyCare Allergy and Asthma, Santa Rosa Office would like you to know that they have remained open and are seeing [respective] patients. You can reach them at Phone: (707) 525-0211.

Have a message to get out in my next blast, email me at exec@scma.org .
FROM OUR BUSINESS PARTNER: FAMILY FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT
Berry & Fritzinger, P.C.
3550 Round Barn Blvd
Santa Rosa, California
Office (707) 800-0550
To help our business clients navigate through this unprecedented time, we encourage you to read our recent post on COVID-19 titled:


As always, please do not hesitate to contact Dave Berry, Esq. with any questions or concerns. Make sure to tell him you are an SCMA Member to get member pricing!
NEED HAND SANITIZER?
One of my favorite small businesses, Young & Yonder in Healdsburg is offering custom made hand sanitizer for our community!

Starting tomorrow at noon, you can pick up a bottle at 449 Allan Court, Healdsburg, CA. "Because we want you all to stay safe and clean, we will not be charging for the sanitizer. However, if those able would like to offer small donations to offset our cost and help keep us going during this time, we would greatly appreciate it!"