UMass FMCH Tuesday Talk - January 30, 2024/DIVERSITY | |
Welcome to the FMCH Tuesday Talk. Please continue to send us your announcements, celebrations, and accomplishments to [email protected]. | |
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Table of Contents
Message From the Chair
Upcoming Events
Focus of the Week – Diversity
Announcements
Department Member Recognition
Frankly Speaking Podcast
Clinical Services Spotlight
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Message From the Chair
Diane McKee, MD, MS
Department Retreat Save the Date
Please hold May 16th from 12:00 - 6:00pm on your calendar for our annual retreat. If you are interested in moderating a session, or if you have an idea of a session that you think should be offered, please email [email protected] Thank you!
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Upcoming Events
FMCH Grand Rounds
Tuesday, January 30th, 12:00 - 1:00pm, Frank J. Domino, MD, Alan Ehrlich, MD, Kathleen Barry, MD, and Valerie Coppenrath, PharmD, present, "Journal Club".
Meeting ID: 191 986 273 Passcode: FMCH
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/191986273?pwd=NEtlZmNkdWlSUGwyeTJQU3dCeUs1QT09
Department of Medicine Grand Rounds
Thursday, February 1st, 12:00 - 1:00pm, Diane Meier, MD, FACP, FAAHPM, presents, "Palliative Care Futurist: Matching Care to Our Patient's Needs".
See attached flyer for additional information.
https://umassmed.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qsBdErX1SjSiyUobQFnGQA#/registration
Psychiatry Grand Rounds
Thursday, February 1st, 12:00 - 1:00pm, Nicholas Genovese, MD, presents "Understanding and Addressing Stigma and Substance Use Disorders".
Meeting ID: 818 349 233 Passcode: PsychGR1
https://umassmed.zoom.us/j/818349233?pwd=VVRDNUxZZmF4K3NqNXppTHJiVmNSUT09
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Focus of the Week - Diversity
Jennifer Bradford MD, MPH; Director of Social Justice and Inclusion
Josephine Fowler, MD, MBA, Vice Chair of Clinical Services
HeatherLyn Haley, PhD, Program Director
The UMass Memorial Health System has determined as the True North Project for 2024, improving the capture of accurate SDOH information. This effort is championed by the inpatient team. We can all play a role. As you are seeing your patients for wellness and new visits, take a minute to address the SDOH.
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The Family Medicine Team continues to work on health equity and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). As a department, we are committed to improving the care of a wide range of patients and to ensure our care efforts include a diverse population. In 2024, we will keep this focus and aim to identify and address these issues with our patients to improve health outcomes.
Check out the Black Community Calendar compiled by our partners at The Village Worcester to find community-based activities all next month and support as many programs as you can! Note that some programs are still getting their details together, and things can still be added throughout the month. We look forward to learning, growing and celebrating with one another! www.tinyurl.com/bccfeb2024
Four teams of UMass Chan Medical School students have been awarded Martin Luther
King Jr. Semester of Service awards to implement programs that will serve the community. Projects include encouraging wellness among African immigrants in Worcester, improving access to immunization for pediatric patients in Worcester, providing infant care products, health care supplies, information to needy families in Worcester, and helping expand basic medical services at the Worcester Islamic Social Services Center.
The UMass Chan Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration will be held on Zoom on Wednesday, January 31st at noon. Joan Y. Reede, MD, MS, MPH, MBA, dean for diversity and community partnership, professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, professor of society, human development and health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, will serve as speaker. The Chancellor's Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion and the Martin Luther King Jr. Semester of Service Awards will be presented.
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Hepatitis C and General Hepatology Project ECHO
(Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes)
You are invited to join an exciting virtual collaborative learning opportunity which will allow you to build expertise in the evaluation and management of patients living with chronic
Hepatitis C. (see attached brochure and curriculum schedule)
A new cohort begins Friday, February 16th, 2024, 12:30 - 1:30pm ~ with 10 sessions held bi-monthly.
Register Today!
HOLD THE DATE FOR BOOK EVENT - March 6th
Lucy Candib has authored/edited a book entitled Family Doctors Say Goodbye with her co-author/editor Will Miller. The Department, in partnership with the medical school library, will host an event on March 6th at 6:00pm live on campus for a discussion of the book and about transitions in general as a medical clinician. Please plan to attend.
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Department Member Recognition
Thank you to Dr. Patricia Seymour for her excellent leadership and commitment to quality as the Department’s Physician Quality Officer. She is not leaving us but will continue in her appointed role as Assistant Dean of Clinical Curriculum, OUME. Again, thank you for your commitment and excellent work in support of the Department.
Congratulations to Eric Rosenthal, DO, who has been selected to assume the role of Program Director for the Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency. He will succeed Beth Mazyck, MD who has decided to step down as Program Director and will remain Medical Director of Fitchburg Family Practice. We thank Beth for her outstanding leadership of the Fitchburg program over many years.
Erik Garcia was the invited guest speaker for the Connecticut AHEC (UConn)’s session on Team-based Care of the Homeless Population on January 26th. This is the 6th time he has been the main speaker.
Dennis Dimitri was recently elected as Chair of the Board of Directors of The Health Foundation of Central Mass. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the health of the residents of central Massachusetts by funding projects which address socio-economic factors affecting health as broadly defined by The World Health Organization, “complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.
Hugh Silk was a panelist on January 26th on the topic of Mobile Addiction Services - Advice from Experts at the Virtual Mobile Addiction Virtual Conference, sponsored by RIZE/Kraft Foundation Community Care in Reach.
Hugh Silk was interviewed on WBZ News Radio 1030 New England Weekend Podcast with Nichole Davis which aired on many local stations over the weekend. The show was called Breaking the Cycle of Addiction and Poor Dental Care in Worcester, discussing our new RIZE grant. The 11-minute podcast can be heard here:
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1248-new-england-weekend-51705906/episode/breaking-the-cycle-of-addiction-and-145958236/
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Frankly Speaking Podcast
A weekly Podcast series covering newsworthy topics in primary care medicine.
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frankly-speaking-about-family-medicine/id1194659367.
Please join us for an overview: The chronic nature of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) necessitates persistence when trialing treatment options. After reviewing key identifiers of IBS, we discuss a second-line treatment's efficacy in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life for patients with continued IBS symptoms. Tune in for valuable insights to make informed recommendations for your patients. Guest: Mariyan L. Montaque, DNP, FNP-BC, presents: "Your Gut Doesn't Have to Be Irritated: Treatment Options for IBS" - Frankly Speaking Ep 365.
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Clinical Services Spotlight:
Josephine Fowler, MD, MBA, Vice Chair of Clinical Services
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Maternity Care
Hospital at Home Expands to Maternity Center
Patients who have cesarean sections are now eligible for the Hospital at Home program on day two or three of their hospital stay. This is anticipated to be a major patient satisfier and help with the flow of the Maternity Center. Thanks to all who made it happen.
COVID-19 UMMMC
- The 7-day average positivity rate for COVID among patients at UMMMC is 8.1%.
- The 7-day average of COVID positive in-patients is 40.
- Of the 40 patients, 78% are fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 US
- The most common variant is JN 1.
- It accounts for 89% of COVID-19 in the US.
- The CDC lists the following as the most common symptoms:
- Nasal congestion or runny nose
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Cough
- Muscle or body aches
- Fever or chills
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- New loss of taste or smell
COVID-19 MA
- Last week, we had 3,466 confirmed new COVID-19 cases.
- For MA, there are 73,342 confirmed new COVID cases for the season.
- Last week, there were 34 confirmed deaths primarily related to COVID-19.
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Wellness Resources
The Caring for the Caregiver Program provides resources such as the Caregiver Support Line (508-334-HELP) and The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which offers a variety of services and supports (including virtual peer support and wellness tips. EAP can be accessed at 866-263-3525, or www.LiveandWorkWell.com,
[company code: UmassMemorial].
More information is available on the Caring for the Caregiver page.
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