UMass FMCH Tuesday Talk - October 17, 2023/COMMUNITY

Welcome to the FMCH Tuesday Talk. Please continue to send us your announcements, celebrations, and accomplishments to [email protected]. 

Table of Contents

Message From the Chair

Upcoming Events

Focus of the Week – Community

Announcements

Department Member Recognition

Frankly Speaking Podcast

Clinical Services Spotlight

Message From the Chair

M. Diane McKee, MD, MS

Please join me on October 24th at 6:00pm for the department’s Annual Awards ceremony. Please RSVP to Jean Roy [email protected] by October 13th. The event will be in-person in the Faculty Conference Room on the University campus with appetizers and wine from 6:00-6:30pm and the program starting at 6:30pm. This is our opportunity to reflect on the year and recognize the efforts of faculty across the department. We will also recognize Judy Savageau’s legacy in the department and community. All are welcome! 

Meeting ID: 397 1147 218

Password: MassAHEC

https://umassmed.zoom.us/j/3971147218?pwd=NmJoaThZczc1MGJMMUlMZWpCSG1BZz09&from=addon

UMass Memorial Benefits enrollment is Monday, October 16th to Friday, October 27th. Everyone MUST enroll to continue benefits coverage. If you miss the window to enroll you will not have benefits for the coming year 2024 (medical, dental, vision, flexible spending, etc.) and will not be able to enroll until next year unless you have a life qualifying event such as marriage, new child, etc. If you would like to review your current 2023 benefits you can see them here: http://mybenefits.umassmemorial.org/.

Click on “Benefits” then “My Benefits”. To download a full summary click on “Download” in the top section for “Estimated Cost”. If you have questions about this year’s enrollment. you can call: UMass Memorial Open Enrollment Support Center at 877-295-2577. Benefits information will be coming out soon so please pay close attention to emails from the Benefits Contact Center.

Upcoming Events

FMCH Grand Rounds

Tuesday, October 17th, 12:00 - 1:00pm, Janet Hale, PhD, RN, FNP presents "Why Ask? Why Care? The Health Implications of Your Patients' Personal and Family History of Military Service."

Meeting ID: 191 986 273 Passcode: FMCH

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/191986273?pwd=NEtlZmNkdWlSUGwyeTJQU3dCeUs1QT09

More than 95% of HCV infections can be cured with simple, well-tolerated treatments, however only 14% of MA residents have been tested for HCV and only 40% are treated within a year of diagnosis. A 2022 DPH survey found that only a third of MA clinical laboratories conduct routine RNA reflex testing, which DPH considers standard of care and essential in identifying HCV infection and eliminating treatment delays. See below for links to key findings and a DPH fact sheet on hepatitis C testing and treatment. 

Additional Resources: 

• Hepatitis C (HCV) | Mass.gov 
• Hepatitis C information for clinicians and other providers | Mass.gov 
• Enhancing Hepatitis C Testing and Treatment | Mass.gov 
• Hepatitis C Online (uw.edu) 
• HIV and Hepatitis C Co-infection 
• HIV/HCV Co-infection: An AETC National Curriculum | AIDS Education and Training Centers National Coordinating Resource Center (AETC NCRC) (aidsetc.or

The Veterans Health Administration (aka, the VA) provides care to only those veterans who apply, are accepted (based on 9 levels of disability) and seek care there; current service members and families are not served. Three resources available for you to care for veterans of any branch and era of service and their families at NO COST: 

• Veterans Service Officer (VSO): each city/town is covered by a VSO who can help access services, including applying to the VA for benefits. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/local-veterans-service-officers 
• Worcester Vets Center: confidential help for Veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. Services include counseling for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST). Can also connect to more support in VA and community. https://www.va.gov/worcester-vet-center/ 
• Home Base: provides treatment for the invisible wounds of war for veterans, service members and their families at no cost. Includes outpatient and residential/retreat, family support, wellness and fitness, adventure series. https://homebase.org/ 

The FMCH Community Health Committee has reviewed and narrowed nominations for the inaugural Warren J. Ferguson Community Health Visiting Professorship to four inspiring leaders in our field. Please review the bios, then use the link to rank, by October 27th, the person you would most like to present Grand Rounds during National Public Health Week, April 2024, with time planned for discussion with learners, faculty and leadership at the department and institutional level. 

• Giselle Corbie-Smith, MD, MSc, is Director of the Center for Health Equity Research at the University of North Carolina, and co-lead for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Advancing Change Leadership Clinical Scholars Program. https://www.med.unc.edu/socialmed/directory/giselle-corbie-smith/ 
• Michael Curry, Esq., serves as President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, which represents 52 health centers across the state, and is on the National Board of Directors for the NAACP.  

https://naacp.org/people/michael-curry  

• Kiame Mahaniah, MD, MBA, is the Undersecretary for Health in the Healy administration. Dr. Mahaniah is a practicing physician in the field of addiction and primary care and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. https://www.mass.gov/news/dr-kiame-mahaniah-and-mary-mcgeown-appointed-executive-office-of-health-and-human-services-undersecretaries 
• Loretta Ross, is a professor at Smith College in the Program for the Study of Women and Gender where she teaches courses on white supremacy, human rights, and Calling In the Call Out culture. She co-created the theory of Reproductive Justice, launched the Women of Color Program for the National Organization for Women (NOW), and was the national program director of the National Black Women’s Health Project.  https://lorettajross.com/mediakit 

Please rank the four nominees for the 2024 Warren J. Ferguson Visiting Professorship. https://umassmed.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cY10O0Xp8or7OYe 

Simulation-Based Training

Are you passionate about patients and caregivers feeling seen and heard, especially when they are living with serious illnesses? Do you enjoy teaching medical students the fundamental skills of communication and compassionate presence to form therapeutic relationships? If so, we have a great opportunity for you! We are recruiting faculty facilitators for a required simulation-based training for all 3rd-year students during their family medicine and internal medicine clerkships. During the 3-hour session, students work in small groups with a patient actor and faculty facilitator to take turns leading a discussion about the patient as a person, their prognosis, goals of care and treatment options. Experienced faculty from palliative care have designed the curriculum and will prepare new facilitators via formal faculty development and coaching. The time commitment is variable, depending on level of interest, but at a minimum includes 2 hours of faculty development and participation in two 4-hour sessions per year at iCELS. For background on this curriculum and teaching method, please see our MedEd Portal publication on our resident curriculum which was adapted for students:

https://www.mededportal.org/doi/full/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11122

If you're interested in participating, and/or for more information, please contact Jennifer Reidy, MD ([email protected]), Vandana Nagpal, MD ([email protected]), Mary Lindholm, MD ([email protected]) and Nancy Skehan, MD ([email protected])

The Worcester Free Care Collaborative (WFCC) programs are seeing a rising number of people seeking care due to the settlement of new refugees. They need the help of additional physicians and APPs. Their faculty advisor, Jim Ledwith, is happy to share about how the free care programs work with anyone interested. The work is generally relaxed, and it is a real pleasure to see our students developing their clinical skills and connecting their studies to real patient care in their 1st and 2nd years. Please don't feel a need to commit to weekly volunteering – a single evening or once every 1-2 months would be greatly appreciated! Programs run from Monday to Thursday from 6:00 - 8:00pm. If you are interested in getting involved, even if just for one shift, let student Gil Avramovich know when you can attend.

(j[email protected]; g[email protected])

Teaching of Tomorrow (TOT) is a nationally recognized and highly acclaimed faculty development program that focuses on building and refining foundational skills for effective clinical teaching in inpatient and ambulatory settings. Preceptors from any specialty and discipline will enhance their clinical teaching skills through discourse and practice. Workshop dates are November 17-18, 2023, and March 8-9, 2024, and will be held at the Hotel Northampton. Participants must attend all four days. See the brochure for details and

register at https://umassmed.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0GUbJ2w3HifJC8S.

Department Member Recognition

Jillian Joseph, Erik Garcia, Laurel Banach, Hugh Silk and the rest of the Road to Care Mobile Services team were awarded the Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) Community Partner of the Year for their work providing health services and substance use disorder care at the SMOC shelters.

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: Nuts have a reputation for providing a variety of health benefits, but how far do their nutritional superpowers reach? In this episode, we take a look at the findings of a study showing the association between nut consumption and cognitive performance. Listen in as expert faculty discuss the implications for managing patients at risk for cognitive decline. Guest: Robert A. Baldor, MD, FAAFP, presents: "Cracking into the Evidence: Does Eating Nuts Affect Cognitive Performance?" - Frankly Speaking Ep 350.

COVID-19 MA

• COVID cases and hospitalizations are on the rise.
• Last week, there were 18 new confirmed COVID-19 deaths.
• 2,506 confirmed new cases.

COVID-19 UMMMC

• The current 7-day positivity rate is 5.7%.
• Prior 7-day average of inpatient COVID cases is 25. Of the 25, 35% have primary COVID.

When to isolate due to COVID-19

• If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and suspect you have COVID, isolate.
• Once you test negative, end your isolation.
• If you test positive, follow CDC guidelines for isolation.
• If you are asymptomatic, day 0 is the day you are tested.
• If you test positive, stay home at least 5 days and isolate from those at home as well.
• Day 0 is the day of the first symptoms.
• While home with others wear a high-quality mask.
• Use separate bathrooms if possible.
• Avoid travel.

Source: CDC website for COVID isolation.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html

COVID Vaccine Insurance Information

The COVID-19 vaccine is now covered through the OptumRx pharmacy plan for caregivers enrolled in our UMass Memorial Health medical plans. For more information, please refer to the attached email from HR and Benefits and Wellness. In addition: OptumRx now covers the RSV vaccine for UMass Memorial medical plan members aged 60 years and older at no out-of-pocket cost.

If you have not yet received the new COVID-19 vaccine

You can now go to any retail pharmacy and get the new COVID-19 vaccine with no out-of-pocket cost to you if you’re enrolled in a UMass Memorial medical plan. Simply present your OptumRx pharmacy card for coverage.

If you have already received the new COVID-19 vaccine

If you are enrolled in a UMass Memorial medical plan and you have already incurred an expense at the pharmacy for getting the new COVID-19 vaccine and have not yet requested reimbursement, here’s how you can do that.

1. Complete the OptumRx Online Claim Form. Alternatively, you can print and complete the attached reimbursement request form and mail it to the address noted on page 2 of the form.
2. You’ll need to have your OptumRx pharmacy card ready to provide your group number and member ID.
3. When completing the form, you will need to upload/attach the pharmacy receipt for your vaccination. If you do not have a pharmacy receipt, ask your pharmacy to provide you with a copy.
4. OptumRx will reimburse you via a check that will be mailed to your home. Please contact Optum at 877-559-2955 (and have your group number and member ID ready; these are noted on your OptumRx pharmacy card) if you have questions around when to expect reimbursement. 

Flu shots

• Flu shots are still available at our clinics by appointment through October – please do not “walk-in” to a flu shot event and do not forget to bring your Kronos badge or driver’s license.
• Visit the Hub for information about flu shot events, receiving your flu shot elsewhere, and for the latest information throughout the flu season.
• Remember, the deadline to receive your flu vaccine or submit your declination form is Friday, December 1st, 2023.

Wellness Tip of the Week

• Practice gratitude.
• Let others know you appreciate them.
• Be thankful for life's simple pleasures.

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.

Yoga Classes with Dr. Liz Erban



Please note that there is no yoga class on October 18th. Yoga class will resume at a new link on October 25th. Please join us at 6:30-7:30am for a gentle awakening yoga session led by the talented Liz Erban. All are welcome. Happy third year anniversary to the yoga class.  

https://umassmed.zoom.us/j/91343267992?pwd=ZHF3NHVrVlR1MVdMV09HSE5lTzdsQT09