| Dear Colleagues,
There is only one topic that I could cover in this month’s newsletter: the COVID-19 virus. Our thoughts go out to those in China, Italy, and other areas who have been hit so hard by this virus. I pray that you and your families are, and stay, safe. As the country’s leadership begins to grapple with the gravity of the coming epidemic, it is worth reflecting on what our colleagues in other countries have been facing. In Italy, the increases in cases have been astounding. As of March 23, nationwide there were 59,138 cases, of which 5,476 had died. With these numbers, the country’s health care system may soon collapse, and that is in a country whose medical system, at least in the north of the country, has been considered among the best in Europe. Italy has a public-based system, supported by tax income, as well as a flourishing private insurance market. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced physicians from every specialty, including neurology, to rapidly “upskill” in the intensive care management of critically ill patients. It is anticipated that we may well need to do the same here. Point #1: Brush up on the correct use of PPE—personal protective equipment—as this could save you from becoming infected or contaminating others. This pandemic is now anticipated to last much longer than seasonal influenza, and possibly until there is effective therapy or a vaccine. The stress on front-line providers is already being manifest. Point #2: As neurologists, even without critical care training, we can still volunteer to play a role within our institutions: screening and triaging, providing relief for our residents and fellows, and even non-medical roles. Point #3: As increasing numbers of us are tele-working or quarantined, caring for our patients remotely through telemedicine platforms is a popular option. Also, caring for our colleagues, staff and family through videochats with ZOOM™ or other systems allows for people to remain connected and interactive, in an attempt to mitigate social isolation. Here are a few resources you may find useful: 1. Sample List of Urgent In-Person Neurology Outpatient Diagnoses (non-COVID-19) 2. CMS Fact Sheet on Telemedicine 3. Zoom Application Download 4. New York Times Article on Mitigating Social Isolation for People Working Remotely As a reminder, in response to the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ANA has extended a number of upcoming deadlines. The deadline for ANA2020 abstract submissions has been extended to April 23 and the deadline for ANA Award nominations and International Outreach Travel Scholarship applications has been extended to May 1. Warm regards, Justin C. McArthur, MBBS, MPH |