Society calls for COVID-19 vax mandates in health care facilities

Continuing to show its leadership in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) issued a statewide press release August 2 calling for health care entities to require their employees be vaccinated against COVID-19. The call for more widespread vaccinations comes as spread of the Delta variant continues to show a troubling uptick in infections primarily among the unvaccinated population.

“At some point, employers have to step up and start mandating vaccinations to protect their employees and customers,” said Society COVID-19 Task Force Chair David Letzer, DO, in the release. “Because the Delta variant is two to three times more infectious than the original strain, the time has come to take this next step.”

The Society’s move to call for more vaccinations follows a similar plea last week from dozens of national health care organizations, including the American Medical Association. Many state health care systems have stepped up to require COVID-19 vaccinations for their employees, including SSM Wisconsin, the Mayo Clinic Health System, Ascension Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Health, ProHealth Care, Marshfield Clinic Health System, UW Health,Allina Health, Essentia Health, Prevea Health, Advocate Aurora Health and UnityPoint Health.

“Health care needs to continue to lead the fight against COVID-19” Dr. Letzer says in the release. “The only hope to beat this virus is through a significant increase in vaccinations.”

Contact Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

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Meet WisMedPAC Board Member Dr. Campbell

Andrew Campbell, MD

Andrew Campbell, MD, is a Facial Plastic Surgeon and Aesthetic Visionary at Quintessa in Ozaukee County. Dr. Campbell has been a WisMedPAC board member since 2014. Dr. Campbell shared some thoughts about being politically active.

How long have you been politically active?

I think it started shortly after I finished my residency. I started private practice and the local county medical society was pretty active, so I went to some meetings including one where we discussed the resolutions for the upcoming Wisconsin Medical Society meeting. I was a little surprised by some of the resolutions and so I started to pay more attention to what was going on with state politics. I started to financially support some of the local politicians who had similar values and I’ve been active ever since.

How does being politically active make you a better physician?

I remember someone once telling me not to complain about something that you weren’t willing to try to change, i.e., get involved and help make things better instead of complaining that they aren’t better… I think as a whole, physicians are more concerned about their patients than policy, but the policy can really affect their patients, so we should all be active politically – it will help our patients.

Also, we will be more successful physicians if we stop allowing others to control how and what we do. We will ultimately be better physicians.

Your advice for physicians on how to get more involved in issues that affect their profession?

I think it’s very easy to start with your local county medical society and the Wisconsin Medical Society. You will get loads of information and help to affect state and federal policy.

Other than politics, what else interests you at the moment?

I’ve been very busy creating and growing a business model that helps plastic surgeons have incredible careers without the time and stress of running their own businesses. It’s very fulfilling to help other physicians be the best that they can be.

What is the best part of being a physician?

I really love seeing the change that I make in a patient’s life. It’s incredibly powerful.

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Wisconsin health care leaders to discuss innovations changing health care at OnRamp Healthcare Conference on August 19

The third annual OnRamp Healthcare Conference will be held virtually on Thursday, August 19, 2021 and will bring together leading corporations, clinicians, investors and startups who are disrupting health care and the future of medicine. The event is presented by gener8tor, a nationally ranked accelerator and venture capital firm, in partnership with the Wisconsin Medical Society, WisMed Assure and WEA Trust.

The one-day conference will feature a keynote presentation by Erick S. Huang, MD, PhD, Chief Science & Innovation Officer from Onduo, a Verily Company, who will discuss what true accountable care means, how to bring data to life, as well as how physicians and clinicians can better leverage that data. Additionally, a special clinician panel will bring together leaders from the Wisconsin Medical Society, IV Medical Dynamics, Aether Medicine, Georgetown University, WEA Trust and Health Tradition to discuss how care team members can convert great ideas into a startup.

“The health care system has the power to reinvent our communities––through cost-saving tools for patients and providers, digital-first solutions to make systems more efficient and creative tactics for increasing access to underserved populations. OnRamp Healthcare brings together those leaders striving to change health care for the better, a unique and inspirational group of innovators with expertise across the clinical, business and financial aspects of health care,” said Nathan Acevedo, lead organizer of the OnRamp Healthcare Conference

The full conference agenda will feature speakers from leading health care agencies and investment firms covering a range of topics including:

• Healthcare Consumerism in a COVID-19 World: As the health care consumer's sentiment and behavior meaningfully shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic, key stakeholders across the health care ecosystem are asking themselves: how can we meet the new needs of the health care consumer in a post-pandemic world? Here’s how stakeholders across the ecosystem are empowering consumers to become better stewards of their care and ultimately, deliver value to the broader health care system.
• Integrating Digital Therapeutics into Care Streams: Focusing on everything you need to know related to digital therapies, leaders from the Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin health network will discuss what they look for in a digital therapy, how digital therapies are embedded in provider workflows, how their impact is measured and more.
• Selling into a Hospital System: Geared to help startups best position themselves to work with a health system, this discussion will cover best practices from two different perspectives: those of healthcare healthcare industry leaders who have experience working with startups as well as startups themselves who have found success in working with a health system.
• Racial Disparities in Healthcare: With a unique blend of perspectives from financial and educational institutions, founders and health care professionals, this panel will dive deeper into concerning racial disparities seen in health care, health equity efforts that must be taken as well as the social determinants of health.

“As health care professionals, our goal should always focus on strengthening our ability to provide high-quality care to our patients. While that remains our north star, an already changing health care environment, further fueled by the pandemic, means the time is now to take action. By bringing together some of our industry's most innovative thinkers, we're helping physicians, corporations and founders alike move the needle forward in health care,” Tim Bartholow, MD.

Unique to the OnRamp program, the conference will include a Startup Track featuring curated, one-on-one pitch sessions between startups and corporations. OnRamp will match selected startups with corporate venture capital and innovation executives to discuss potential customer relationships, strategic partnerships and, if appropriate, investment opportunities.

More than 400 one-on-one pitch meetings with 60 corporations and top-tier venture capital firms will be facilitated at the conference. Startup founders will have the opportunity to speak with investors from JP Morgan Chase and Co, Cedars Sinai Accelerator, 7wire Ventures, Sixty8 Capital, Coyote Ventures, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Boston Scientific and United Healthcare Accelerator, among others.

Click here to register for the OnRamp Healthcare Conference.

For additional information about registration or sponsorship opportunities, contact Nathan Acevedo at [email protected]. 

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WisMed’s Friday Report starts next week with Advocacy updates from Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD

Mark Grapentine, JD

The Wisconsin Medical Society's (WisMed) members-only advocacy update series starts on Friday, August 13. WisMed’s Friday Report will give an up-to-the-minute update on the latest health care policy up for debate in Madison, plus a bit of an “insider” look into politics and policy.

Hosted by WisMed’s Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer, Mark Grapentine, JD, these live webinars will occur the second Friday of each month from 12:15 – 12:45 p.m. via Zoom. Register for one, some or all of the Friday Report webinars here. Registration and membership in the Society are required to attend.

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

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State’s DHS seeking more physician-led COVID-19 vaccination sites

In a drive to increase the number of health care offices and clinics providing COVID-19 vaccinations, Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services (DHS) started sending out letters this week to physicians from specific specialties either thanking them for being a COVID-19 vaccination site or asking that they look into becoming one.

The letters are being sent to family practice, women’s health, pediatric and emergency department physicians. The message cites that while more than 50% of Wisconsin residents have now received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, demand has softened while some unvaccinated people continue to have questions about the various vaccines’ safety and effectiveness. DHS knows that physicians are a trusted resource for those who may be vaccine-hesitant and hopes that increasing the number of clinics/medical offices that have vaccines immediately available can help maximize COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

The DHS letter includes additional resources and guidance for those considering becoming a COVID-19 vaccination site, including:

• Instructions on how to enroll as a COVID-19 vaccination provider: DHS COVID-19 Vaccinator Enrollment
• Additional resources and guidance: DHS COVID:19 Vaccine Program Information for Vaccinators

• Guidance Document: Increasing Vaccination in Primary Care Settings
• Giving a Strong Recommendation: C.A.S.E. Method Guide

Contact Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

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New leaders for Med Student, Resident/Fellow and Young Physician Sections

The Medical Student Section, Resident Fellow Section (RFS) and Young Physician Section (YPS) results from the election are included below. Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to the new leaders!

Medical Student Section leaders:

MCW Chair
Megan Quamme

MCW Board of Directors
Michael McNamara

UWSMPH Chair and Board of Directors
Andrew Huang

MCW Advocacy Officer
Matthew Mahoney

UWSMPH Advocacy Officer
Laurie Lapp

Secretary
Emelyn Zaworski

Resident Fellow Section leaders:

RFS representative to the Society's Board of Directors
Kieran McAvoy

RFS representative to the Society's Nominating Committee
Morgan Lamberg

Chair
Stephanie Strohbeen

Vice-chair
Taylor Boland Rigby

Secretary-editor
Morgan Lamberg

At-large governing council member (two positions)
Skyler Taylor
Andrea Kratzke Nelson

American Medical Association (AMA) RFS delegate (13 positions)
Taylor Boland Rigby
Kieran McAvoy
Benjamin Meyer (Special Meeting in June only)
Stephanie Strohbeen (I-21 only)
Morgan Lamberg

District regional councilor (eight positions-one from each Society-designated state region)
Taylor Boland Rigby
Stephanie Strohbeen

Young Physician Section leaders:

Chair-elect (one position, one-year term, ascends to Chair in second year) 
Jacqueline Landess

At-large YPS Governing Council Representative (one position, two-year term) 
Rachel Hughes

AMA YPS Delegate (two positions each with a two-year term) 
Rachel Hughes
Erica Larson

Please reach out to congratulate the new leaders via WisMed Community and email the Society's Membership Department or call 800.762.8975 if you have any questions.

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Does money buy happiness?

What’s been the biggest surprise for you in the past year? For most people, the answer will be something negative.

Why? Because we naturally remember the negative far more vividly than we recall the positive. That instinct can serve us well at times. However, it can also interfere with our happiness.

But it doesn’t have to. No matter how unpredictable or chaotic times may be, joy is possible. And you don’t have to spend a lot of time, money or energy to find it.

This month’s Visual Insights Newsletter explores the transformative power of gratitude in uncertain times. Click here to read it. 

When we appreciate the good things we have in life, we can more easily weather stress and bounce back faster from adversity.

For additional support, Dane County Medical Society Members can access the LifeBridge Physician Wellness Program.

For personalized help with your investment and retirement planning, please contact Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® at 608.442.3750. 

Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF®
WisMed Financial, Inc. part of the Wisconsin Medical Society.

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