First shipment of PPE orders delivered

PPE orders were picked up with help from Society staff

Members and non-members from across the state picked up their PPE orders last week. The Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) is proud to provide a way for Wisconsin health care professionals to order PPE. The Society coordinated this opportunity with a bulk supplier and is not earning a profit from these sales.  

The Society continues to experience a wonderful response and is happy to announce the recent addition of face shields and a second gown option to the product selections. There is a $500 minimum, with no maximum and product must be picked up in Madison.

To learn more or order, click here.* Please share with any health care workers who need PPE! The next bulk order will soon be placed via ActionPPE. 

To date, orders have been placed for:

• 46 organizations
• 38,450 masks
• 10,000 KN95 masks
• 2,970 gowns
• 210 ISO gowns
• 100 face shields

The Society is happy to be able to provide this service to the physicians and health care organizations in our great state. Please continue to check our website for updates to the PPE process. 

Thank you for all that you do for the people of Wisconsin!

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Welcome med students with a white coat

Sponsoring a white coat for an incoming medical student through the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation’s annual White Coat Campaign welcomes them to the medical community. Through the program, all first-year students attending school in Wisconsin receive their first white coat and a note of encouragement from the physician who sponsored it. In return, they are asked to write a message back to the physician who sponsored their coat.

Here are a couple excerpts from medical students thanking their white coat sponsor. “…Thank you very much for your letter and sponsoring my first white coat. I hope to also give back, as you have.”  - From Haley Ehrle to Dr. Hisgen

“…The physicians and health care providers at the various clinics in our area are a large reason I chose this field and have been inspirational to me. Thank you for all you’ve done and continue to do for our community. I hope to wear a white coat in your area some day!” - From Isaac Dzubay to Dr. Beix and the Pierce-St. Croix County Medical Society

UWSMPH students shared why they’re becoming a physician at last year’s white coat fitting

A $100 donation funds each white coat and also helps support other opportunities for student education and development. The white coat ceremonies are traditionally in July and August, they may be virtual this year, and sponsors are needed for more than 430 students. Participants can request to sponsor a coat for a specific student or a student at a specific school.

To learn more about the campaign or to make a donation, click here or email campaign coordinator Lori Koffarnus.

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Statewide White Coats for Black Lives Rally this Saturday

The White Coats for Black Lives Wisconsin chapter will be holding their kickoff rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Saturday, June 13 at 10 a.m. During this critical time in our nation, now more than ever physicians must take a stand against racism and support the voices of those most impacted.

Social distancing will be practiced, and participants are encouraged to bring masks as well as their white coats. This event will be live streamed from the SNMA UW School of Medicine and Public Health's Facebook page if you are unable to attend in person. For more information, click here or check out the Facebook event.

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Society Board Chair and Professor at Emory University to present at Society’s Virtual Town Hall

WisMed Board Chair Jerry L. Halverson, MD, DFAPA, and Nadine Kaslow, PhD, Professor, Emory University

Join WisMed Board Chair Jerry Halverson, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Rogers Behavioral Health and Nadine Kaslow, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Emory University next Wednesday, June 17 at the Virtual Town Hall. They will present on the psychological impact of COVID-19 along with strategies health care professionals can implement for themselves and patients. Please register by clicking here.

Town Halls moving to midday

Governor Evers to present at Virtual Town Hall

Based on attendee participation and feedback, the Society’s Virtual Town Hall series will continue at a new time – in a new, shorter format. Governor Tony Evers will present on Wednesday, June 24 at 12:15 p.m. to kick off this new format. Separate registration is required for the new time, please click here to register.

Sessions are not recorded, and advance registration is required. Attendees do not need to share webcams or microphones.

Please email Anne Hauer with any questions.

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HHS announces next round of provider relief

On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the next round of funding for providers from the CARES Act. Fifteen billion dollars of funds will be distributed to eligible health care professionals that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs and who have not yet received a payment from the Provider Relief Fund General Allocation. Clinicians who have not yet received funding from the CARES Act are encouraged to quickly review and apply for this next round of funding if they are eligible (see the Enhanced Provider Relief Fund Payment Portal).

The initial distributions from the Provider Relief Fund covered 62 percent of all providers participating in state Medicaid and CHIP programs. This most recent distribution will go to the other 38 percent. Medicaid and CHIP providers will need to submit their annual patient revenue information to the enhanced Provider Relief Fund Portal. Upon receiving the information HHS will distribute an amount equal to at least 2 percent of a provider’s reported gross revenues from patient care. Information on the application process for these new funds and eligibility can be found here.

Please contact HJ Waukau with any questions.

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WEDC grants for small practices

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced that applications for one-time loans for small businesses will be accepted from Monday, June 15 through Tuesday, June 23. The loans are designed to assist with the costs of business interruption or for health and safety improvements, wages and salaries, rent, mortgages and inventory. The link to the application can be found here.

The individual grants will be for $2,500 and are designed for businesses that meet the following criteria:

• The business is Wisconsin-based and for profit
• The business employs 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, including the owner
• The business has greater than $0 but less than $1 million in annual revenues (gross sales and receipts)
• The business started operating prior to January 1, 2020, and was operating in February, 2020
• The business must not be part of a national chain, unless the business is a third-party franchise
• Industries covered by other Wisconsin CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund programs are ineligible for this program

Independent and small physician practices that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to apply for the funds. In preparing to apply for the funds applicants should review the materials from the WEDC found here.

Please contact HJ Waukau with any questions.

How different interest rates work: The good and bad of compound interest – New WisMed OnCall

Knowing the difference between simple and compound interest as well as loan capitalization is critical to understanding how to manage your debt and maximize your savings.

In this fifth podcast in the series presented by WisMed Assure and the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation, medical student Rufus Sweeney and former Wisconsin Medical Society COO Peter Welch, discuss the various types of interest and when it might work for or against you.

Resources:  

• The White Coat Investor
• The Physician Philosopher

You can subscribe to Wisconsin Medical Society's podcast in iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

Related blogs by Rufus Sweeney:
To Buy or Not to Buy: a personal challenge
Financial Wellness Matters
Is Your Money Unemployed? Replace budgeting with goal setting and give your money a job

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