WACEP President Message, November 2020
Ryan Thompson, MD, FACEP

Remember back in March when it seemed you couldn’t go through a shift without your department receiving pizza, cupcakes, or some other treat from well-wishers? Emergency physicians, nurses, and other staff were being hailed as heroes despite our mostly empty departments.

These days, that sort of praise and support feels a distant memory. As we enter this new phase of the pandemic where Emergency Departments are being asked to treat more and more COVID patients in addition to the myriad of health conditions brought on by delayed treatments, limited access to specialists, and prolonged social isolation, it seems we have fallen out of the public eye.  

To be honest, I was never comfortable with all the hero talk. Emergency Physicians were working in the trenches before this pandemic began and we’ll keep on trucking right through it and beyond. We don’t do it for the plaudits. We do it because we have the skill, we have the drive, and most of all, because we care about our patients, and we care about our communities.

So, while we may not be front and center in the minds of our communities anymore, we will keep giving back. To that end, I wanted to share a few of my favorite charities in case you were looking for even more ways to give back to your community.

Child’s Play: This charity gives games and toys to hospitalized children to make their stay in the hospital less daunting. You can either given monetarily or order directly off of the Amazon Wish lists curated by Child Life Specialists at your Children’s Hospital of Choice. http://childsplaycharity.org/

Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra: Supporting musically-inclined children and teens from across the state, this group provides opportunities to perform and high-quality lessons (even remotely during COVID) to diverse and low-resource aspiring young musicians. https://wysomusic.org/

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin: Every emergency physicians recognizes the stress and difficulty that dementia can put on a family. This group offers support, education, and advocacy for patients and their families. https://www.alzwisc.org/

By no means are these the only worthwhile charities in our communities – I encourage you to find something near and dear to your heart. This year has been hard on all of us, and I can’t think of a better way to continue to support the communities we serve. So thank you all for the dedicated work you have put in over the course of this year, and thank you for continuing to give to support those who need it most during these difficult times.

This Thanksgiving, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recommends that holiday hosts and guests prioritize efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and take steps to protect the health and safety of friends and family.

“If you are planning to get together on Thanksgiving, it is a good idea to reduce the risks that invite COVID-19 into your home,” said Mark Rosenberg, DO, MBA, FACEP, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). “Even a small gathering of family or close friends can still contribute to the spread of the virus.”

Emergency physicians recommend everyone heed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s holiday safety recommendations this year.

Remember anyone can get or spread COVID-19. Close friends and family with whom you don’t live with can still contract and spread the virus to you the same way a stranger could.

Trim the guest list. Rather than a specified “safe” number of guests, public health experts suggest that hosts determine the size of a gathering by how many guests from different households can remain at least six feet apart. Note that a “household” is made of people who live in the same house every day. Family members who are close but don’t live at home, such as college students visiting for the holiday, are considered a separate household in public health terms.     

Cover your face and maintain your distance. It may be difficult but try to avoid hugs and handshakes. People should also cover their face when they are not eating or drinking.

Stay outside and stay safer. If it is possible, hosting a small event outside instead of inside is preferable.

Encourage good hygiene. Hosts should make sure that bathrooms have plenty of soap so guests can frequently wash their hands and single-use towels.

While there are precautions you can take this holiday season, the safest option for some will be to stay home. Do not attend an in-person gathering if you or anyone in your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not met the CDC’s criteria for when it is safe to be around others. Stay home if you show symptoms, if you are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or if you have been exposed to somebody with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

“Unfortunately, the safest option for older individuals or people with weakened immune systems is to skip in-person gatherings this year,” said Dr. Rosenberg. “It may be disappointing to adjust traditions or modify plans in the short-term, but these decisions can save lives.”

Remember, emergency physicians work 24/7, even on holidays. Do not ignore your symptoms if you think you are having a medical emergency—if something is wrong call 911 or visit your closest emergency department. Emergency departments across the country are taking extensive precautions to adapt and protect patients. If holiday plans go awry, emergency departments are safe and ready for anything or anyone that comes their way.  

Read more about COVID-19 and Thanksgiving safety at www.emergencyphysicians.org.

Join WACEP at 12:00 noon on Friday, December 11 for a lunch & learn webinar on the management of pediatric trauma and burns, during which we will focus on these challenging presentations in rural and low-resource departments.

Hear from experts Dr. Jennifer Roberts, Trauma Surgeon at Marshfield Clinic Health System, and Mark Johnston, RN, BSN, Manager of the Burn Program at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, on the best approach to these children and the best ways to prepare these patients for transport to pediatric care centers.

After the presentations, there will be time for questions and discussion on these important topics. We hope to see you there! Register Here.

Savannah Vogel, a 2020 graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, was recognized by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) for her excellence in compassionate care of patients, professional behavior and service to the community and/or specialty. 

Vogel was a recipient of the National Medical Student Professionalism and Service Award, and was officially announced as part of the 2020 Awards Ceremony during ACEP20.

Established almost 40 years ago, the designation of Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physician (FACEP) is earned by those committed to the preservation and growth of emergency medicine.

The Wisconsin Chapter, ACEP congratulates five members who have achieved FACEP status and were recognized during ACEP20:

• Bradley Burmeister, MD, FACEP
• Abigail Dahlberg, MD, FACEP
• Andrew Fischer Dean, MD, FACEP
• Theodore F Elsaesser, MD, FACEP
• Joshua C. Timpe, MD, FACEP

WACEP is proud to honor these five members who now join 190 other emergency physicians in Wisconsin who hold this distinction, point of pride and badge of honor.  Congratulations.

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) is one of four sites awarded a total of $7.5 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct research that could lead to improved care in emergency departments for people with dementia.

The effort aims to leverage expertise in emergency medicine, geriatrics and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias to identify gaps in emergency care for people with dementia and address those gaps, according to Manish Shah, MD, MPH, professor of emergency medicine and co-principal investigator.

For example, many commonly used medications are problematic for people with dementia.  Better understanding which medications are safest for this vulnerable population would help clinicians better care for them, he said.

“The emergency department is not an ideal care setting for people with dementia,” Shah said. “What we want to do is find better ways to care for one of our most vulnerable populations, namely older adults with cognitive impairment.”

The funds will support Geriatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network 2.0 – Advancing Dementia Care (GEAR 2.0 ADC), which is a collaboration between SMPH, Yale School of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. All four institutions are home to an NIH-National Institute on Aging-designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

WACEP President's Message
October 2020
Ryan Thompson, MD, FACEP

Another election cycle is upon us, in case that wasn’t already abundantly apparent by the barrage of political ads that have taken over our televisions and airwaves! Ahh, the joys of living in a swing state.

Despite the commercial fatigue, the outcome of this election will no doubt shape the future of our specialty for years to come. Both state and federal elections have significant impacts on health and fiscal policy, as well as the potential to upend legislative priorities. Of course, WACEP does not endorse any specific candidate or party, and we are committed to working with whoever is willing to help us to better the care of WI patients and make the state a more appealing place for emergency physicians to practice. That being said, we do necessarily shift our strategies and priorities to what we can most effectively get done with any given group of legislators in power.

This promises to be a unique election, with the COVID pandemic raging all around our state. Many people have likely already voted absentee, but if you haven’t, there are still a lot of options open to you. If you are already registered, you can request an absentee ballot online at myvote.wi.gov by October 29th, although be aware they have to be returned by November 3rd at 8pm in order to be counted. If you aren’t interested in voting by mail, early voting starts on October 20th and runs until November 1st in most areas. Early voter registration can occur in-person until October 30th. And of course, you can always both register and vote on election day at your local polling place, although be aware that long lines may be expected at some polling places.

Depending on where you live in the state, there may still be a need for poll workers to assist on election day. Who better than emergency physicians to don PPE, stay on their feet all day, and manage large volumes of people? If you are interested in signing up to be a poll worker, you can learn more here.

Vote your conscious, vote for the candidate who will help your patients, vote your party, vote on a single issue, vote on many issues, vote of the candidate with the best hair, it doesn’t matter. Just VOTE!

Looking for a new EM Career Opportunity?  Be sure to visit WACEP's online Career Center where you can sign up for new job alerts, upload your CV, filter your search criteria by desired function, browse existing jobs and apply with fewer clicks. Create your job search strategy today.  

Wisconsin ACEP has joined the Vote Safe Wisconsin 2020 coalition. We are committed to sharing information and resources with our community partners on how to safely vote. We encourage everyone to vote absentee, vote early, or vote at the polls with a mask and socially distancing. Learn more. 

The Wisconsin Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (WACEP) released a statement in support of the Governor's temporary restriction on indoor gatherings announced on Tuesday. 

Gov. Tony Evers directed Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to issue Emergency Order #3 limiting public gatherings to no more than 25 percent of a room or building’s total occupancy. See full the order and list of exemptions here.

This directive is effective at 8 a.m. on Oct. 8, 2020, and will remain in effect until Nov. 6, 2020. It applies to any gatherings at locations that are open to the public such as stores, restaurants, and other businesses that allow public entry, as well as spaces with ticketed events. A frequently asked questions document is available for review here.

“We’re in a crisis right now and need to immediately change our behavior to save lives,” said Gov. Evers. “We are continuing to experience a surge in cases and many of our hospitals are overwhelmed, and I believe limiting indoor public gatherings will help slow the spread of this virus. Folks, we need your help and we need all Wisconsinites to work together during this difficult time. The sooner we get control of this virus, the sooner our economy, communities, and state can bounce back.”