7 minute read
President's Letter
Q IPresident’s Letter
In each of this year’s previous publications, I’ve briefly mentioned a new program launched in 2021 on our side of Tennessee, Project Access West Tennessee (“PAWT”). It’s time to pick up the pace so that West Tennessee can share in the same benefits this program has produced in other areas of the state.
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Why PAWT works is because it runs differently and with proven impact, but it absolutely only works if you are involved. Please read that last sentence again.
PAWT program information is readily available through the Memphis Medical Society, PAWT Executive Director Nicole Scroggins, and Clint Cummins, MHA, CEO of the Memphis Medical Foundation and the Memphis Medical Society. They can tell you how to refer patients in need, give you information about the patient screening process, offer suggestions on how to determine how many patients you or your group might consider seeing, explain the after-care documentation needed, etc. They will take you through every step of the process.
The first question you are likely asking yourself is: Why does this program deserve my attention and participation? Many of our colleagues already help in providing medical care to low-income and uninsured patients at safety-net clinics, hospitals, health departments, and federally-qualified health centers. As always, demand is high, resources limited, volunteer hours are frequently stretched past elasticity, patients fall through the gaps or still cannot reach a care provider most suited to their needs despite best intentions. Basic principles of economics apply: when demand is not met by supply, then seek ways to increase and/or vary the supply.
That’s how Project Access works. By increasing the supply of us physicians (primary care, specialists, subspecialists, surgeons, anesthesia groups, pathology groups, diagnostics – every aspect of medical care) willing to expand our practices by seeing even one additional low-income, uninsured PAWT patient per month at no charge, West Tennessee will begin to see its overall community health start to improve in coordination with the various sites already seeing similar patients. This is a level of expanded and coordinated health care for the low-income, uninsured patient population never before seen in our area.
When seeing a PAWT patient, you’ll know that your contributed time and expertise is being given to the truly needful because PAWT staff has already screened the patients and made the referral to you. We physicians get to focus on the medicine and let the PAWT staff at the Memphis Medical Society handle the paperchase. Medical societies in more than 50 locations are successfully running similar urban and rural programs. In Tennessee, based on each program’s material, we know: • The Chattanooga/Hamilton County program started in 2004 has over 900 physicians/providers with over $200 million in donated medical care and has generated over 500 jobs. In Nashville since 2005, over $40 million in care equates to 32,000 patient encounters by 1400-1500 physicians. • Knoxville’s program, launched in 2006, has enrolled 30,000+ patients receiving upwards of $350 million in donated care assisted by 1800 physicians and health care providers. • Since 2007, Appalachian Mountain’s program has over 500 participating physicians and health care providers donating $75 million worth of care with an average of 200 referrals per month.
Our immediate goal here is to recruit 50 specialty and primary care physician volunteers by January
1, 2022. For primary care volunteers, PAWT asks that you become the primary care home for one new PAWT patient per month in 2022. Please also refer to PAWT’s staff any low-income primary care adult patients you think will meet PAWT criteria and will require specialty care. PAWT staff will review their program eligibility, educate about insurance offerings and, if they are enrolled, schedule specialist appointments for the individual with one of the specialist volunteers at no cost to the patient. For specialist and other advanced care providers, PAWT asks for an annual commitment of seeing one new patient per month at no charge to the patient. PAWT’s commitment to you: PAWT will only refer the number of patients you have agreed to take through the program and PAWT staff will help to ensure the patients navigate the system effectively and accurately.
Note also that PAWT physician volunteers are covered by Title 63, Chapter 6, Part 7 of the Tennessee Code Annotated. This states that health care providers are released from civil liability while providing charitable health care services.
So please reach out to Nicole, Clint, and the MMS to learn more program details. Speak with your partners, liaise with your practice managers, and carve out space in your practice to participate in this important program. Make joining the PAWT program one of your New Year’s resolutions and get involved before January 1. By the way, program participation is not limited to MMS membership. We welcome and encourage all practicing physicians in West Tennessee to partner with us for a healthier, more active community and a brighter future for us all.
Andrew Watson, M.D.
President, Memphis Medical Society 2021
Q IHospitals
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare a milliondollar grant to increase COVID-19 education and vaccine access in underserved communities throughout Memphis, Shelby County and West Tennessee.
Jonathan Lewis, director of Community Partnerships at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (MLH), shared that this grant will allow trained MLH navigators to collaborate with community members to heighten vaccine awareness and encourage vaccinations. “Our Mission Integration Division and our Congregational Health Network will collaborate with two community partners, Center for Transforming Communities and Legacy of Legends Community Development Corporation, to expand and diversify our outreach efforts,” Lewis said.
The grant will build on Methodist’s previously launched community-wide vaccination awareness campaign to increase vaccine adoption, address vaccine safety and debunk vaccine myths. The campaign included social media influencers, billboard and bus shelter placements and radio PSAs. Another key component was collaborating with local churches and faith-based organizations to meet people where they are most comfortable to hear from trusted medical experts. “We know increasing vaccination rates is the only way to turn the corner on this pandemic,” said MLH President and CEO Michael Ugwueke. “As COVID-19 continues to have a devastating effect on our community, we must do all we can to encourage vaccination by sharing the latest evidence about vaccine safety and efficacy.”
Regional One Health’s Cyrilyn Walters, MD, named to Tennessee Hospital Association’s Council on Inclusion and Health Equity
Regional One Health Medical Director of Ambulatory Services Cyrilyn Walters, MD, has been appointed to the Tennessee Hospital Association’s Council of Inclusion and Health Equity. She is excited to tackle the challenge of working to help find solutions to ensure high-quality care is inclusive. She looks forward to the opportunity as a chance to help hospitals, health care systems and other organizations develop strategies to improve care for all patients in the State of Tennessee.
“I am looking forward to working with the Council to identify areas in which we can improve and create processes that hospitals and health care systems across Tennessee can implement to reduce and eventually eliminate disparities,” Dr. Cyrilyn Walters says.
“Hospitals and health care organizations will only truly move towards reducing and eliminating disparities by enacting change at the hospital level,” said Dr. Walters. “We are fortunate to have a hospital association that is intentional about having a Council on Inclusion and Health Equity.” “I am looking forward to working with the Council to identify areas in which we can improve and create processes that hospitals and health care systems across Tennessee can implement to reduce and eventually eliminate disparities,” said Dr. Walters. “The end result will help us provide exceptional care for every patient we serve.”
