E xecutive Director Report
Feeling Inspired Mary Eversole
i
t’s been almost 180 days since I took the helm at PCMS. Leading an organization that supports first responders during a public health crisis is a privilege. As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout started in the medical community, a need for the next phase was realized. Our health systems and health department would need clinical volunteers to help vaccinate Pierce County.
Like everything COVID-19, there were barriers with liability and licensing issues with volunteer vaccinators, especially for retired members. Fortunately, with assistance from Jeb Shephard at WSMA, we were able to resolve those issues in a reasonable amount of time. The PREP Act was invoked by Secretary Shah and the first hurdles for providers were cleared to help vaccinate Pierce County. We took a targeted approach and reached out first to our retired members. The response was tremendous! Those that had dedicated their careers to healing others were once again at the ready to help vaccinate Pierce County. That motivated us to expand volunteer recruitment to our full membership. As the volunteers responded to the call it was inspiring to read the responses and the comments. The most inspiring responses were those that were willing to volunteer on the weekends after working all week at their practices. At the end of the day, we are not out of the woods, but together we are living our mission. Inspiration at its best.
Bulletin Submissions If you have a clinical best practice to share with your colleagues, a success story about individual physicians or PAs or a health system, or news about health care innovation taking place in Pierce County that you would like considered for inclusion in an upcoming edition of the PCMS Bulletin, please send your submission to Mary Eversole at mary@pcmswa.org.
WINTER 2021
7
