A Message from Shelly Voet, MD

Greetings to my fellow pediatric providers.  As I write this, we are just passing one year since the first case of SARs-CoV-2 was identified in China.  Worldwide there have been over 95 million cases and 2 million deaths. It is a sobering time as areas in the United States and other countries are experiencing surges that are causing extreme stress on medical systems.  Finally, new mutations have emerged which now require significant research.

A year also means that we have more experience. We have knowledge about infection control, testing, treatment, and prevention. Over the last month vaccine distribution has begun. We have worked together in our local pediatric community to share what we have learned and will continue.

As pediatric providers, we also continue to assist public health with guidance for families on exposures, infections, and now on vaccines.  We are sources of trusted information. While no one knows what the future holds, the path forward includes rapid, efficient and equitable global vaccine distribution and uptake; prompt identification and isolation of cases; commitments to mitigation measures; sustained healthcare response; and continued research. Community providers will continue to do our best to help in this effort.  Vaccine information for providers in the region will continue to be shared HERE . We are also working with the Marketing and Communications department at CCHMC on their efforts toward family facing vaccination information.

Regarding vaccines, most HCP in our region have now had the opportunity to receive their first doses. In some parts of our region, our patients 16 and older with chronic medical issues may have the opportunity to be vaccinated soon. Your local and state health department websites remain the best source of information regarding the phased vaccine distribution.

The community survey for PCPs closed this month. I am grateful to everyone who completed it and look forward to reviewing the results. I am also grateful to Chris Peltier MD for arranging a virtual Meet and Greet with Dr. Tina Cheng, who is the new B.K. Rachford Chair of Pediatrics at CCHMC Thursday Jan 28 at 7 am. I hope you were able to join us.

If you did not have the chance to view them live, I would also encourage you to view the Grand Rounds presentations from Dr. Tina Cheng (1/19/21) and Dr. Vic Garcia (1/12/21) at this link: HERE.  Dr. Cheng’s presentation is titled “The Pandemics of COVID and Racism: A Path to Health Equity.  Dr. Garcia’s is “The End of Progress toward Racial Equality”.

In February, you will hear more about the expanded Physician e-messaging (previously Direct Messaging) system in Epic Link which will allow PCPs a way to connect non-urgently with many specialty divisions. I am grateful to Jeff Anderson who led the faculty and IT efforts at CCHMC to make this possible for us.

Finally, thank you for what you do for our kids and their families every day. Thanks for the privilege to work as a connection between our pediatric community and CCHMC.  Please do not hesitate to contact me, your CPAC physician rep, or your Physician Outreach Liaison if you have any comments or questions.

Shelly

Shelly F. Voet MD / Pediatric Associates PSC/ shelly.voet@cchmc.org

CCHMC Executive Community Physician Leader