Medical Discussion of Coronavirus

[G]

I'm in the midwest and the hospitals were delivered the vaccines as well. They are doing a very good job distributing the vaccine to hospital employees as well as private practice MD/DO/PA/NP etc. Many of our private practice office staff is getting the vaccine next week.

So it's not bad everywhere. . .

Our national guard is running/co-running the testing show and they appear to be involved with the vaccinations. Logistics of large scale novel situations in the setting of adverse environmental conditions and fallible human nature? They've been there and done that!

Kamban , I hope your staff gets vaccinated, it sounds like the ball was dropped somewhere along the line. Have you asked the local HD or your hospital contact how to proceed? Our hospital system prides itself on its "community" role...perhaps I should drop my sarcastic responses whenever I hear that schtick, because it's true?!

[Dusn]

I'm in the midwest and the hospitals were delivered the vaccines as well. They are doing a very good job distributing the vaccine to hospital employees as well as private practice MD/DO/PA/NP etc. Many of our private practice office staff is getting the vaccine next week.

So it's not bad everywhere. . .

How did you get this accomplished? Did you just call up a local hospital and find someone to ask? Did you have to bring your medical license or something as proof? Are you affiliated with the hospital? Thanks!

[hightower]

I’m a TeamHealth employee at a rural hospital. I finally received an email last night from our state health department inviting me to make an appointment for a vaccine through their website. I followed the links and have an appt scheduled for this Saturday (wish me luck). This was literally the first communication I’ve received about the vaccine.
I’m not excited about getting it but realize that I need to set a good example for everyone else and just get it done. It’s a bit weird to think I’ll be vaccinated but no one else in my family or immediate circle will be so I can’t really change my behavior in any way.
I just hope it works as well and as safely as expected and that people show up in droves to get it as quickly as possible.

[Kamban]

Kamban , I hope your staff gets vaccinated, it sounds like the ball was dropped somewhere along the line. Have you asked the local HD or your hospital contact how to proceed? Our hospital system prides itself on its "community" role...perhaps I should drop my sarcastic responses whenever I hear that schtick, because it's true?!

I contacted the employee health and a COVID contact person at one hospital. Both told me that they do via their own algorithms and that means rolling through departments. I stated that our PP was not in any such department and how do we get that vaccine. Both said tough luck ( not exact words but pretty clear). It is almost that they consider it their vaccine and not the state or federal vaccine and to be used as they see fit. When hospital systems get so big that they not only control the usual anest/rad/ ER but pretty much a majority of surgeons, internists, FP and sub specialists they think those are who matter and tough luck to those truly independent doctors. Teaches them a lesson for not joining their fold.

I called local DHEC office. All I could leave was a voicemail. No reply back so far.

[Tim]

I contacted the employee health and a COVID contact person at one hospital. Both told me that they do via their own algorithms and that means rolling through departments. I stated that our PP was not in any such department and how do we get that vaccine. Both said tough luck ( not exact words but pretty clear). It is almost that they consider it their vaccine and not the state or federal vaccine and to be used as they see fit. When hospital systems get so big that they not only control the usual anest/rad/ ER but pretty much a majority of surgeons, internists, FP and sub specialists they think those are who matter and tough luck to those truly independent doctors. Teaches them a lesson for not joining their fold.

I called local DHEC office. All I could leave was a voicemail. No reply back so far.

Two tier distribution system allocation. The data collection was via census from various sources. The intent was to get wide as possible count with avoiding double counting. Each hospital did not count you in the census, the hospital is only allocated enough for their numbers turned in. Thus, a hospital might have a very good reason for protecting "their allocation". Really suggest that one look on their state department of health website or call a pharmacy. There were 4 pages in Week 1 (all hospital systems). Like 28 pages in Week 2 (pharmacies and chains) all for providing to access to vaccinations for Phase 1A healthcare suppliers. This is an easily solvable problem. Phase 1A gets priority if you make the call. If you don't they will deliver down the priority list.

[JWeb]

How did you get this accomplished? Did you just call up a local hospital and find someone to ask? Did you have to bring your medical license or something as proof? Are you affiliated with the hospital? Thanks!

Just received an email from the hospital after they had the real frontline people vaccinated. I am not employed by the hospital, but take call there.

[StarTrekDoc]

I contacted the employee health and a COVID contact person at one hospital. Both told me that they do via their own algorithms and that means rolling through departments. I stated that our PP was not in any such department and how do we get that vaccine. Both said tough luck ( not exact words but pretty clear). It is almost that they consider it their vaccine and not the state or federal vaccine and to be used as they see fit. When hospital systems get so big that they not only control the usual anest/rad/ ER but pretty much a majority of surgeons, internists, FP and sub specialists they think those are who matter and tough luck to those truly independent doctors. Teaches them a lesson for not joining their fold.

I called local DHEC office. All I could leave was a voicemail. No reply back so far.

Did you try reaching out to your county's medical society?

[VagabondMD]

It's just more of the poor planning that has characterized this country's response to COVID from the very beginning. It's sad, and infuriating, but hardly surprising.

Two more peals from Facebook:

A New York primary care doc who was contacted by the State when they requested her to volunteer medical services at surging hospitals in the early days of the pandemic (remember the time?) wonders why the State cannot seem to find her now that it is time for her to be vaccinated.

A non-medical friend wisely pointed out that if the Chick-Fil-A logistics team handled the vaccine roll out, everyone would probably already be vaccinated.

[StarTrekDoc]

The long game with McKesson was a sound choice as almost every/any practice in healthcare has a McKesson account. The challenge is rollout of a limited supply to the appropriate accounts and appropriate/just distribution from there.

The challenge has been more the 'last mile' than the primary distribution. Most states elected to use county public health departments be the primary distribution coordinator and I think the one place they could have done better was PP distribution directly with the Moderna vaccine and partnering with the local medical society to get the word out for those folk.

[G]

I contacted the employee health and a COVID contact person at one hospital. Both told me that they do via their own algorithms and that means rolling through departments. I stated that our PP was not in any such department and how do we get that vaccine. Both said tough luck ( not exact words but pretty clear). It is almost that they consider it their vaccine and not the state or federal vaccine and to be used as they see fit. When hospital systems get so big that they not only control the usual anest/rad/ ER but pretty much a majority of surgeons, internists, FP and sub specialists they think those are who matter and tough luck to those truly independent doctors. Teaches them a lesson for not joining their fold.

I called local DHEC office. All I could leave was a voicemail. No reply back so far.

I was just looking at the regional information center's daily update and clicked a link to the HD's Epi-News...it looks like folks started signing up 4 weeks ago:

• Pharmacists and pharmacy support staff • Laboratory personnel • HMO medical centers • Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists • Audiologists • Family planning centers • Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers • Kidney dialysis centers • Freestanding ambulatory surgical and emergency centers • Diagnostic imaging centers • Home health care services • Blood and organ banks • Dentists • Optometrists • Chiropractors • Mental health providers • Podiatrists All staff engaged in operations, to include; doctors, nurses, medical assistants, administration, front desk, etc. are eligible to receive the vaccine. Staff will be required to provide evidence of employment at facility which may include; ID badge, human resource list, employment letter.

I'm sure we can find things to improve after the event debriefing, but I'm proud of how my community has rolled out the vaccinations so far. Perhaps we will study the successes and failures as a nation...for the next time....

[Tim]

https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/up...tion-Week3.pdf

My brother (1B) called a pharmacy on the week 3 distribution list. Vaccinated same day, yesterday.

[Dermonc]

How are private practice docs getting the vaccine? I received the vaccine but my wife, who is also a physician in a patient facing field, has not been offered it through her workplace yet. She works at a private practice outpatient office and sees patients daily. The “regional distribution center” is an academic hospital in town that she is not affiliated with.

[PecanPie]

In NJ, they are giving out vaccines to people in a local shoprite now as long as you're Tier 1a

[StarTrekDoc]

https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/up...tion-Week3.pdf

My brother (1B) called a pharmacy on the week 3 distribution list. Vaccinated same day, yesterday.

Now that's transparency. I tried to find something equivalent in California. No joy.

[Tim]

Now that's transparency. I tried to find something equivalent in California. No joy.

Transparency with roadblocks.
”Providers” sign up. Providers look for an edge.
Walgreen’s does not follow the state plan. 1B is now green lighted by the state, not by Walgreens.
Large Hospital System service “only their patients” meaning if you want it your “doctor”must be one of theirs.
Urgent care center- online signup.
1A should have priority.
1B is providers not playing nice.This change was today(or at least when I found it). Most are currently treating this as general availability now.