Together We Stand

ACMS works with local organizations to increase awareness and take action.

 

COVID-19 RESOURCES

Information is rapidly evolving – please check back frequently for the latest updates.

COVID VACCINE INFO from Arlington Public Health (Lisa G. Kaplowitz, MD, MSHA)

Arlington Division of Public Health is working on plans for distribution and dispensing of the COVID-19 vaccine once one or more become available.  Many COVID-19 vaccines are in advanced clinical trials and it is possible that one or more will be approved through Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA before the end of the year.  The following provides information about the vaccines presently in clinical trials in the United States and recommendations from the National Academy of Medicine concerning phases for distribution of the vaccine or vaccines.  Please keep in mind that once a vaccine is approved by the FDA, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will release recommendations for its use.

COVID Research Brief

Allocation Framework

 

Below are links to helpful resources.

Arlington County Health – Situation Report
Virginia Health Department
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Medical Society of VA

Opioid Epidemic

ACMS supports the safe disposal of prescription drugs through our local county’s drug-take-back sites. We also partner with the Arlington Addiction Recovery Initiative (AARI) by distributing home deactivation kits to our member physicians to give to their patients when they prescribe opioids. Physicians who are interested in receiving a supply of kits, please contact:

[email protected] or call (703)228-4216

Physician Suicide

With the evolved requirements and complexities of healthcare practice, increased workloads to meet goals and metrics, challenge of patient satisfaction, intense professional, financial and personal stress and moral injury, physicians have the highest suicide rates of any profession in the US. We have been shocked and saddened by the passing of (too) many of our colleagues here in Arlington and DC Metro Area. Prevention is a complicated process of assessment, treatment and management.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Human Trafficking

With DC being one of thirteen high human/sex trafficking cities in the country and the state of Virginia ranked at #10, trafficking is happening in our communities. Physicians, you may see these patients in your offices, emergency rooms or operating rooms and not even recognize it. We partner with Just Ask Prevention to educate healthcare professionals to identify, take action and to prevent human/sex trafficking in our neighborhood and beyond.

JustAskPrevention.org

Polypharmacy

 The single most important predictor of adverse drug events (ADEs) is the number of
drugs being prescribed to a patient.
 Polypharmacy is defined as the simultaneous use of 5 or more medications by a single
individual.
 Polypharmacy leads to 2/3 of older adult visits to emergency rooms. It increases
likelihood of nursing home (NH) placement, poor level of function, higher mortality, and
higher hospitalization rates.

Polpharmacy definition

Polypharmacy protocol

Medicine is more than textbooks and test results. Medicine is empathy, compassion, selflessness and service.

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