May 24, 2020                                    THE WEEKLY DOSE                    The latest news and updates for Physicians in Bexar County
In This Week’s Issue
· BCMS COVID-19 Resource Page · Stay at Home Order Extended · COVID-19 Evidence Based Medicine Literature · Mask Filtration Effectiveness Database · Which Plans Pay for Telemedicine and How Much · Free PPE Supplies · University Health System Weekly Newsletter			Circle of Friends ¤ Spotlight ¤ Amegy Bank TMLT
MEMBER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Auto Program BCMS Calendar BCMS/Favorite Staffing BCMS Phone App Credentialing Services - BCVI LifeBridge Free Physician Counseling Online BCMS Physician Directory Physicians' Purchasing Guide San Antonio Medicine Magazine
Important Physician News and Deadlines
San Antonio Stay Home Work Safe Order Extended The City Council has approved Mayor Nirenberg’s Stay at Home Orders until June 4. The emergency order strongly encourages residents older than 10 to wear face masks and minimize social gatherings and in- person contact. View Emergency Order COVID-19 Evidence Based Medicine Literature Early in the COVID-19 epidemic, students at the Long School of Medicine stepped forward to volunteer in the response and created the Long School of Medicine COVID-19 Medical Student Response Team. This group has dedicated thousands of hours since mid-March to volunteer activities. The group identified the need for concise, evidence-based summaries of existing literature. The students organized to review the literature available on COVID-19 and formulate information sheets that could be beneficial to clinicians in four topic areas: Epidemiology, Diagnostics, Clinical Presentation, and Treatment. Click here for detailed information sheets. Documents will be updated biweekly.  Mask Filtration Effectiveness Database Many people are utilizing the pandemic for profit and there are a lot of counterfeit N95 masks out there. The Physician Self Defense organization has been testing N95s submitted by physicians to ascertain the effectiveness to make sure the masks provide the necessary protection needed. Initial data has shown that there are some KN95s testing at only 50% filtration at 0.3 microns. There are good KN95s out there, and many with good filtration. However, the vast majority of what is being imported is not medical grade and does not get a good seal on the face. The spreadsheet (at the bottom of the webpage) is updated as additional masks are tested. View spreadsheet Which Plans Pay for Telemedicine and How Much With changes to state and federal rules regarding payment for telemedicine services but what does each plan pay for? Texas Medical Association has compiled information for various types of insurance plans and what they cover. View full article here Free PPE Supplies Need PPE for your practice? BCMS can help! Physician practices in need of PPE, please click here to indicate your PPE needs. Requests are filled as donated supplies are available.
Upcoming Events
Metro Health Weekly COVID-19 Medical Provider Update May 26│6 pm Panelists Dr. Junda Woo and Dr. Anita Kurian will provide COVID-19 updates and local guidance, and will answer questions. Join meeting  Meeting number (access code): 284 219 739 Meeting password: covid19 Annual Border Health Conference SAVE THE DATE: June 23
Circle of Friends Platinum Sponsor
Circle of Friends Gold Sponsor
Thank you to our BCMS Circle of Friends sponsors! Donations from Circle of Friends sponsors help keep down the cost of dues and allow BCMS to continue to provide quality service to its members. The Society continues its pledge to you that it will only involve itself in services  and programs that benefit you, the member, and your patients.
Bexar County Medical Society 4334 N Loop 1604 W, Ste 200 San Antonio, TX 78249 210-301-4391 www.bcms.org About The Weekly Dose The Weekly Dose is a service of the Bexar County Medical Society. Some of the suggestions conveyed may not be applicable to your practice today, but the goal is to offer information over time that returns value in excess of the cost of your membership. If you would like to recommend future topics to share with your colleagues, please submit them to the BCMS Executive Director at steve.fitzer@bcms.org. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited. Copyright © 2020 Bexar County Medical Society, San Antonio, Texas. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe