Hello weekend, I am so glad you’re here!
I spent the week in orientation for the new job. Does anyone else always feel a little mentally exhausted learning a new system’s way of doing things?
I’m looking forward to some couch time this weekend.
Onto the Five.
It was a busy week in the news. ACOG came out with a strong recommendation for the COVID vaccine in pregnancy. They published a nice conversation guide last month that’s included below. A 3rd COVID-19 vaccine is being considered for immunocompromised individuals. The link to the slides are included below.
Let’s run through it.
1. Disclosures by Licensed Midwives for High-Risk Pregnancy Conditions Virginia Board of Medicine
This 69 page document on disclosures for licensed midwives to use to discuss diagnoses and care with their clients. These are not applicable in a lot of areas of care. But, the idea of disclosure and how it is presented in this document is a step toward shared decision-making in prenatal care.
Take the diagnosis of anemia for example (page 14 in the document). There is a lot of counseling that doesn’t include these points of counseling – just the normal “take your iron .”
What do you guys think?
2. Findhelp.org, also known as “Aunt Bertha.”
A potluck website to:
The site easy to use. You type in your zip code and a whole host of resources come up that are available in your area. See below for Hampton, VA.
It’s a resource worth remembering for those that need assistance in the community and when you are unsure what community resources are available (or which ones have changed!).
3. The ACIP.
The ACIP is the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Regardless of your view on immunizations, it’s important to know about this committee. The committee develops recommendations on how to use vaccines to control disease in the United States. No easy job there. And before you think their job is easy, take a few moments one of their meetings by reading through their minutes.
This is a great way to see what the conversations are behind the recommendations you see on the news, the pediatrician’s office, etc…
The initial conversations about COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines is here if you’re curious.
All that to say to that the July 22, 2021 ACIP meeting presented on an additional COVID-19 vaccine (a 3rd dose) for immunocompromised populations. I thought it was nice to read the data in the presentation versus another news article. Check out the presentation here is you want to see the studies they presented!
4. A resource for infant loss and bereavement.
Heads up on this website. It’s going to make you sad. But, if you work in labor and delivery, women’s health and family care, you know that some babies pass away. Some babies pass away before we meet them, after we meet them, or unexpectedly (or both). This resource showed up on my radar this past week and I wanted to put it out there for any families looking to have a burial service for their lost infant.
The caskets are made by monks in Iowa. And they are free. Bookmark this resource for your own families you care for, your bereavement committees, chaplains, etc.
The site, Trappist Caskets, is here, and their contact info is here.
5. This handout by ACOG (American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, July, 2021): COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy: Conversation Guide for Clinicians
Around here, I love a good handout.
This one guides providers and women through many of the common questions about the vaccines. It’s worth a read even just to check your counseling.
Other goodies…
- This article on the challenges faced by the new chief executive of the NHS (National Health System) in the UK. Recent analysis predict that in the country of 67 million people, the waiting lists will rise to 9 million since people did not seek care as normal during the pandemic. 9 million!
- This article about nurse practitioners overtaking physicians as the most sought after provider type. You can read the report here, but I liked these highlights…
- The average starting salary for NPs increased 12% in the past year, from $125,000 to $140,000.
- An interventional cardiologist is offered an average starting salary of $611,000.
That’s a wrap! Happy weekend!
Hugs,
Jamie
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