The American Medical Association (AMA) has provided a volunteer guide for physicians and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guide provides resources for those who want to help their community and information on third-party resources for volunteer matching.
AMA Provides Volunteer Guide During COVID-19
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The following states have requested COVID-19 volunteers and are providing registration sites: California, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Washington. Access the guide for links to the states and additional information. The AMA will be updating the guide as information is made available.
The guide also references The MAVEN Project, a nonprofit organization that connects volunteer physicians with providers. The MAVEN Project is currently providing a link for COVID-19 volunteers to fill out a questionnaire. This information may then be shared with state and national agencies.
Retired physicians wishing to help during the COVID-19 pandemic may access the guide for additional resources. The AMA has put together guidance for senior and retired physicians on such topics as licensing and retirement status concerns.
Organizations are also providing free access for state and local agencies needing to verify physician volunteer licensing credentials. The AMA is one such organization and is assisting eligible agencies by providing access to its Physician Profile service.
The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) is providing regular updates on executive orders related to licensing during COVID-19. Physicians who are licensed in another state, retired, or clinically inactive may have expedited or flexible options depending on their situation. This information may be especially of interest to physicians interested in providing telehealth across state lines.
For OTW’s previous coverage of the AMA on COVID-19, see “AMA, AHA, ANA Urge Americans to #StayHome,” “AMA Alarmed at Lack of Healthcare Worker Protection,” “14 Vital Tips to Keep Your Practice Solvent Despite COVID-19,” “AMA’s COVID-19 Guidance for Retired Physicians” and “AMA & NEJM Offer Resource Centers for COVID-19 News & Information.”
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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