Newsletters

POSTED: October 30th, 2020
POSTED IN: EM Pulse - The Official Newsletter of MOCEP, September/October 2020,

“Winter is coming” was the often-repeated phrase said in the series Game of Thrones.  It was meant as a warning and to remain vigilant.  As we enter the winter season, it seems fitting for Emergency Medicine as well.  We are entering the third wave of the pandemic and unfortunately the Midwest is bearing the brunt of this spike.  I wish I could say we were in a better place seven months into this crisis, but I am still hearing the same issues arising now that were present in March: PPE, testing delays, overcrowded Emergency Departments.  Thankfully we are seeing less patients dying thanks to care we initiated in the ED and continued by our colleagues in the ICU.

By the time you read this the first virtual ACEP meeting will have concluded.  I hope everyone took advantage of the live and on demand educational opportunities that will be available for the next three years.  Prior to the annual meeting was the ACEP council session, also held virtually for the first time.  I want to thank Drs. Journagan, Poirier, Braithwaite, Mendlesohn, Hughes, Schwarz, Jamtgaard, Char and Heidt for their work over two very long days representing the Missouri membership. 

I hope to see everyone virtually at our Missouri Emergency Medicine Symposium on November 6.  We are very lucky to have the new ACEP President-elect Dr. Gillian Schmitz as one of our speakers.  I think we have a very engaging and educational filled day planned.  Best of all it is free! This will be followed on November 7 by our first Student Symposium on Emergency Medicine. This free, virtual program will provide medical students a look into the world of EM, and provide them with information on some of the residency programs in the Midwest.

We have begun planning for the return of the Missouri legislators in January and anticipate another hard-fought advocacy season.  As emergency physicians, we are always prepared and will adapt to a rapidly changing situation.  This winter will be no different.

I wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. 

Christopher Sampson, MD, FACEP