For patients who lack options, a virtual visit can mean the difference between going with or without care

by Vanessa Glavinskas - This story originally appeared in the December 2020 issue of Rotary magazine.

“Right now, I can see all my patients through my mobile phone,” says Prakash Paudyal, a pulmonologist and member of the Rotary Club of Jawalakhel, Nepal. Paudyal uses a Kubi device to turn a tablet into a “mini-robot” for remote monitoring of his COVID-19 patients who are in isolation at Nepal National Hospital. Paudyal learned about the Kubi and other telehealth practices during a vocational training team trip to the San Francisco area last year. “I do one round with all my [protective] gear on, and then I see all my patients through this mini-robot,” he says, thankful that the Kubi helps protect him from exposure to the virus.

The use of telehealth has surged worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, a study by McKinsey found that 46 percent of consumers are now using telehealth, up from 11 percent in 2019. Broadly defined, telehealth includes everything from virtual visits with a doctor to remote monitoring of a patient’s vitals to mobile health technologies.

By Samuel Azinger - TM Noon Club

It was approximately 4:17 PM and 33 degrees on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 when the large circular Mequon-Thiensville logo arrived at the scene of the Gateway Promenade feature on the corner of Mequon Road and Cedarburg Road. The large structure is the final piece to the project, with the exception of the donor wall on the interior which is to be added this spring.

By 8:15, this beauty was complete! Thank you to everyone who has put so much effort into this project. It is truly amazing seeing the hard work of Rotarians coming to fruition!

By Robert Friend, Assistant Rotary Public Image Coordinator for Zone 32

In the early morning of 29 September, a cargo ship carrying 800,000 face masks arrived at the Port of Boston. Over the course of the following 14 days, those masks were delivered to first responders, healthcare providers, and frontline workers in cities, towns, and villages across New England.

This is a story of service and leadership. It’s a story of how our District and Zone responded to a crisis, rallied its resources, put boots-on-the-ground to bring disparate and far-flung communities together to spread goodwill. Most importantly, it’s a story about working together and using our collective professional backgrounds through the Rotary network to make a difference.

Our project began with Ted Rossi, a 20-year member of the Rotary Club of East Hampton, Connecticut. Rossi is president and CEO of the Rossi Group, one of the most well-known and respected leaders in the American hardwood export industry.

Frustrated by dysfunctional governmental leadership in taking control of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) acquisition and distribution, Ted turned to his team with the international logistics and the know-how to leverage their contacts and focus on sourcing masks for the region. Initial success brought more than eight million masks to the states of Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

It became evident there was large demand for face masks downstream. Jack turned to his Rotary connections to leverage his idea to get even better results. He reached out to Jack Solomon, our district governor at the time, a fellow member of the East Hampton club. Ted needed Jack to get the masks to Rotarians for distribution, and Jack needed someone to “project manage” the tour and run logistics from an event and media standpoint.

That’s where I came in, as a global sales, marketing and communications professional and chair of our District’s Public Image and Communications Committee. I coordinated with our district communications team and managed all the logistics for our tour through seven Rotary districts.

Our district fund-raising efforts brought in $500,000 during the first three months of the pandemic that we used to support those impacted by COVID-19. The Rossi Family Foundation donated an additional 200,000 masks to the cause distributed to clubs across Connecticut. With all of this, District 7980 expanded the program into what we called the Million Mask Challenge Tour.

Eddie Morales - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

With vaccines now available in the fight against the coronavirus, there will soon be an influx of immunizations.

And with pharmacies expected to play a major role in administering the vaccines, having enough trained pharmacists will be essential, said Dr. Sarah Ray, an associate professor of pharmacy practice at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon.

That's why Ray is leading an effort to train and certify pharmacists.

Since 1997, pharmacists with a vaccination certification have been able to administer vaccines in Wisconsin. 

After an emergency federal order was issued due to the pandemic, certified pharmacy technicians can now administer immunizations under a pharmacist's supervision.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requires that health professionals receive immunization training before administering vaccines.

"The other schools of pharmacy now require immunization training for students, but that hasn't always been the case," Ray said. "I think it's grown in popularity and people have become more aware that pharmacists can do this."

Ray thought to offer training for nonstudents when several pharmacists called Concordia last month asking whether it provided immunization certification programs. She then contacted pharmacists across various health systems and pharmacies. 

Pharmacists are eager to get certified, Ray said.

On Dec. 16, Ray hosted a certification course for nine pharmacists in southeast Wisconsin and Chicago.

Ray said the pharmacy school was able to be a resource “not just for the North Shore, but really for our whole state and even into our neighboring states.” 

The 20-hour program, which is taught at the university and offered through the American Pharmacists Association, includes 12 hours of self-study and examination and eight hours of live training.

The course teaches how to screen patients, keep records and handle adverse effects or emergencies, in addition to basic vaccine immunology information and tips on how to stay informed on newly approved vaccines.

Program participants administer three saline injections during the course's live training section.

While some participants might be reimbursed by their employer, Ray said “most of these folks are paying out-of-pocket for the training.”

“These were pharmacists that in their normal full-time job aren’t doing vaccinations, but they want to be ready in case they’re tapped to help,” she said. “They feel that desire that we really need as many hands here that can ... give the vaccinations. As many as possible.”

At Concordia University, third-year pharmacy students are required to complete immunization training, and now Ray is offering the course as an elective to first- and second-year students who are certified technicians.

Kyle Rehrauer is a first-year pharmacy student and certified technician at the Aurora Sinai Medical Center’s inpatient pharmacy. 

Rehrauer is enrolled in Ray’s January immunization course.

At his workplace, Rehrauer said the inpatient and outpatient pharmacies don’t typically correspond with each other, but the pandemic has changed that.

In the inpatient setting, nurses administer vaccinations, which are stored and dispensed in the pharmacy. 

With his certification, Rehrauer plans to administer vaccines wherever help is needed.

Ray said interns and certified pharmacy technicians typically could immunize people 6 and older. The circumstances of the pandemic allows them to immunize people as young as 3.

“That may not help immediately with the coronavirus pandemic because the vaccines are not approved in children yet, but it helps with other vaccines like their flu shot,” said Ray. 

The Pfizer vaccine authorized in the U.S. is only for people 16 and older. Moderna, the other vaccine that was given emergency use authorization in December, is to be distributed for use in adults only.

Rehrauer said he takes pride in playing an active role in what professional pharmacists are doing.

“As soon as we step foot in the classroom, we’re no longer students in the professor’s eyes,” he said. 

Ray said it's important to get as many pharmacists trained because the “massive push to have people immunized as quickly as possible” could result in life getting back closer to normal.