It’s Friday and time for your

NCMS Morning Rounds.

  May 8, 2020

REMINDER: Please answer these few questions about the LEAD Health Care Conference in October. Beyond helping to ensure the conference is helpful to you, you’ll have a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card. Answer these crucial questions now by clicking HERE.

SBA Extends Deadline to Return PPP Loans

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has extended the safe-harbor period for returning Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds by one week to May 14. Today, May 8, the original deadline, was initially provided for entities that received PPP funds but then determined they were unable to certify in good faith that their PPP loan was necessary. Learn more here.

For more information on the PPP and other financial relief programs to offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the NCMS Economic Relief Resources page here.

Wake County Planning for Mass Testing

Wake County is gearing up to implement plans for mass testing to support the phased opening of the community as described in Governor Cooper’s latest Executive Order.

The county has asked the NCMS to help them assess how much current testing is being conducted in the county and how many community partners are planning to test in the future.

If you are in Wake County, please take just a minute to complete this survey by NOON TODAY.

Kudos to Dr. Mims!

Longtime NCMS member and NCMS Foundation Leadership College alumna, Susan Mims, MD, MPH, has been named chair of the newly established Department of Community and Public Health at UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC.

Dr. Mims will provide strategic leadership for the Asheville-based master of public health program affiliated with UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC Asheville. She will work closely with the Director of Academic Affairs, Amy Lanou, PhD, and program faculty to train future public health leaders in innovative models of public health delivery across Western North Carolina.

Dr. Mims will also help guide population health initiatives at UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC that include supporting a regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic, rural health initiatives, and health professions education programs spanning high school through post-fellowship rural teaching practices.

Learn more in this press release. And congratulations, Dr. Mims!

In the News

Doctors Without Patients: ‘Our Waiting Rooms Are Like Ghost Towns’, The New York Times, 5-5-20

Learning Opportunity

Don’t forget TODAY’s Power Hour from 1 to 2 p.m. This week’s discussion will examine how you can take care of yourself as you deal with the stresses of this unprecedented pandemic. Franklin Walker, MBA, NCMS VP of Rural Health Systems Innovation, will moderate the conversation that features Cormac O’Donovan, MD, and Marion McCrary, MD, who both have a passion for wellness and stress reduction. Please register here for this informative conversation.

RTI is holding a webinar series to share the outcomes of its survey of 2000 Americans to capture their understanding of how the COVID-19 virus is transmitted and level of support for community mitigation strategies. The upcoming webinars include:

  • Wednesday, May 13 from noon to 1 p.m. “Knowledge” – what do Americans know and understand about COVID-19?
    Wednesday, May 20 from noon to 1 p.m. “Perceived Threat” – how does the country view the risk of COVID-19 to their families and certain populations?
    Wednesday, May 27 from noon to 1 p.m. “Vaccination” – what are Americans’ perceptions on what a vaccine would mean and would they use it?

Learn more and register.