COVID 19 Member Resources and Communications

We are curating and developing COVID-19 resources that will support our members during this unique time. Bookmark this page as a resource for the latest information regarding coronavirus.

We are here to help. If you have questions pertaining to how we are supporting our members, please reach out and let us know. Please also check that your member profile is up-to-date, including your address and other contact information, to ensure you receive the latest from us regarding this developing situation.

We have create a four-part podcast micro-series on endocrine in the time of COVID. Part one, part two, part three, and part four of the series are now available.

We have also created an Online Community called "COVID-19 Information Exchange" for members to share their experiences and the latest information about COVID-19. Interested in participating? Sign up for access to the online community.

$30 Billion in Disbursements for Physicians

Since HHS announced it would begin disbursing the first $30 million of the emergency fund created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to physicians and other providers via direct payment, physicians have raised several questions about how to verify eligibility for payment and who to contact when a physician believes they are eligible but did not receive a payment. HHS partnered with UnitedHealth Group (UHG) to deliver the stimulus payments, and physicians should contact UHG’s Provider Relations at 866-569-3522 about eligibility, whether a payment has been issued, and where it was sent. Note, if a physician or practice did not already set up direct deposit through CMS or UHG’s Optum Pay, they will receive a check at a later date. Practices that would like to set up direct deposit now can call the UHG Provider Relations number.

In addition, HHS has opened the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Payment Attestation Portal. Physicians who have been allocated a payment from the initial $30 billion general distribution must sign an attestation confirming receipt of the funds and agree to the terms and conditions within 30 days of payment. The terms and conditions are listed here.

Management Support

The latest clinical guidelines on evaluating and caring for COVID-19 patients.

Joint guidance on vitamin D in the era of COVID-19

Endocrine Society statement on Dexamethasone and COVID-19

CDC Information for Healthcare Professionals

CMS Information and Updates

Additional Telehealth Resources

Medicaid for Services Delivered via Telehealth

US National Library of Medicine - Vitamin D and SARS-CoV-2 virus/COVID-19 disease

Commentary: Myths and facts on vitamin D amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Joint Guidance on Osteoporosis Management in the Era of COVID-19 from the Endocrine Society, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR), American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS) and National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF)

NIEH Worker Training Program Resources

Lessons Learned from SARS and COVID-19 Update
Loreen Herwaldt, MD, Jorge Salinas, MD and Daniel Diekema, MD, MS

Information on HERO Registry (first 4 minutes) and Ventilating COVID Pneumonia: Not Garden-Variety ARDS
Loreen Herwaldt, MD and Gregory Schmidt, MD

Research published in Endocrine Reviews, a journal of the Endocrine Society, illuminates how intersections of the coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and type 2 diabetes may require new approaches in treatment for hospitalized patients. This research is free to the public.

The American Medical Association has also released new resources to help health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tools include coding scenarios for telehealth services, among other helpful guidelines for billing during this time.

The American Association for Clinical Chemistry has launched a directory of U.S. clinical laboratories that are, or will be, performing testing for DARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This directory is designed to help healthcare providers like the ones we represent find laboratories that can diagnose patients suspecting of having COVID-19.

COVID Med Supply crowdsources PPE based on your location.

British Thyroid Association Resources

Patient Education

Information to share with prospective patients in light of COVID-19.

Center for Disease Control

The Hormone Health Network also has a page available to keep patients in the know with regards to COVID-19.

Grants and Proposals

Many agencies have provided updates on grant and proposal deadlines for both existing awardees and future applicants.

National Institute of Health

Video blog from Mike Lauer addressing deadline changes and other questions

National Science Foundation

Department of Energy’s Office of Science

Special Announcement: DOE SC Accommodating Interruptions to Applications-Awardees Due to COVID-19

Preparing for Remote Work

Labs and research facilities have started closing or offering limited access to researchers. For some, working remotely may be a new experience. Below is a list of suggestions for those that may have questions or concerns about remote work.

Be mindful about work that requires a research setting as opposed to tasks that can be accomplished alone or in a remote capacity and prioritize your work accordingly.

Develop a plan for minimizing social contact while caring for laboratory animals. The NIH offers additional resources. The NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare has adjusted inspection requirements due to the pandemic.

Conduct meetings via video conferencing services such as Skype, Google Hangout, or Zoom. Skype and Google Hangout are both free-to-use services, while many organizations offer Zoom subscriptions to their members.

Leverage cloud storage options offered by your institution. Many services include the capability for multiple users to access data and edit documents concurrently, which allows for real-time collaboration.

Draft and share a plan amongst team members for how projects will be completed remotely in the absence of in-person meetings. Establish roles for each team member and communicate frequently to effectively manage workflows.

Leverage online resources such as the NIH Office of Research Services Online Library.

NIH peer review meetings will be held in alternate formats.

Nature has also published a series of recommendations called "Science-ing from home".

The NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education has posted a page with virtual activities for trainees outside of the NIH, including wellness resources and professional development webinars. The website will be updated regularly.

The FDA has issued a guidance for industry regarding conducting clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency is offering flexibility around clinical trial policies in efforts to maintain patient safety and test integrity, while dealing with the challenges posed by the coronavirus. One of the major areas of flexibility is that the agency would consider the possibility of virtual visits for trial participants when possible. The FDA suggests other alternative assessment methods, but cautions that sponsors of the clinical trials must consider if patient safety is guaranteed before implementing the alternatives.

For investigators concerned about maintaining mouse colonies, Jackson Laboratories offers several resources including cryopreservation (JAX can pick up mice or mail kits). Additional information about these services as well as FAQs can be found here.

Tele-Education

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

Clinical Teaching and Learning Without Physical Patient Contact

Academic Life in Emergency Medicine (ALiEM)

Teaching in the Age of COVID-19 (Series)

Association of Program Directors in Surgery

Using Technology to Maintain the Education of Residents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Online Courses Available

Accrediting Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)

CME Finder

American College of Physicians (ACP)

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

Free Open School Online Courses

Meeting Remotely

Accrediting Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)

COVID-19

Accrediting Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)

COVID-19 Clinician Resources

American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)

American College of Physicians (ACP)

Practical Advice and Support from Internists on the Front Lines (Webinar)

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

COVID-19 Special Series (Webinar Series)

The Endocrine Society Advocacy team is taking action to ensure Congress is doing everything possible to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advocacy COVID-19 related letters:

The following publications and libraries have made their coronavirus-related content free to access:

As part of our partnership with the Diabetes Disaster Relief Coalition, we have also updated our dedicated webpage with resources for persons living with diabetes.

Information regarding ENDO 2020 is available here.

We have also developed a page for in-training fellows with access to a variety of education, training, and professional development online sessions to help meet your career needs.

NIH has developed a page with resources covering a range of topics specifically for sharing on social media.

The European Society for Endocrinology has also created a resource and information page.