FEATURE , CONTINUED
continue to have symptomatic patients wait in their cars to be tested for COVID . The iPads will help us streamline our outdoor patient visits by documenting the encounter in real time while outside . We can capture insurance information , add patients to our EMR , capture their photographs , and have them sign necessary consents all from these iPads while outside in the COVID drive-thru or parking lot .”
Several other clinics used assistance through the mini-grant program , specifically for storage and preservation equipment , including Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas , P . A . ( MANA ), Sherwood Family Medical Center , and UAMS Northwest .
MANA ’ s COVID vaccines are made available to its eight family medicine clinics and two pediatrics clinics . Bekki Boyd is the executive assistant and COVID Vaccine Coordinator for MANA administration in Fayetteville . She shared , “ With the approved funds , our depot location was able to purchase two medical-grade refrigerator / freezer combos , a couple of digital data logger kits , as well as one large-sized and one small-sized transport cooler . A couple of our family medicine clinics were approved for mini-grant funds to upgrade their refrigeration / freezer combos and purchase emergency backups and transport coolers .”
James Pratt , clinic manager for Sherwood Family Medical Center , expressed that clinic ’ s appreciation of the grant opportunity . “ We needed a new vaccine refrigerator to store our COVID vaccine , and the mini-grant was able to provide that equipment ,” said Pratt . “ The minigrant allowed us to purchase a small generator and connection to safeguard our vaccines in case of a power failure . We have five family practice physicians and four pediatricians , and we see about 225 patients a day ranging from newborns to geriatric patients . Given that the past year has been very stressful for both patients and providers , the grant provided some safety in knowing our vaccines would be protected .”
Sarah Watkins , RN , Clinic Care Coordinator at MANA Family Medicine South in Fayetteville , is excited to have a vaccine transport cooler to help their clinic with vaccine distribution .
“ When this pandemic started , most organizations had to adjust and adapt quickly ,” contributed Stephanie Kruger , COVID clinic lead and assistant director of programs for UAMS Northwest Regional Campus . Kruger explained that the clinic reaches the underserved Latino , Marshallese , and Caucasian populations through the service of 13 physicians ( not including residents ). “ First , it was paramount to set up testing quickly , and then we were required to pivot to vaccinate quickly . This set-up time left us doing things effectively , but not efficiently . Without the assistance of AMS , we would still be hobbling along . Now , UAMS NW can bring this once-make-shift vaccine center into a more permanent state with ideal equipment to accomplish the mission to vaccinate as many Arkansans as possible .
“ We are in the process of using the awarded mini-grant to purchase a vaccine refrigerator and freezer from TempArmor . Our vaccine freezer is not convenient to where we administer our vaccines . One of our barriers to having a freezer in close proximity was the issue of having a back-up generator on site , which was cost prohibitive . Because of our mini-grant , we will be able to store more vaccine safely where the vaccines are distributed and given . We are so excited to be able to increase our vaccine capacity safely and effectively ,” said Kruger .
ONGOING EDUCATION FOR PHYSICIANS AND THE PUBLIC
A large component of the ADH grant to AMS was for outreach and education , including a marketing campaign designed to increase vaccine confidence and knowledge among the public through social and digital media . The ARKMED . org / covid19 webpage has been updated and features the only vaccine finder that only shows medical clinics who are vaccine providers . “ There was not a website available for patients in Arkansas to search for a clinic who was giving the vaccine ,” said Laura Haywood , membership and communications specialist at the Society . “ We felt that was a critical piece of information that was missing , and it was imperative to us that we highlight those clinics who are providing the vaccine .”
172 THE JOURNAL OF THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL SOCIETY