Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • ESG: THE IMPLEMENTATION IMPERATIVE
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Current News
    • Providers
    • Insurance
    • Digital Health
    • Government
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Safety & Quality
    • Transformation
    • People
    • Regional News
    • Digital Edition (Web Version)
    • Patients
    • Operations
    • Care Delivery
    • Payment
    • Midwest
    • Northeast
    • South
    • West
  • Unwell in America
  • Opinion
    • Bold Moves
    • Breaking Bias
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Vital Signs Blog
    • From the Editor
  • Events & Awards
    • Awards
    • Conferences
    • Galas
    • Virtual Briefings
    • Webinars
    • Nominate/Eligibility
    • 100 Most Influential People
    • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
    • Excellence in Governance
    • Health Care Hall of Fame
    • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
    • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
    • Top 25 Innovators
    • Diversity in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Diversity Leaders
      • - Leaders to Watch
    • Women in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Women Leaders
      • - Women to Watch
    • Digital Health Transformation Summit
    • ESG: The Implementation Imperative Summit
    • Leadership Symposium
    • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
    • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
    • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
    • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
    • Top 25 Diversity Leaders Gala
    • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
    • - Hospital of the Future
    • - Value Based Care
    • - Supply Chain
    • - Hospital at Home
    • - Workplace of the Future
    • - Digital Health
    • - Future of Staffing
    • - Hospital of the Future (Fall)
  • Multimedia
    • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
    • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
    • Video Series - The Check Up
    • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
  • Data Center
    • Data Center Home
    • Hospital Financials
    • Staffing & Compensation
    • Quality & Safety
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Data Archive
    • Resource Guide: By the Numbers
    • Surveys
    • Data Points
  • MORE+
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs
    • People on the Move
    • Reprints & Licensing
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Opinion
February 19, 2021 10:35 AM

Medical groups key to meeting president's vaccine pledge

Dr. Jerry Penso
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print
    Dr. Jerry Penso is president and CEO of the American Medical Group Association.

    Shortly after his inauguration, President Joe Biden released a strategy to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. While the president's National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness offers a sound approach to address the public health emergency, the vaccination plan misses an opportunity to leverage the resources and expertise that multispecialty group practices and integrated systems of care can offer to ensure effective vaccination deployment.

    In light of Biden's announcement last week that enough vaccine will be available for 300 million Americans by the end of July, it is clear that we must marshal all available resources for a nationwide vaccination campaign. Medical groups have the capacity and capability to help vaccinate patients quickly and safely and are ready to serve their communities as part of this effort.

    But we need to be part of the vaccination distribution plan.

    Biden's strategy emphasizes the need for as many vaccine access points as possible. However, by focusing on community distribution centers and retail pharmacies, the plan downplays the vital role that group practices and integrated systems should have in any successful vaccine distribution effort. While these other facilities are an important aspect of the vaccination effort, the plan overlooks the experience and expertise that physician practices have in administering vaccines and the role they play in providing care to their communities.

    Enlisting multispecialty medical groups in the vaccination plan in a wider role offers several benefits to patients and the nation. In communities throughout the country, these groups have trusted relationships with patients and their entire community. They have protocols and procedures in place to handle vaccine storage, patient scheduling and follow-up care, including ensuring patients receive a second dosage if required. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration's Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines requires a waiting period after administration. Medical groups can offer the space and the expertise to monitor patients for adverse reactions.

    From the patient's prospective, the current vaccine system is confusing and uncoordinated. Medical groups can immediately rectify that problem for their patients by handling the scheduling and other logistical concerns for patients. Patients would not need to navigate an unfamiliar scheduling system or travel to a community vaccination center. Instead, with electronic health record technology, physician practices can identify patients who are eligible for the vaccine and schedule them, so they do not have to wait in line.

    The EHR system also triggers an alert, so case managers can follow up with patients to ensure they receive their second dose at the appropriate time. Every vaccine delivered at a group practice is one less person who needs to rely on county health departments or other community vaccination sites, freeing up space for others.

    Beyond scheduling appointments, medical groups' EHR systems also can track vaccine lot numbers and are capable of alerting providers in the event of a vaccine recall or other issue. These systems also communicate with state immunization registries, which keep public health officials apprised of how the vaccination effort is proceeding.

    As additional supplies of vaccine become available, coordinating with group practices will be an important aspect of the distribution effort. We can reach the goal of inoculating all Americans, but only if we take advantage of all our available resources. Dedicated medical groups are ready, but we need Washington to make the call.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    BurnoutUnsplash.jpg
    Health systems bet on employee mental health initiatives
    rural-health2_i.png
    Kentucky governor signs bill to bolster rural hospitals
    Most Popular
    1
    More healthcare organizations at risk of credit default, Moody's says
    2
    Centene fills out senior executive team with new president, COO
    3
    SCAN, CareOregon plan to merge into the HealthRight Group
    4
    Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan unveils big push that lets physicians take on risk, reap rewards
    5
    Bright Health weighs reverse stock split as delisting looms
    Sponsored Content
    Get Newsletters

    Sign up for enewsletters and alerts to receive breaking news and in-depth coverage of healthcare events and trends, as they happen, right to your inbox.

    Subscribe Today
    MH Magazine Cover

    MH magazine offers content that sheds light on healthcare leaders’ complex choices and touch points—from strategy, governance, leadership development and finance to operations, clinical care, and marketing.

    Subscribe
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Modern Healthcare empowers industry leaders to succeed by providing unbiased reporting of the news, insights, analysis and data.

    Contact Us

    (877) 812-1581

    Email us

     

    Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Editorial Dept
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Awards
    • About Us
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Modern Healthcare
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Current News
      • Providers
      • Insurance
      • Digital Health
      • Government
      • Finance
      • Technology
      • Safety & Quality
      • Transformation
        • Patients
        • Operations
        • Care Delivery
        • Payment
      • People
      • Regional News
        • Midwest
        • Northeast
        • South
        • West
      • Digital Edition (Web Version)
    • Unwell in America
    • Opinion
      • Bold Moves
      • Breaking Bias
      • Commentaries
      • Letters
      • Vital Signs Blog
      • From the Editor
    • Events & Awards
      • Awards
        • Nominate/Eligibility
        • 100 Most Influential People
        • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
        • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
        • Excellence in Governance
        • Health Care Hall of Fame
        • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
        • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
        • Top 25 Innovators
        • Diversity in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Diversity Leaders
          • - Leaders to Watch
        • Women in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Women Leaders
          • - Women to Watch
      • Conferences
        • Digital Health Transformation Summit
        • ESG: The Implementation Imperative Summit
        • Leadership Symposium
        • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
        • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
      • Galas
        • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
        • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
        • Top 25 Diversity Leaders Gala
        • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
      • Virtual Briefings
        • - Hospital of the Future
        • - Value Based Care
        • - Supply Chain
        • - Hospital at Home
        • - Workplace of the Future
        • - Digital Health
        • - Future of Staffing
        • - Hospital of the Future (Fall)
      • Webinars
    • Multimedia
      • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
      • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
      • Video Series - The Check Up
      • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • Data Center
      • Data Center Home
      • Hospital Financials
      • Staffing & Compensation
      • Quality & Safety
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Data Archive
      • Resource Guide: By the Numbers
      • Surveys
      • Data Points
    • MORE+
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Newsletters
      • Jobs
      • People on the Move
      • Reprints & Licensing