CHEST Collaborations Address Clinician Issues in Multiple Areas

FEBRUARY 2021

CHEST Collaborations Address Clinician Issues in Multiple Areas

CHEST’s commitment to collaborate with many different organizations on multiple issues of importance to pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine has resulted in a number of joint activities and statements recently. Of special interest are the following:

Joint Statement of the Critical Care Societies Collaborative to the Trump Administration, President-elect Biden’s COVID-19 Taskforce, Congressional Leadership, & State Governors on Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Allocation of Other Resources: On November 16, 2020, CHEST joined the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), American Thoracic Society (ATS), and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), collectively the CCSC, to urge for a national plan addressing three aspects of patient care and public health to ensure an effective response to curb COVID-19 transmission: 1) provision of appropriate personal protective equipment; 2) equitable allocation of other resources, including ventilators, medication, vaccines, and staff; and 3) a commitment to basic health measures that disrupt the transmission of the virus. Read the entire statement »

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Call for Prohibition of Menthol Flavoring: In a letter to FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, CHEST voiced support for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ call to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and endorses the need for action on the related citizen petition (FDA-2013-P-0435-0001). The letter continues, “As stated in the FDA’s own scientific analysis and the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) report, menthol cigarettes pose a public health risk even greater than that seen with nonmenthol cigarettes. Studies on menthol cigarettes have repeatedly shown that flavoring increases the initiation of smoking among young people. This preference increases with Black youth smokers, an ongoing disparity, with menthol cigarettes taking a disproportionately high toll of disease and death in the African American community.” National Lung Health Organizations’ Joint Public Statement Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine: The American Lung Association, American Thoracic Society, and CHEST issued a joint statement to the public on December 4 in advance of the holiday season calling for widespread adoption of the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure the public health protections needed to end the pandemic. They emphasized that even after a safe and effective vaccine is available, it is critical for all Americans to protect their health and that of their community by continuing to follow public health guidance. This includes wearing a mask, physically distancing, and washing hands thoroughly until enough of the US population is vaccinated to stop the spread of the virus.

National Lung Health Organizations’ Joint Public Statement Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine: The American Lung Association, American Thoracic Society, and CHEST issued a joint statement to the public on December 4 in advance of the holiday season calling for widespread adoption of the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure the public health protections needed to end the pandemic. They emphasized that even after a safe and effective vaccine is available, it is critical for all Americans to protect their health and that of their community by continuing to follow public health guidance. This includes wearing a mask, physically distancing, and washing hands thoroughly until enough of the US population is vaccinated to stop the spread of the virus.

AMA House of Delegates’ Special Meeting: N. R. Desai, MD, MBA, FCCP, CHEST’s delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates (HOD), provided a report on their virtual special meeting of November 20 at which more than 170 societies were represented. As the principal policy-making body of the AMA, the House has guided AMA’s efforts during the COVID-19 epidemic as the leading physician and patient ally—voicing recommendations to key Congressional leaders and agency staff, state policymakers, and private sector stakeholders. Acting on both federal and state levels, examples of AMA’s recent efforts include actions in financial relief, telehealth, testing and vaccine development, health equity, and more.

Due to the virtual nature of the meeting, resolutions coming forth from reference committees were prioritized for discussion. The Constitution & Bylaws, Medical Service, Legislation, Medical Education, Public Health, Science and Technology, Finance, and Medical Practice committees met. Some of the issues addressed by the complete House of Delegates related to continuing board certification; graduate medical education; bullying in the practice of medicine; availability of personal protective equipment; establishment of a private practice physicians’ section; merit-based incentive pay systems; and establishing professional services claims-based payment enhancement for activities associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

CHEST members who are interested in observing or participating in AMA HOD activities are encouraged to contact Jenny Nemkovich for information.

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