During these challenging times, the Broward County Medical Association’s (BCMA) office has been open daily assisting physicians in navigating the system on how to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program-Small Business Administration Loans (PPP/SBA). This was accomplished with the assistance of Sam Hammer, CPA. Mr. Hammer has been the CPA for the BCMA for many years. Mr. Hammer also helped find banks that would honor the loans. Mr. Hammer’s handout is attached. The BCMA will be hosting another Zoom Meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 6:00 pm with Mr. Hammer as the Guest Speaker.
The BCMA also became the “Sponsor/Housing Organization” as approved by the US Department of Health & Human Services officially on April 10, 2020 for the BROWARD MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS, (MRC). The MRC is a community-based civilian, volunteer program that helps build the public health infrastructure of communities nationwide. The MRC Units identify, credential, train and organize the volunteers and utilize them to support routine public health activities and augment preparedness and response efforts. This can occur during emergencies such as a Pandemic (COVID-19), Hurricane, or other disasters. The volunteer Unit Leader is Warren Sturman, M.D., who has worked tirelessly with Dr. Fatteh and other members of the MRC Team to accomplish becoming an MRC.
In February, the BCMA began setting up a volunteer database, including physicians, nurses, and many other healthcare personnel. It was felt there would be a need during this COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts were brought to the public’s attention by the Sun-Sentinel, Channel 7 and Channel 10. Many community groups throughout Broward County began making cloth masks and dropping them off at the BCMA Office. Medical Students at the NSU College of Allopathic Medicine, raised money, and made over 1,000 face shields to date. Face Shields and Masks have been donated to hospitals, First Responders, Doctors’ offices, Nursing Homes, and ALFs. The response from the community has been heart warming. Volunteers from First Presbyterian Church of Ft. Lauderdale and Cross Community Church as well as other members of the community have kept the supply flowing.
The BCMA and Female Indian Physicians of Florida began raising funds to provide food for the physicians and nurses at various hospitals. These funds were raised through relationships with physicians, community contacts, and corporate donations.
The BCMA will be ready if there is a hurricane or another pandemic. If you would like to join the MRC, please go to the BROWARDMRC.COM website. The BCMA is also very interested in helping to collect “CONVALESCENT PLASMA.” If you know of a patient who had tested positive and is now negative, please have them go to the BrowardMRC.com website and become a Plasma Donor.
Please let us know what your needs are so that we can better provide value for your membership.
Shahnaz Fatteh, M.D.
President
fattehdoc@gmail.com
May 8, 2020
