Happy Thanksgiving from the Colorado Medical Society!

Public health emergency leave is still in effect for COVID and has expanded to flu and RSV

A reminder from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: Under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA), all Colorado employers, regardless of size or industry, must give employees:

1. “Accrued” paid sick leave (one hour per 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours a year), and
2. “Public health emergency” (PHE) leave (two weeks -- 80 hours, or less for part-time employees).

Colorado’s 80-hour PHE leave is ongoing; it continues as long as a federal or state PHE is declared, and while state public health orders have been scaled back, currently federal and Colorado PHEs both remain declared. As of Nov. 11, 2022, the conditions covered by Colorado’s latest PHE declaration include health needs related to not just COVID, but also flu, respiratory syncytial virus (“RSV”), and similar respiratory illnesses. For more information on paid sick leave, please see the CDLE Division of Labor Standards and Statistics’ HFWA webpage.

Help CDPHE promote free training opportunities

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is asking Colorado Medical Society members and their practices to help grow the Colorado health care workforce and child care workforce by promoting free training for in-demand health care professions (CNA, EMT, MA, pharm tech, etc.) and free early childhood education courses for individuals to become certified child care professionals. This will help support upward mobility for low income Coloradans -- especially women -- seeking new career paths. Practices can print and display communications in patient waiting rooms, exam rooms, staff break rooms and other areas. Find materials here: http://hfcgo.com/assistance

Update: Ebola outbreak in Uganda still poses low risk, but resources have been updated

The CDC issued a Health Alert Network Health Update to inform public health departments, public health laboratories, and clinicians in the U.S. about the ongoing outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Uganda. No suspect or confirmed EVD cases related to this outbreak have been reported in the U.S. or other countries outside of Uganda to date. However, as a precaution because of increasing cases in Uganda, CDC is raising awareness of this outbreak and the potential for importation of cases. Read recommendations for clinicians here.

PFAS: Toxic chemicals to understand and avoid

PFAS chemicals seem to be everywhere these days: at the top of Mount Everest, in umbilical cord blood, in breast milk, and in the news. In 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced new health advisories for PFAS in drinking water. This month, My Green Doctor explains why PFAS are important and how your patients can avoid them. Read more here (log-in required; free registration): mygreendoctor.org/pfas-toxic-chemicals-to-understand-avoid 

My Green Doctor is a free money-saving membership benefit supported by the Colorado Medical Society. Members can use My Green Doctor’s “Meeting-by-Meeting Guide” to learn how to adopt environmental sustainability, save resources, and help create healthier communities. The program adds just five minutes to each regular office staff meeting or weekly office “huddle,” making small changes at each meeting that really add up over time.

Everyone in your practice can register as Partner Society members at www.MyGreenDoctor.org or at www.MyGreenDoctor.es (en Español). Use the discount code MGDCOMS to save $60 instantly and get full free access to My Green Doctor forever. Ask your practice manager to register today and to put My Green Doctor on your next agenda. You can do this!

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