30,000 Called for Tele-Town Hall Meeting on the Virus
Oct. 20, 2014
Thousands of Texas physicians and nurses this evening took
part in a joint education program to learn as much as they can about the Ebola
virus.
Listen to the entire program here.
Sponsored by the Texas Medical Association (TMA) and the
Texas Nurses Association (TNA) — the state’s two largest health care
professional organizations — the Tele-Town Hall Meeting on the Ebola virus
included updates from Texas Department of State Health Services physicians and
a lengthy question-and-answer session with public health experts.
“We come together tonight both as citizens of this great
state and as professionals charged with protecting the health of our fellow
Texans,” TMA President Austin King, MD, said as he opened the event. “As
parents, friends, and neighbors, we were understandably concerned by the news
from Dallas over the past several weeks. But as doctors and nurses, it is our
job to know and stay up to date on the science surrounding Ebola, and it is our
job to impart that information to our patients. It is our job to make sure that
we … and they … are aware and prepared, but not paralyzed by fear.
“Tonight, it is our job — the job of TMA and TNA — to
empower you with the information that you need.”
Using the Tele-Town Hall technology, more than 22,000 TMA
member physicians and 8,000 TNA member nurses were called simultaneously and
invited to join the conference. A recording of the event will be made available
Oct. 21 on TMA’s Ebola Virus Resource
Center for those who missed the call.
“Every day,
Texans rely on a health care team to care for them,” Dr. King added. “Tonight,
the key members of that health care team came together to remain vigilant in
educating and informing our members of the most current information in
responding to Ebola and infectious disease.”
Since Thomas
Duncan’s Ebola diagnosis was confirmed on Sept. 29, TMA has worked closely with
Dallas County Medical Society (DCMS) leaders and public health experts to
educate physicians statewide about Ebola and to provide accurate information about
the virus to the public. Those activities included:
Don’t Close Schools Because of Ebola Fears — a
science-based letter of guidance and reassurance that DCMS
sent to North Texas school officials and that TMA is working to distribute to
schools statewide.
Protect Yourself From the Ebola Virus — an
easy-to-understand patient flyer, in English and in Spanish.
What If Someone Walks Into My Office With Ebola? — science-based guidelines to prepare
physicians’ practices and protect staff and patients if someone presents with
Ebola symptoms.
“Facts, Not Fear” — an outstanding town hall meeting
that DCMS hosted with WFAA-TV. Watch the replay.
“We will work
with elected officials and our designated public health authorities to control
the immediate disease threat of Ebola,” Dr. King said. “And we will continue to
advocate on Texans’ behalf at the state and federal level for policies that
improve our public health system and abilities.”
TMA is the largest state medical
society in the nation, representing more than 47,000 physician and medical
student members. It is located in Austin and has 112 component county medical
societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the
health of all Texans.
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Contact: Pam Udall phone: (512) 370-1382 cell: (512) 413-6807
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Brent Annear phone: (512) 370-1381 cell: (512) 656-7320
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