>> IT IS MY PLEASURE, TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU TODAY TO JOIN US FOR A VERY SPECIAL
[Dallas County Community College Coffee with the CEO featuring Dr. Cerise ]
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COFFEE WITH THE CEO BETWEEN OUR PARTNERS PARKLAND HEALTH & HOSPITAL SYSTEM, DR. FRED CERISE, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO AS WELL AS EDNA RUANO, THE PUBLIC POLICY ADVISOR AND GUY TOLIVER DIRECTIVE INCLUSION AND BIODIVERSITY FOR PARKLAND HEALTH & HOSPITAL SYSTEM.BEFORE WE GET STARTED THIS MORNING, WE GOT A GREAT PRESENTATION AND SOME GREAT UPDATES REGARDING REALLY WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND HOW PARKLAND IS PLAYING A ROLE IN THAT AS FAR AS WHAT WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES WITH THE PANDEMIC AND UPDATES ON THE VACCINE.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS AND SPONSORS FOR MAKING TODAY'S VIRTUAL EVENT POSSIBLE.
STARTING WITH OUR SPONSORS OF TEXAS INSTRUMENTS, ONCOR, TOYOTA, THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, DALLAS COLLEGE, HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, SOUTHEAST DALLAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PARKLAND HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SYSTEM.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, PARKLAND HEALTH & HOSPITAL SYSTEM, THAT IS DR. FRED CERISE.
HOW ARE YOU DOING, DR. CERISE?
>> DR. CERISE: I'M GOOD THIS MORNING, THANK YOU.
>> I WILL THANK YOU SO MUCH THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND ANOTHER YOU HAVE GOT OTHERS HERE WITH YOU AND YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION WITH US SO I WILL LET YOU GET STARTED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> DR. CERISE: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, RICK.
A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING AND I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION TO SPEAK WITH THE GROUP.
WHAT I WILL DO FOR THE NEXT 15 MINUTES OR SO JUST GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF SOME ACTIVITY PARTICULARLY AROUND COVID AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
AND ASK ED NOT TO TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS AND AS WELL AS GUY.
IF YOU WILL ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE? AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE DALLAS IS WITH COVID-19.
THIS WILL SHOW AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
AND YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE COME DOWN QUITE A BIT SINCE THE PEAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER.
BUT HAS LEVELED OFF AND IS GOING UP IN SOME AREAS.
AND SO IT APPEARS THAT WE ARE STARTING BECAUSE OF THE VACCINE, TO GET A BETTER HANDLE ON THIS AND HOPEFULLY AVOID ANY SIGNIFICANT UPTICK.
ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL PRETTY VARIABLE IN TERMS OF REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY THAT ARE STILL SEEING SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
THE NEXT SLIDE, LOOKS AT SPECIFICALLY, TEXAS, AND WHERE TEXAS STANDS.
WE HAVE DONE BETTER THAN THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE, THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT UPTICK AT THE TAIL OF THIS RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE STILL ON THE DOWNSLOPE AND THE NEXT SLIDE WILL LOOK AT DALLAS COUNTIES SPECIFICALLY.
GOING FROM THE US TO TEXAS NOW TO DALLAS COUNTY.
YOU CAN SEE THE ACTIVITY DALLAS COUNTY, IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN WE WERE LAST SUMMER OR AFTER THE BIG SPIKE IN THE WINTERTIME.
ALL GOOD NEWS IN TERMS OF THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE HEADED.
WE ARE IN THE HOSPITAL BUSINESS WE LOOK AT HOSPITAL BEDS AND AVAILABILITY OF BEDS.
THE NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOW THAT IN THEM DFW REGION, THESE ARE OCCUPIED BEDS.
YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW, WE ARE AS LOW AS WE BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.
IT IS CERTAINLY VERY GOOD NEWS FOR US, AND IF YOU SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT PARKLAND WHICH IS THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE SAME PATTERN, RIGHT NOW WE'VE HAD DAYS WHERE WE WERE OVER 200 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID AND NOW WE ARE DOWN IN THE RANGE OF 50 OR BELOW FOR PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL.
THIS SEEMS TO BE STEADY FOR THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.
THE NEXT SLIDE, GIVES A PICTURE OF THE VACCINATION.
THE GOOD NEWS IS 73 PERCENT OF EMPLOYEES ARE NOT VACCINATED.
THE 20% HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN AVAILABLE AND FREE AND FOR MANY IT'S A WALK DOWN THE HALL TO GET THE VACCINE SO WAS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE.
THERE STILL IS A GROUP THAT HAS BEEN ON THE SIDELINES AND IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE VACCINATED AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN AVOID RESURGENCE OF THE
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COVID ACTIVITY.THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS WHAT OUR VACCINATION EFFORTS HAVE LOOKED LIKE SINCE THE VACCINE BECAME AVAILABLE.
THE REDLINE LOOKS AT CUMULATIVE DOSES.
WE ARE NOW APPROACHING 300,000 DOSES OF VACCINE THAT HAS BEEN ADMINISTERED THROUGH OUR EFFORT AT PARKLAND.
YOU CAN SEE IN THE MOST RECENT DAYS, BIT OF A DECLINE AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THAT THE INITIAL DEMAND IS SUBSIDED NOW.
IN THE EARLY DAYS, IF YOU SAID YOU HAD VACCINE AVAILABLE AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING WE HAD PEOPLE LINING UP AT 3 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING WAITING TO GET THERE VACCINE.
NOW WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS, WE ARE STILL SEEING STEADY DEMAND BUT NOT NEARLY AT THAT LEVEL.
WE'VE GONE FROM BETWEEN THREE AND 4000 DOSES PER DAY TO BETWEEN TWO AND 3000 DOSES PER DAY.
THE NEXT SLIDE LOOKS AT HOW PEOPLE CAN GET A VACCINE.
THE STORY RIGHT NOW IS, IF YOU ARE OVER 16, AND WANT TO GET VACCINATED, YOU CAN GET VACCINATED NOW.
ELLIS DAVIS, WE HAVE FOUR HUBS PER THE ELLIS DAVIS DRIVE THROUGH AND EASTFIELD, THOSE TWO ARE AVAILABLE FOR SCHEDULED VISITS MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
IF YOU WANT TO DRIVE UP BETWEEN 11:00 AM AND 4:00 PM WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT, YOU CAN DO SO AT THOSE SITES AS WELL.
ANYBODY THAT WANTS A VACCINE CAN GET IT TO THOSE DRIVE UPS.
AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO VACCINATE WITH APPOINTMENTS AT OUR PARKLAND HOSPITAL SITES.
WE HAVE PUSHED IT OUT TO CLINICS AND THE LIST OF YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED AREAS IN THE MIDDLE, THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY CARE CLINICS.
AND THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON WONDERS VACCINE WE ARE USING FOR POPULATIONS THAT MAY BE A LITTLE HARDER TO TRACK DOWN FOR THE SECOND DOSE.
THAT IS THE UCED, THAT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
ALSO THE JAIL AND HOMELESS PROGRAM GETTING THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE.
THE NEXT SLIDE, LOOKS AT THE STRATEGY SHIFTING.
NOW THAT THE ACCEPTANCE RATE THE PEOPLE COMING IN IS COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT THE MAJOR HUBS, WE PLAN TO CONSOLIDATE TWO SITES ONE ON CAMPUS AND ONE OFF-CAMPUS, THEN USE SOME RESOURCES TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND DO STRIKE TEAMS AND LOOK AT HOTSPOTS AND WHERE WE CAN BRING THE VACCINE CLOSER TO PEOPLE IN THOSE HOTSPOTS.
AND SO WE ARE DEVELOPING THE STRATEGY RIGHT NOW.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE SITES WHERE WE WILL BE.
YOU CAN SEE FOR EACH OF THE SITES THERE ARE TWO DATES BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET THE FIRST AND SECOND DOSE TO PEOPLE.
A SHIFTER STRATEGY FROM THE MAJOR HUBS FROM FOUR MAJOR HUBS TO TWO MAJOR HUBS AND THE STRIKE TEAM GETTING TO PEOPLE TRYING TO GENERATE MORE ACTIVITY FOR DEMAND.
THE NEXT SLIDE MOVES INTO A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION.
THAT IS, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO TRY AND REACH SOME OF THE POPULATIONS MOST AT RISK, MOST IMPACTED BY COVID? CERTAINLY THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY FITS THAT CATEGORY.
AROUND THE COUNTRY, HISPANIC COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BOTH IN TERMS OF CONTRACTING COVID AND IN OUTCOMES MORTALITY RATED TO COVID.
AND YOU CAN SEE, EACH LINE HERE IS ONE WEEK IN TIME AND WHAT YOU SEE IS EARLY ON, THE VACCINATION EFFORTS ARE NOT REACHING THE MINORITY COMMUNITIES TO THE EXTENT THAT WE NEED TO.
THE BIGGEST EXPLANATION FOR THAT IS REMEMBER IT FIRST CAME OUT IT WAS STRICTLY FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
AND SO WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY LIKE WE WANTED TO BECAUSE IT WAS RESTRICTED FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
BUT AS REQUIREMENTS GOT LOOSER AND WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO THE PATIENT IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC, YOU CAN SEE HOW IT SHIFTED OVER TIME AND NOW WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE HALF OF OUR VACCINATIONS ARE GOING TO HISPANIC INDIVIDUALS AND ANOTHER QUARTER OR SO TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
IF YOU LOOK AT HOW THE COUNTY HAS DONE AS A WHOLE, THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS WERE STILL LAGGING IN TERMS OF VACCINE DISTRIBUTION WITH HISPANIC OR LATINO POPULATION WILL BELOW THE REPRESENTATION AND THE GENERAL POPULATION IN TERMS OF VACCINE AND SIMILAR FOR BLACK INDIVIDUALS.
THE GOOD IS A -- WE HAVE BEEN TARGETING HIGHER RISK OPERATIONS IN THE COUNTY
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OVERALL.ALL PEOPLE VACCINATED WERE STILL LACKING THERE.
WE WANT TO GET OUR MESSAGE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY TO PEOPLE USING INFLUENCERS TO GENERATE SOME INTEREST YOU KNOW, PEOPLES WILLINGNESS TO TAKE US UP ON HIS VACCINATIONS.
NEXT GIVES YOU A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE SEE THE -- WHERE WAS HE EFFORTS IN TERMS OF REACHING HERD IMMUNITY.
THAT IS A TERM IF YOU'VE BEEN IMMUNIZED OR AFFECTED SO THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET INFECTED AGAIN AND SPREAD THE DISEASE.
WHEN WE HIT 80 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION ROUGHLY, WE THINK YOU WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DAMPENING EFFECT ON ONGOING TRANSMISSION AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING FOR.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE CURRENT RUN RATE OF VACCINATION EFFORTS, WHICH IS WHERE THIS BOX POINTS TO, EACH ONE OF THOSE LINES ON THE GRAPH IS SORT OF A PROJECTION OF NUMBER OF VACCINES PER WEEK.
AS THE PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED GOES DOWN A BIT, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN LOWER UPTAKE OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THAT HERD IMMUNITY PUSHES OUT INTO THE FUTURE.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE PROJECTING BY THE END OF JUNE, EARLY JULY, WE WILL REACH THAT HERD IMMUNITY POINT WHERE WE CAN START TALKING ABOUT GATHERING AND REGULAR GATHERINGS AGAIN AND LOOSENING UP RESTRICTIONS AND WHATNOT.
WE ARE TRYING, WE ARE GOING FOR IS MORE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED SO WE CAN REACH HERD IMMUNITY AND THEN GET LIFE CLOSER BACK TO NORMAL.
I'M GOING TO STOP TALKING ABOUT COVID FOR NOW.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
AND TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT SOME OF OUR LEGISLATIVE WORK.
I WANTED TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND BASICALLY, SHOW THAT, GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE LANDSCAPE IS WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTHCARE IN TEXAS.
TEXAS HAS THE HIGHEST UNINSURED RATE IN THE COUNTRY.
I'M SURE THAT IS A FACT THAT MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE.
SPECIFICALLY OUR MIXES UNINSURED OR MEDICAID AND THAT'S 75 PERCENT OF OUR PATIENTS.
ALSO TO GIVE YOU MORE OF A LANDSCAPE ABOUT COVID OVER 2.46 MILLION TEXANS WERE DIAGNOSED IN PARKLAND.
I'VE SEEN OVER 5300 COVID-19 PATIENTS SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND A HUGE FACTOR FORCED TO KEEP IN MIND REGARDING TEXAS, TEXAS IS ONE OF THE 12 STATES NOT TO EXPAND MEDICAID AS PART OF ACA.
BRIEFLY, THE 1115 WAIVER WAS RESCINDED.
WE HAVE A SMALLER MEDICAID PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE 1115 WAIVER WHICH IS BASICALLY SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING.
SO, IT IS NOT AN EITHER OR PROPOSITION FOR TEXAS BECAUSE OF THE PATIENTS IN THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE.
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF THE 87TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WILL HAVE 31 DAYS REMAINING.
BUT WHO'S COUNTING? FOR US, PARTIES ARE PRETTY CLEAR FOR US.
OUR MAIN PRIORITIES, I WILL NOT GO THROUGH EVERYTHING WILL BUT THE MAIN ONE IS ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE HEALTH INSURANCE OR HEALTH INSURANCE ACCESS FOR LOW INCOME TEXANS OR UNINSURED.
THAT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR US.
I WAS SICK, THE NEXT IS TO STABILIZE HOSPITAL FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR PATIENTS.
WHETHER IT IS THROUGH THE RATES WE RECEIVE IN MEDICAID OR THROUGH THE WAIVER.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE FOCUS ON AND WE MADE PROGRESS ON, STRENGTHENING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, EXPANDING TELEHEALTH, AND ALSO ONE O THE THINGS THAT WE ARE PROMOTING AND KEEPING AN EYE ON AT THIS TIME IS PROMOTIN STRATEGIES THAT TARGET SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.
ESPECIALLY AS SO WITH COVID, EVERYTHING SURROUNDING THE FRAMEWORK REGARDING HEALTHCARE AND BEYOND, DEFINITELY IMPACTS WHAT WE SEE IN OUR PATIENTS.
ASIDE FROM THAT, JUST WANTED TO HAND IT OVER TO GUY.
I'M GOING TO WRAP THIS UP WITH SOME NUMBERS.
WE HAVE 30 PERCENT CONSTRUCTION AND 25 PERCENT PROFESSIONAL GOODS.
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LAST YEAR DURING THE COVID PERIOD WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE 26.4 PERCENT OVERALL M/WBE PERCENTAGE AND ACHIEVEMENT.THE FISCAL YEAR, TIER 1 SPECIFICALLY, FOR HISPANIC OWNED FIRMS WITH PARKLAND AWARDED $21.8 MILLION WORTH OF CONTRACTS.
THAT IS A GOOD CHUNK OF OUR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING OUT TO HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
THE RECENT CONTRACT AWARDED ACTUALLY LAST MONTH, I WANT TO LIST IT SO THAT YOU CAN SEE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, AND THE SUCCESSES SOME OF THE FIRMS THAT YOU MAY KNOW, RECENTLY RECEIVED AN AWARD FOR FAMILY MEDICINE BUILDING, THE PUBLIC FACING CALL CENTER, THE HISPANIC OWNED FIRM CALLED ONE SUPPORT.
THEY ARE NOT LOCAL BUT THEY ARE WITHIN TEXAS.
AND THEN IT, CONSTRUCTION FOR ACTUALLY, IT WAS FOR A WAREHOUSE, THE ELECTRICAL PIECE THEY ALSO WON THAT ONE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE FINAL, WE ARE SWITCHING PRODUCTS SO OUR GOODS I THINK THE HISPANIC BUSINESS OWNERS, THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH US, WHETHER IT IS CONSTRUCTION OR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OR GOODS, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
SOME OF OUR SUPPLY INITIATIVES, WE WANT YOUR MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY PROVIDE SERVICES.
SO, WE HAVE DONE SOME THINGS TO ENCOURAGE THAT AND TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM.
INCLUDING DEVELOPING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL, WE STRENGTHEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITH.
IT IS TO BE FULLY AUTOMATED MAY 31.
WE ARE CURRENTLY CREATING AN INCLUSION WEBPAGE TO SUPPORT THE SUPPLY CHAIN WEBPAGE.
AND OTHER THINGS WE'RE DOING IS WORKING WITH INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS REGISTERED IN THE PORTAL VENDOR.
THAT IS HOW YOU RECEIVE DIRECT SOLICITATION NOTICES AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE DATABASE BECAUSE THE MEMBERS ACTUALLY LIST WHERE THEY HAVE AREAS OF SERVICE AND WE HAVE CONTRACTS IN THOSE AREAS OF SERVICE, WE WILL SEND THEM DIRECTLY IN EMAIL IN THAT REGARD, GIVEN THE TIMEFRAME AND SOLICITATION PERIOD.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE AN INTERNAL GOAL OF INCREASING THE M/WBE PARTICIPATION AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE'VE GOT THAT REQUEST THROUGHOUT DALLAS WE CAN CONCENTRATE IN THAT AREA WE LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT IS OUR PLAN.
AND THAT IS THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION.
WE WILL GO BACK TO RICK AND SEE WHAT QUESTIONS WE MAY ENTERTAIN.
>> RICK ORTIZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH GUY AND DR. CERISE AND EDNA.
AS FAR AS IN 2020, WITH THEIR ANY DECREASES OR CHANGE RELATING TO THE M/WBE PARTICIPATION AS A WHOLE AS A RESULT OF COVID DURING THE YEAR?
>> GUY TOLIVER: 2020 WAS AN INTERESTING YEAR.
IF YOU LOOK AT PARTICIPATION ON AVERAGE, M/WBE TOTAL PARTICIPATION WENT DOWN A COUPLE PERCENTAGES.
WE WILL GET 26.5 PERCENT LAST YEAR BUT ARE ACTUAL SPEND MORE THAN DOUBLED WITH M/WBE FIRMS. SPENT $46 MILLION WITH M/WBE FIRMS IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 WE SPENT $101 MILLION WITH M/WBE FIRMS. DYNAMICS CHANGE EACH YEAR DEPENDING ON OUR GROWTH INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE, BUT WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INCLUSION, WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT
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OPPORTUNITY.AND DR. CERISE, GOING BACK TO SOME OF THE DISCUSSION ABOUT COVID-19 AND THE VACCINATION, YOU MENTIONED THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY ON AVERAGE IS NOT I GUESS, AS IT RELATES TO THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE, YOU ARE NOT THERE WITHIN THE NUMBERS, CORRECT? WHAT'S BEING DONE AT THIS TIME TO TRY TO INCREASE THOSE NUMBERS TO TRY AND GET MORE OF THE COMMUNITY VACCINATED ON THAT FRONT?
>> DR. CERISE: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRING UP THE POINT.
WHEN YOU LOOK NATIONALLY AND AT TEXAS, THE MORTALITY AMONG HISPANIC PEOPLE IS, IS YOU KNOW, IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE VACCINATION RATE.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHO IS IMPACTED BY COVID COMPARED TO WHO IS BEING VACCINATED, IT IS DISPROPORTIONATE RIGHT NOW.
AND SO, WE HAVE GOT, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO TARGET BOTH OUTREACH AND DEVELOP THE INTEREST AND GET PEOPLE COMFORTABLE WITH THE INFORMATION.
BUT ALSO MAKE IT CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.
WE'VE HAD THIS MOVEMENT FROM EARLY ON LIKE I SAID, FIRST WE VACCINATED HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS IT WAS LEX FIX ABILITY BUT NOW THAT IT IS WIDE OPEN WE'VE HAD TO MOVE TO STRATEGIES NOT ONLY TO MAKE IT WIDELY AVAILABLE, BUT HOW CAN WE HELP GET OUR MESSAGE OUT? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE, PARTNERING WITH UNIVISION TO DO SOME EVENTS TO AMPLIFY OUR MESSAGE.
WE'VE HAD SOME SPANISH SPEAKING DOCTORS ON WITH THEIR HOST TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO TRY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS TO GET PEOPLE COMFORTABLE AND SO ONE THING IS A BROAD GENERAL MESSAGE TO TRY AND GET, MAKE PEOPLE MORE AWARE.
ANOTHER ONE IS JUST TRYING TO GET TARGETED AND LOOKING AT WHO ARE THE INFLUENCERS IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES THAT WE CAN HELP COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE VIDEOTAPED HER, AND WE BEEN ABLE TO PLAY THAT IN MULTIPLE ARENAS.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT PEOPLE TRUST THAT CAN HELP DELIVER THE MESSAGE FOR US.
IT IS SUCH A CRITICAL PIECE FOR US AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS YOU KNOW, FOR ME TRYING TO DELIVER A MESSAGE TO YOU MAY NOT BE EFFECTIVE BUT FOR PEOPLE LIKE COMMISSIONER GARCIA IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SAY IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO DO IT WILL MAKE AN IMPACT, SO WE DEPEND ON YOU AND YOUR MEMBERS TO HELP US SPREAD THAT MESSAGE OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE SPREAD.
WE HAVE FAQ IN FACT SHEETS, EDNA CAN PROVIDE THAT AS WELL.
YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED WHERE WE WANT TO TARGET THE MESSAGE TO TRY TO GET MORE VACCINATIONS IN THAT COMMUNITY.
>> RICK ORTIZ: IF I MAY AM GOING TO BACK UP.
ARE YOU AWARE OF WHAT THE ROADBLOCKS OR CHALLENGES MAY BE WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY? IS THERE HESITANCY ON THE COMMUNITY SIDE TO GET THE VACCINE OR IS IT JUST A CHALLENGE TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT?
>> I'M SURE THAT MULTIPLE -- EDNA, YOU MIGHT WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS.
BECAUSE YOU'RE PROBABLY CLOSER TO THE ACTION THAN I AM.
I MEAN, I CAN SPEAK IN GENERAL TERMS BUT LET ME ASK EDNA, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY.
>> EDNA RUANO: AS PART OF THE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, OUR COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS HAVE LET US KNOW, WHEN WE ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT WE HAVE HEARD OUR DIFFERENT MESSAGING.
EITHER, UNSURE ABOUT WHAT IS IN ACTUAL VACCINE ITSELF, THE INGREDIENTS, THE OTHER HESITANCY HAS BEEN TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS STANDPOINT.
AND THEN, NOT WANTING TO BE THE FIRST, THE FIRST IN THEIR SPHERE OF NETWORK OR INFLUENCE TO TAKE THE VACCINE, THEY DON'T KNOW ANYBODY, AND IS JUST A MATTER OF THOSE PIECES, THE OTHER PIECE IS OBVIOUSLY THAT DR. CERISE TALKED UPON BEFORE.
YOU KNOW THERE ARE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, AT TIMES, LANGUAGE ISSUES, BUT WE AS PARKLAND, HAVE A WAY OF TARGETING THAT.
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THE VACCINE PIECE IS NUISANCES UNDER EMERGENCY YOUTH AUTHORIZATION.BUT I THINK WORKING WITH PARTNERS LIKE THE CHAMBER WILL HELP US BUILD THAT BRIDGE THAT WE NEED AND PERSUADE PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED BECAUSE HONESTLY, AS DR. CERISE MENTIONED, IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO A SEMBLANCE OF NORMAL AGAIN.
>> DR. CERISE: YOU HAVE SHARED SOME SPECIFICS WITH ME OVER TIME THE PEOPLE CONCERNED THEY COULD GET COVID FROM THE VACCINE ITSELF.
THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, THE VACCINE DOES NOT CONTAIN COVID.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE VACCINE SENDS A MESSAGE TO YOURSELVES TO MAKE A PROTEIN THAT LOOKS LIKE COVID AND THAT YOUR BODY BUILDS UP IMMUNITY SO THAT WHEN ACTUALLY SEES THE REAL COVID, IT IS PRIMED AND READY TO GO AND YOU KNOW, WARD OFF INFECTION BUT YOU CANNOT GET COVID FROM THE VACCINE.
AND YOU KNOW THE TRUTH IS, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE SOME MILD SIDE EFFECTS.
THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE A LOW-GRADE FEVER BUT THOSE THINGS ARE SHORT-LIVED AND MOST PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THOSE EXPERIENCES.
THEY DO NOT IMPAIR THE ABILITY TO GO TO WORK OR TO FUNCTION.
PEOPLE ARE PREGNANT HAVE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT WILL THIS IMPACT MY PREGNANCY? WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE SOME INFORMATIONAL GROUPS WITH OUR FEMALE OB/GYN AND FEMALE SCIENTISTS TO TALK TO THE ISSUE.
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE VACCINE IS SAFE DURING PREGNANCY.
THE OBSTETRICIANS, NATIONAL SOCIETY RECOMMENDS THAT WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT TAKE IT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
DURING THEIR PREGNANCY AND SO, THERE ARE SOME OF THE, JUST QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VACCINE ITSELF, THAT WE CAN ANSWER AND TRY TO ANSWER THROUGH DISSEMINATING INFORMATION.
AND THEN YOU KNOW, THERE IS MISTRUST AMONG THE MEDICAL SYSTEM OF PSALM AND ACCESSING JUST PUBLIC SERVICES AMONG SOME.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE, WE ARE YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT, THE INFORMATION YOU GIVE US IS JUST BASICALLY INFORMATION THAT IS NEEDED TO GET THE VACCINE BUT WE ARE NOT SHARING PERSONAL INFORMATION WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET THE VACCINE AND THERE IS NOT REPORTING ON OUR BEHALF OTHER THAN SORT OF NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT WERE DOING IT.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE CONCERNS THAT ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS, PERHAPS FROM TIME TO TIME, ABOUT ACCESSING PUBLIC SERVICES, BOTH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND PARKLAND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CONCERNS ARE NOT ISSUES THAT WOULD PREVENT PEOPLE FROM COMING IN TO GET A VACCINE.
>> RICK ORTIZ: OKAY, AND HE DID TALK ABOUT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON AND -- DO YOU HAVE ALL THREE OF THE VACCINES RIGHT NOW? I GUESS PFIZER, MODERNA AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON?
THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON AS YOU KNOW, IS A POSITIVE DISTRIBUTION, PEOPLE, AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATE SIDE EFFECTS FROM THERE.
AND YOU KNOW, THERE ARE INFORMATIONAL SEEDS, YOU CAN GO TO THE CDC WEBSITE AND SEE SOME OF THE INFORMATIONAL SHEETS ON TH JOHNSON & JOHNSON.
BASICALLY, WHAT THEY FOUND IS ABOUT 1/1,000,000 RECIPIENTS, 1/1,000,000 SO IT'S A VERY RARE EVENT, COULD GET BLOOD CLOTS.
IT'S AN UNUSUAL PHENOMENON THAT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED IN HEALTHCARE WITH SOME OF THE SITUATIONS, THEY SEE IT HERE, IT'S ONE IN A MILLION WHICH IS MUCH LOWER THAN YOUR CHANCES OF CATCHING COVID AND DYING FROM COVID.
NONETHELESS, THAT WAS A CONCERN, IT IS MORE COMMON AMONG YOUNG MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN.
AND SO, PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR VACCINE, THE INFORMATION SHEET IS AVAILABLE ON THE CDC WEBSITE.
AND IF YOU WANT PFIZER OR MODERNA, THOSE VACCINES ARE MORE READILY AVAILABLE AS WELL.
>> RICK ORTIZ: ANY OTHER SIDE EFFECTS WITH THE VACCINES THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF?
ANY COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR THAT IT IS AFFECTING OR -- >> DR. CERISE: NO, WE ARE NOT -- MILLIONS OF DOSES HAVE BEEN GIVEN NOW.
AND, AND WHILE THE DOSES ARE BEING ADMINISTERED, THE SCIENTIFIC BODIES ARE
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MONITORING YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRACKING FOR SIDE EFFECTS AS YOU ADMINISTER THE DOSES.IN THE CLINICAL TRIALS ADMINISTERED TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
AND NOW IT'S BEING ADMINISTERED TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND WHILE THERE ADMINISTERING, THERE TRACKING FOR SIDE EFFECTS AND WHATNOT.
THEY'RE NOT SEEING SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS.
THE ONES I TALKED ABOUT ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM GETS REVVED UP.
NO, YOU GET FEVER AND YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET A HEADACHE.
BUT CERTAINLY, PEOPLE GET SORENESS AT THE SITE FOR A DAY OR SO.
>> RICK ORTIZ: AND YOU MENTIONED THE HUBS IN THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE COULD GO TO THE HUBS AND CAN ANYONE GO TO GET A VACCINE NOW? OR DO THEY HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF DALLAS COUNTY OR WHAT DO THEY NEED TO GET THE VACCINE?
>> DR. CERISE: DO NOT NEED TO BE A DALLAS COUNTY RESIDENT.
AND SO, YOU CAN GO TO THE HUB AND LIKE I SAID, YOU CAN DRIVE UP WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT NOW, BETWEEN 11:00 AND 4 O'CLOCK AND GET VACCINATED AT THE HUB.
I NEED TO CLARIFY THE MOBILE SITE WE I DO NOT RECALL IF THE SLIDE MATCHED A RECENT INFORMATION ON THE MAY 2 OR RATHER THEY MAY 15 EVENT.
>> DR. CERISE: CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT FOR US?
THERE WAS A PRESENTATION SLIDE THAT WE HAD THAT SHOWED MAY 15 WAS THE -- ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THE MOBILE SITE LOCATIONS ALSO INDIVIDUALS CAN SHOW UP WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT AND GET VACCINATED.
I THINK THAT IS THE INTENTION OF CONTINUING TO HAVE THE MOBILE SITE LOCATIONS AS WELL.
>> RICK ORTIZ: YOU MENTIONED TRANSPORTATION.
EARLIER WE TALKED ABOUT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
SOME OF THE OUTREACH THAT YOU ARE DOING.
>> EDNA RUANO: I WILL TOUCH ON THIS AND THEN I'LL HANDED OVER TO DR. CERISE.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CHAMBER AND WITH YOUR EXTENSIVE NETWORK, ANYTHING YOU ARE HEARING IN THE COMMUNITY PLEASE SEND IT TO US.
WHETHER IT IS GUY OR MYSELF OR DR. CERISE.
BECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE ARE ABLE TO ADJUST.
I THINK ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS I'VE SEEN HERE IS THAT WE ARE GOOD ABOUT CHANGING PLANS, ADOPTING, COVID HAS MADE US DO THAT TO THE HIGHEST DEGREE.
FOR INDIVIDUALS TO COME IN A CAR TO GET VACCINATED, IT'S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE I WILL HANDED OVER TO DR. CERISE.
>> DR. CERISE: WELL, JUST TO SAY LIKE YOU KNOW OUR STRATEGY HAS SHIFTED TO TRY TO TARGET SOME HOTSPOTS IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE GET CLOSER TO WHERE PEOPLE ARE.
WE DON'T RIGHT NOW HAVE THAT TRANSPORTATION EFFORT TO GET PEOPLE TO VACCINE SITES.
I KNOW THE CITY IS DOING SOME WORK NOW AND I HOPE, BUT OUR STRATEGY AT THIS POINT IS, KIND OF MOVING FROM THE HUB WHERE THE MASSES COME TO YOU, IT'S LESS EFFICIENT WE WILL HIT FEWER NUMBERS I KNOW.
BUT I THINK WE ARE AT THAT PHASE WHERE WE HAVE TO GO TO MORE OF A GROUND GAME WHERE WE JUST GET OUT THERE AND PRODUCT HIT SOME OF THE SPOTS.
WE HAVE SOME ANALYTICS, A GROUP AT THE INNOVATION CENTER TRACKING DISEASE ACTIVITY, AND VACCINATION ACTIVITY.
THEY CAN TELL US ZIP CODES AND WHERE WE HAVE A MISMATCH OF DISEASE AND NOT VACCINES.
WE WILL USE THEIR DATA TO GO AND IDENTIFY SITES WHERE WE CAN BRING MOBILE TEAMS INTO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT IS OUR APPROACH AT THIS POINT.
>> RICK ORTIZ: THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT.
I DO HAVE, YOU MENTIONED ADAPTING AND I THINK THE WORD, PIVOT HAS PROBABLY BEEN OVERUSED NOW IN THE LAST YEAR.
TELEHEALTH IS ONE OF THOSE PROBABLY HAVE SEEN A SPIKE AND I'M SURE FROM THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
HOW IS THAT, ARE YOU AWARE WHETHER IT'S BEEN EFFECTIVE WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY? OR DO YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION?
>> DR. CERISE: WE DO, AND IT'S A GREAT POINT.
YOU KNOW, WE SHIFTED EXTENSIVELY IN TELEHEALTH AS AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE EARLY ON DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND AT ONE POINT IN TIME AND PRIMARY CARE CLINICS SO MANY VISITS WERE REMOTE
[00:35:01]
VISITS.BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF SERVICES WE DO, WE BEEN ABLE TO TRACK OUTCOMES AND SEE HOW WE'VE DONE WITH THAT.
AND SO, THE GROUP TEST ON THE MOST IN THIS SPACE FOR US HAS BEEN THE OB GROUP AND YOU KNOW, AMONG OUR PREGNANT MOMS, VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PREGNANT MOMS ARE HISPANIC.
IT IS OVER 80 PERCENT ON-SITE THICKET SCENE AND GET LAB WORK AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT SOME OF THEM YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE ON SITE TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE BUT MORE OF A YOU KNOW HOW ARE YOU DOING VISIT AND CHECK ON THINGS.
THEY MOVED ABOUT 1/4 OF THOSE PRENATAL VISITS TO PHONE ONLY.
AND EARLY ON AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THEY WERE ABLE TO DOCUMENT, THEY SURVEYED WOMEN AND ACTUALLY PREFERRED IT IN A LOT OF CASES, VERY FEW DID NOT APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THINK ABOUT WHAT IT DOES FOR THE WOMEN WHO USE OUR SERVICES.
IF TRANSPORTATION IS AN ISSUE IT TAKES THAT AWAY.
IF CHILDCARE IS AN ISSUE IT TAKE THAT AWAY.
IF GETTING OFF OF WORK IS AN ISSUE IT MAKES IT EASIER IF YOU CAN DO YOUR VISIT BY PHONE.
AND SO, IT WAS MORE CONVENIENT FOR PATIENTS, AND PORTLY, HOW DO THEY DO BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE THESE PHONE VISITS IT WILL HAVE A BAD IMPACT.
NOW THAT WE BEEN AT THIS FOR ONE YEAR AND PREGNANCY IS, IT HAS A START POINT AND END POINT.
YOU CAN SEE WITHIN A YEAR HOW YOU'VE DONE AND THEY HAVE PUBLISHED THIS ONE OF THE MAJOR MEDICAL JOURNALS RECENTLY.
IT SHOWED THAT WOMEN DIDN'T HAVE ANY WORSE OUTCOME WITH PHONE SUBSTITUTIONS THEN WITH ALL OF THE VISITS ON SITE.
WE ARE ABOUT TO PUBLISH SIMILAR DATA FOR THE PRIMARY CARE CLINICS LOOKING AT PEOPLE WITH DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, HOW WE CAN SHIFT SOME OF THE CARE FROM THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE TO THE HOME.
I THINK IT WILL BE A BIG PART OF OUR PRACTICE.
YOU KNOW, COVID HAS REALLY ACCELERATED A LOT OF HEALTH SYSTEMS ACTIVITY IN TELEHEALTH BUT YOU ARE SEEING SOME PLACES ALREADY, THEY'RE GOING BACK TO NORMAL WHERE EVERYONE GOES BACK TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.
NOT TRY, WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS LOOK AT HOW WE CAN MAINTAIN AS MUCH OF THAT CONVENIENT VIRTUAL CARE AS POSSIBLE.
PROVIDE WHAT WE CALL A DIGITAL FIRST OPTION FOR PATIENTS.
IF THAT'S YOUR PREFERENCE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO YOU.
WHETHER IT IS THROUGH PHONE OR VIDEO, OR EVEN DOING EMAIL CONSULTATIONS AS WELL AND SO, I THINK WILL BE A GAME CHANGER FOR US AND A BIG SATISFY HER FOR PATIENTS WHO, IT'S A HASSLE TO GET TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, RIGHT? IF WE CAN MAKE IT EASIER THAN IS BETTER FOR OUR PATIENTS.
>> RICK ORTIZ: AND AS FAR AS I KNOW RECENTLY PARKLAND OPEN UP THE WOMEN'S BREAST CARE CENTER AND WORKING CURRENTLY ON THE -- CLINIC AND THEN THERE IS I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE THIS WORD, (TERM ? ).
>> A NEW CENTER ON THE CAMPUS HERE, WE WERE IN VERY CROWDED SPACE ON MAPLE AVENUE AND SO WE JUST MOVED INTO A BIGGER SPACE, NEW SPACE.
WHAT, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? WE KNOW THAT IN DALLAS, WOMEN PRESENT TO PARKLAND WITH BREAST CANCER AT LATER STAGES IN THE DISEASE.
YOU WANT TO CATCH PEOPLE EARLY STAGE ONE, STAGE II SO YOU CAN TREAT AND CURE THEM.
YOU START AT FOUR THOSE PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE WORSE OUTCOMES.
AND SO, IF WE CAN SHIP FROM STAGE III AND FOUR TO STAGE I AND TWO PEOPLE WILL SURVIVE AND HAVE A BETTER EXPERIENCE SO HOW DO YOU DO THAT? OR SCREENING.
AND AGAIN, AS WE DID OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT, WE SAW THERE IS A TOWN WHERE WE KNEW WE HAD HIGHER BREAST CANCER MORTALITY THAN COMPARED TO JUNO REGIONAL OR NATIONAL NORMS. AND SO WITH THE NEW BREAST CENTER WE'VE INCREASED CAPACITY SO WE CAN SCREEN WERE WOMEN.
EASY ACCESS TO CLINIC APPOINTMENTS AND THE IDEA IS, TO GET WOMEN IN EARLY, GET THEM SCREENED AND WE WILL SEE A SHIFT FROM STAG III AND FOUR TO STAGE ONE
[00:40:04]
AND TWO.THAT IS UP IN US A BEAUTIFUL SPACE.
OUR FOUNDATION LED THE FUNDRAISING FOR THAT AND SO NOW IT IS A REALITY.
THE REDBIRD CLINIC WILL BE THE NEWEST COPC, IT WILL BE ONE OF THE LARGE COPCS WITH THOSE SIZE CLINICS AND AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND RECOGNIZING THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR WORSE OUTCOMES AND MORTALITY IN DALLAS COUNTY, GO BACK TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND DIABETES AND STROKES.
AND AT THE ROOT OF THOSE THINGS YOU KNOW STROKES AND HEART ATTACKS, IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES.
SOME OF THE PRIMARY CARE THINGS AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO SCREEN FOR COLON CANCER AND BREAST CANCER AND YOU KNOW FINDING DISEASE EARLIER.
PRIMARY CARE STRATEGY OF GETTING PEOPLE ACCESS EARLY IS GOING TO BE ENHANCED BY THAT SITE AT REDBIRD.
YOU KNOW, KIND OF STEPPING BACK, WE TALKED ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT STRATEGIES.
ONE IS PHYSICAL ACCESS POINTS LIKE REDBIRD AND THE BREAST CENTER.
AND THE OTHER ONE IS VIRTUAL CARE.
AND WE THINK YOU KNOW, TO INCREASE CAPACITY AND ACCESS, TO MEET THE DEMAND WILL HAVE TO DO BOTH.
WILL HAVE TO BUILD A MORE ROBUST VIRTUAL CARE WITH PEOPLE CAN GET EASY ACCESS TO THE COMPUTER AND THEN PHYSICAL ACCESS POINTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE GROWING! AND THE BREAST CENTERS ONE, REDBIRD IS ONE AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE NEW DIALYSIS CENTER.
IF YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO GET DIALYSIS, TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, NOT A GOOD WAY TO GET DIALYSIS BECAUSE ANY REGULAR TREATMENT.
WE HAVE A MORE CONVENIENT ROUTE.
WE BEEN WORKING ON WHAT WE CALL REFERRAL OUT OF THE SYSTEM FOR HEMODIALYSIS, PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT YOU GET PLUGGED INTO MACHINE AND IT RUNS YOU THROUGH THREE TIMES A WEEK.
ABOUT THREE OR FOUR HOURS PER SITTING.
WE, THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO DO THIS.
AND IT IS MORE CONVENIENT FOR PATIENTS.
THEY CAN DO IT AT HOME AND IS CALLED (TERM ? ) IT'S BASICALLY A CATHETER THAT GOES INTO THE ABDOMEN, IT IS A SMALL LIKE STRAW SIZE CATHETER THAT GOES INTO THE ABDOMEN.
AND WE CAN INSTILL FLUID THERE, IT SLASHES AROUND, REMOVE THE TOXINS AND THEN DRAIN IT OUT AND PEOPLE CAN DO THAT AT HOME.
WE HAVE STARTED A CLINIC WHERE WE CAN DO EDUCATION AND TEACHING AND FOLLOW-UP LIKE ONCE A MONTH WITH ALL OF THE IN BETWEEN DAYS THERE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AT HOME.
AND WHAT WE FOUND IS, OUR PATIENTS, THEY CAN DO A GOOD JOB OF TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES IF WE GIVE THEM THE TOOLS TO DO THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER EXAMPLES WHERE WE DONE SIMILAR THINGS IN THE SYSTEM.
AND SO WE JUST OPEN THAT CLINIC AND WE ARE EXPECTING THAT TO GROW AND BE ABLE TO MOVE MORE PEOPLE OUT OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM DIALYSIS TO THE (TERM ? ) WHERE THEY CAN DO IT ON THEIR OWN AT HOME.
>> RICK ORTIZ: DURING YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU MENTIONED THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO TAKE THE STEPS YOU KNOW, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WEARING A MASK, IN OTHER WORDS IF WE KEEP DOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, WE WILL GET THERE SOON ENOUGH, RIGHT? SO, IF YOU DON'T MIND ME ASKING, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF TIMEFRAME? ALL THINGS BEING CONSIDERED, EVERYONE WEARS A MASK, DOES SOCIAL DISTANCING BETWEEN NOW AND SAY, JUNE AND JULY, IS THAT MORE OR LESS WHAT YOU ARE THINKING?
>> DR. CERISE: YEAH, IF YOU LOOK AT -- THE TOUGH CHALLENGE FOR ALL THE SCIENTISTS, WHAT IS GETTING THEIR MEAN? WHEN CAN I GO OUT AND NOT WEAR A MASK? WHEN CAN EVERYONE BE BACK AT WORK AND SIT IN THE MEETING ROOM AND NOT WEAR A MASK? THE CDC, THEY JUST RECENTLY PUT OUT SOME NEW GUIDANCE AROUND MASKS.
AND SAID YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE GATHERING WITH SMALL GROUPS, AND EVERYONE HAS BEEN VACCINATED, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK.
IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS AND BEEN VACCINATED, EXCEPT FOR CROWDED VENUES LIKE YOU
[00:45:05]
KNOW, FOOTBALL GAME OR STADIUM OR SOMETHING OR A CONCERT, BUT FIND OUTDOORS AND I'VE BEEN VACCINATED I DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK.SO, THEY ARE LOOSENING UP AS THE POPULATION GETS YOU KNOW, MORE IMMUNE LEVEL IF YOU WILL.
AND SO THE COMPONENTS OF REACHING THE HERD IMMUNITY MARK, THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN AFFECTED OR PRESUMED EFFECTIVE, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE YOU CAN GET REINFECTED, THERE'S A PROTECTION PERIOD THERE MAY BE THREE, SIX MONTHS MAYBE MORE.
BUT THOSE PEOPLE HAVE SOME LEVEL OF PROTECTION.
THEN THE IMMUNIZED PEOPLE HAVE GOOD PROTECTION.
WHAT YOU LIKE IS PEOPLE PROTECTED AND YOU HOPE YOU GET MORE THROUGH IMMUNIZATION AND NOT THROUGH INFECTION.
AND SO, YOU COMPILE THE TWO GROUPS AND YOU GET TO 75 OR 80 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION.
THEN YOU REALLY ARE AT A POINT WITH THE VIRUS TRANSMISSION GOES WAY DOWN.
BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE TO LATCH ONTO.
AND WHEN WE GET THERE, RETINA PROJECTIONS IN DALLAS ARE YOU KNOW, SUMMERTIME.
WE THINK THAT WE WILL BE AROUND THAT POINT.
A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON GETTING, CONTINUING TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED BECAUSE WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE BIG RUSH WHERE EVERYBODY WANTED TO COME EVERYONE WANTED TO GET VACCINATED AND NOW IT WILL BE TOUGHER BUT WE NEED TO KEEP IT GOING BECAUSE ONCE WE HAD THAT YOU WILL SEE EVEN MORE LOOSENING UP OF THE GUIDELINES WHERE I THINK YOU CAN IMAGINE NOT MASKING INDOORS AND HAVING REGULAR MEETINGS IN PERSON AS OPPOSED TO LIKE THIS.
BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ARE ON THAT CONTINUUM RIGHT NOW.
AND YOU KNOW I THINK THE CDC DID A GOOD JOB OF RECOGNIZING IF I'M SITTING IN MEETING WITH YOU AND WE ARE BOTH VACCINATED, WE DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK.
>> RICK ORTIZ: AND WHAT ABOUT THE VARIANTS THAT WE ARE HEARING ABOUT? ARE YOU SEEING ANY OF THAT HERE IN THE REGION?
OR -- >> DR. CERISE: WE ARE SEEING, WE CERTAINLY ARE SEEING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VARIANTS.
SOUTHWESTERN, THEY TRACK THAT ALL OF THE SPECIMENS THEY GET.
IN THE PAPER THE OTHER DAY REPORTED A NEW VARIANT.
THE CONCERN AROUND THE VARIANTS IS, ARE THEY GOING TO BE LESS RESPONSIVE TO THE VACCINE? SO FAR, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT.
YOU KNOW, COMMON VARIANTS LOOK TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE VACCINE WHICH IS GOOD NEWS.
IT MEANS IF YOU GET VACCINATED THE VARIANTS WILL NOT BE AN ISSUE.
CONCERN IS, EMERGENCY VARIANTS DON'T REACT AS WELL TO THE VACCINE.
AND THEN, IF THAT TAKES HOLD, YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE POPULATION IS NOT WORKING AGAINST A VARIANTS.
THEN WE ARE IN A RACE AGAINST THE VARIANTS WHERE YOU WANT TO GET THE POPULATION IMMUNIZED SO IT CAN DECREASE THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS ALTOGETHER.
SO EVEN IF YOU'VE GOT SOME VARIANTS THAT WON'T TAKE HOLD.
AND FOR NOW, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE INCLUDING AGAINST THE COMMON VARIANTS OUT THERE.
STILL OUR BEST ANSWER IS GETTING VACCINATED.
AND GUY, I'VE GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU! WHAT BUSINESS MEASURES IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN DIVISION MEANT DOING TO INCLUDE -- FIRMS?
>> GUY TOLIVER: WE HAVE SOME RECENT MEASURES ARE VERY INTERESTING AND ALLOWS FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND INCREASED PARTICIPATION.
ONE WOULD BE THAT WE EXPAND THE SOLICITATION TERM.
WHEN CONTRACTS ARE PUT OUT FOR BIDS YOU HAVE A DUE DATE AND AN END DATE.
WE EXPANDED THAT TO 28 DAYS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTREACH.
MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD, TO HAVE CLARIFICATIONS THAT HAVE SOLICITATION AND ALSO, IT GIVES A SMALL BUSINESS BUT HAS A LOWER OR SMALLER SIZE STAFF, GIVES THEM MORE TIME TO STRETCH OUT TO GET THE BIDS THAT THEY NEED TO SUPPORT THEIR PROPOSAL.
THAT IS A GOOD THING I THOUGHT WE DID.
ANOTHER ONE WAS, WE REVIEWED ALL OF OUR M/WBE FORMS AND WE WANTED TO MAKE THEM LESS BURDENSOME ON THE VENDORS.
SO, WE REVAMPED THE FORMS, STREAMLINED THEM AND ALSO, SEPARATED BECAUSE IT USED TO BE ONE PACKAGE.
SO NOW, IF IT IS NOT APPLICABLE, IF ONE SECTION IS NOT APPLICABLE YOU KNOW
[00:50:01]
HOW TO FILL THAT OUT.AND THEN FINALLY, REVIEW AND CONTRACT LANGUAGE.
OUR STAFF REVIEWS CONTRACT LANGUAGE AS SOLICITATION COMES OUT.
ANDREW LOOK FOR LANGUAGE THAT MAY BE HAD LOCKOUT LANGUAGE AND THAT IS WHEN YOU HAVE QUALIFICATIONS THAT REALLY, ARE NOT AS IMPORTANT AS SOME MIGHT THINK.
IT DEPENDS ON THE SOLICITATION ITSELF.
WE WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH LEGAL, IF WE HAVE A SUGGESTED LANGUAGE CHANGE, WE WILL GO TO LANGUAGE AND THEY WILL LET US KNOW YEAH THAT MAKES SENSE.
AND WE WILL TAKE THE LANGUAGE OUT.
SO, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NOT ONLY SMALL BUSINESS, BUT M/WBES IN REGARD TO GIVING THEM MORE TIME AND MORE OPPORTUNITY TO BID ON SOLICITATIONS.
>> RICK ORTIZ: SPEAKING OF SOLICITATION WAS THE BEST WAY TO RECEIVE SOLICITATION INFORMATION?
>> GUY TOLIVER: THE ABSOLUTE BEST WAY THAT I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE VENDORS AND MEMBERS ARE TO GET ON THE PORTAL.
THEN YOU WILL RECEIVE THE EMAILS DIRECTLY FROM THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATORS.
IF YOU HAVE A MARKETING FIRM AND IN THE VENDOR DATABASE AND YOU PUT THE CODES FOR MARKETING, THEN THAT MARKETING SOLICITATION WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE EMAIL YOU DESIGNATE.
AND OF COURSE, WE STILL HAVE OUR WEBSITE THAT WE POST ALL OF OUR SOLICITATIONS.
AND WE POST THEM, THERE IS A STATE REQUIREMENT A MINIMUM OF TWO WEEKS.
WE POST ALWAYS A MINIMUM OF TWO WEEKS AND WE'VE EXTENDED IT TO 28 DAYS NOW.
SO LOOKING AT OUR WEBSITE, YOU KNOW PARKLAND HOSPITAL.COM THERE IS A VENDOR SECTION OR TAB AT THE TOP THAT YOU CAN GO DIRECTLY THERE.
WE TRY TO MAKE IT AS CONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE FOR THE VENDORS AND YOUR MEMBERS TO SEE THE SOLICITATIONS.
>> RICK ORTIZ: YOU MENTION THE $21 MILLION SPEND NUMBER EARLIER AS IT RELATES TO HISPANIC -- THAT WAS 2020 IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN?
>> GUY TOLIVER: FISCAL YEAR 2020, YEAH.
>> RICK ORTIZ: WHAT PERCENTAGE OF -- SPEND IS THAT, DO YOU KNOW?
>> GUY TOLIVER: I HAVE THAT, HOLD ON.
THAT WAS ABOUT 20 PERCENT, ACTUALLY, IT WAS ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF M/WBE.
WE HAD 121 MILLION AND HISPANIC WAS 26.1.
>> RICK ORTIZ: IS THERE ANYTHING THAT, WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US TO SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS, WHAT CAN WE DO?
>> GUY TOLIVER: WELL, WE ALWAYS, I MEAN -- I REMEMBER LAST YEAR WE HAD THE FORUM WITH DOCTOR DE LA CRUZ AND WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOUR MEMBERS, IF THERE HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE SOLICITATION, WE ARE THERE TO ANSWER THEM.
I THINK FROM THE MEMBERS REGISTRATION ON THE VENDOR PORTAL IS MOST IMPORTANT.
TO ENSURE THAT THEY RECEIVE THE DOSE IN A TIMELY FASHION.
ALSO, WITH THESE SOLICITATIONS, IF THERE IS A NEED FOR CLARIFICATION TO REACH OUT TO US.
DON'T WAIT TO MAKE A DECISION.
I WASN'T SURE SO I WON'T GO AND I WILL CATCH THE NEXT ONE.
BECAUSE OUR CONTRACTS ARE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.
FOR THAT PARTICULAR SERVICE A MINUTE COME AROUND.
THAT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AT PARKLAND MAY NOT COME AROUND IN FIVE YEARS.
WE WANT YOUR MEMBERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR SOLICITATION PROCESS.
>> RICK ORTIZ: THANK YOU FOR THAT.
EDNA, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER WE ARE COMING UP IN THE END HERE AND I WANT TO ASK EACH ONE OF YOU ONE LAST QUESTION.
YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK OBVIOUSLY, FROM THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? DOES THAT MEAN THAT IF THERE IS SOME IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUTREACH, MAYBE THERE'S A PARTNER THAT COULD HELP.
WOULD THEY REACH OUT TO YOU? WOULD YOU BE THE CONTACT PERSON TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION?
>> EDNA RUANO: YES THEY COULD REACH OUT TO ME AND I CAN CONNECT THEM WITH OUR COLLEAGUES.
OUR COMMUNITY RELATIONS COLLEAGUES, THEY ARE REALLY OPEN TO HEARING.
IT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR.
WE WANT TO HEAR THIS IS WORKING, THIS COULD WORK BETTER IF WE DID THIS, OR I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM COVID.
WE HAVE TO ADAPT TO MAKE IT BETTER.
>> RICK ORTIZ: AND DR. CERISE, MY LAST QUESTION TO YOU.
[00:55:02]
WHAT WE DO IS THE CHAMBER TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS AS OUR PARTNER AND THE COMMUNITY DURING THESE VITAL IMPORTANT TIMES TO GET US OVER THE HUMP?>> DR. CERISE: YEAH LISTEN, I APPRECIATE THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, JUST OUR MESSAGE GETTING OUT.
AND AS YOU TALK TO YOUR MEMBERS, ONE, TO HELP PROMOTE THE MESSAGE OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND THEN, AS EDNA SAID, IF PEOPLE HAVE IDEAS OR REQUESTS ON HOW TO GET IN THE COMMUNITY AND BE MORE TARGETED, WE WANT TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW WE ARE AT THAT PHASE WHERE WE'VE GOT TO MOVE OUT FROM OUR HUBS AND GET TO HOTSPOTS.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS FROM PEOPLE HOW WE CAN REACH MORE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
>> RICK ORTIZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. CERISE, THANK YOU EDNA RUANO AND GUY TOLIVER.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS AFTER SO WE COULD SEND IT OUT OR DISTRIBUTE IT? IS THAT OKAY?
EDNA, WE SHOULD MAKE THAT ONE CHANGE ON THE SITE FOR MAY 15.
I THINK ONCE WE DO THAT WE CAN GET IT OUT.
>> EDNA RUANO: THAT WILL WORK.
>> RICK ORTIZ: ANY LEFT MESSAGE THAT YOU WANT TO MENTION OR SAY BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT HERE?
>> DR. CERISE: I JUST APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS HOW WE CAN BE EFFECTIVE.
WE KNOW IF WE ARE PASSIVE, YOU KNOW, THE STATISTIC THAT WE SEE PLAYING OUT, GOING TO PLAY OUT AS WELL HERE.
AS YOU'VE SEEN FROM THE PARKLAND STATISTICS HOURS ARE DIFFERENT FROM NATIONAL AND REGIONAL STATISTICS.
IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH GROUPS LIKE THIS TO HELP.
SO, I APPRECIATE RICK, THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THAT THE CHAMBER DOES.
NOT ONLY OF THE BUSINESS SIDE BUT ON THE OVERALL HEALTH SIDE.
>> RICK ORTIZ: THANK YOU AGAIN DR. CERISE.
THANK YOU EDNA AND GUY, THANK YOU PARKLAND.
AND LASTLY I LIKE TO THINK OUR PARTNERS AND SPONSORS FOR MAKING THIS PARTNER.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS, ENCORE, TOILET, DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, DALLAS COLLEGE, REGIONAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, SOUTHEAST DALLAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND PARKLAND HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SYSTEM.
THANK YOU ALL AND I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.