COVID-19 Positive cases: 1175*
COVID-19 related deaths: 35
Recovered COVID-19 cases: 187
Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Friday, April 17, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.
* These data are provisional and are subject to change at any time.
Deaths and recovered cases are included in total COVID-19 positive cases.
By Luke Ranker
Originally published by Star-Telegram.
North Texas hospitals are readying themselves for a potential surge in novel coronavirus patients expected by June, but private practice physicians and specialists are facing a different challenge — a steep drop in patients and a decline in revenue that may force them to make hard decisions.
Fort Worth area doctors say they’re seeing as little as half as many patients as they did before the coronavirus, but Dr. David Fleeger, president of the Texas Medical Association, said the decline could be as high as 80% for some doctors. Fear of catching the virus has kept patients from visiting their primary care physician, and local and state mandates have shuttered many specialized practices.
Across the country as many as 60,000 family practices will close or reduce business by June, according to a HealthLandscape and American Academy of Family Physicians report. That would leave roughly 800,000 of their employees without work or on reduced hours and create doctor shortages in at least 750 counties. Tarrant County wouldn’t face a shortage, according to the report, but Parker and Johnson counties would.
That’s bad news for patients, said Fleeger, as the loss of private practice doctors now jeopardizes care in the long term.
“The question will become access,” he said. “Private practice doctors spread care out over a larger geography.”
While most health care workers may be able to find jobs with large hospital networks, that care is centered in major metros, typically at hospital hubs. Rural and suburban patients may find it hard to get to the doctor. About 10% of Texas doctors work for a hospital while 34% are self-employed, according to a recent Texas Medical Association survey.
While the Texas Medical Association didn’t have hard numbers, Fleeger said he’s heard from dozens of practices that have furloughed or laid off staff, including nurses and medical assistants. He suspected there were “thousands” of unemployed health care workers in Texas.
“It’s safe to say most practices in Texas are in the red right now,” Fleeger said. “There are practices whose viability is definitely in question if this continues.”
Independent doctors in the Fort Worth area, like restaurant owners, are trying to pluck along without reducing staff.
Dr. Greg Phillips, who has an office in Fort Worth’s medical district and sees patients at two hospitals, would typically have around 25 patients a day in person before coronavirus. Now he sees less than 20, with many patient contacts done via a phone call or video chat.
With the drop in patients, Phillips has seen a decline in revenue, placing the possibility of furloughs or layoffs in the back of his mind. His office has six full-time employees between the office and medical staff.
Fear of coronavirus have caused a significant reduction in healthcare visits and both physicians and their patients are feeling the impact. Melanie Lagomichos, DO, shows Star-Telegram that one way to combat this is through the use of telemedicine.
As a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has distributed $30 billion to Medicare-enrolled physicians and providers through direct deposit disbursements.
These relief funds came at a critical time and do not need to be paid back, but attestation is required within the first 30 days of receipt of payment (it will be labeled “stimulus payment” or ”HHSPAYMENT”). Find the link to provide Medicare payment attestation here. The only information you will need to complete the process is the tax ID, the last six digits of the account in which it was deposited, and the amount of the deposit.
To find more support for your practice, review TMA’s Practice Viability Toolkit, which provides the most up-to-date information and resources available.
Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) today reported four more deaths due to COVID-19. The deceased include a male in his 60s and a male in his 40s, both from Fort Worth, a male in his 40s from Mansfield and a male in his 60s from an unincorporated area of Tarrant County. All had underlying health conditions.
Tarrant County now has 34 confirmed deaths from the COVID-19 virus. 157 people have recovered. “These deaths continue to remind us that we are faced with a deadly disease,” said Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja. “As we suffer these losses we also are mindful of how important it is for us to continue our efforts to control the spread of this deadly virus.”
COVID-19 causes respiratory illness with cough, fever, and shortness of breath, and may lead to bronchitis and severe pneumonia. Everyone should follow these guidelines to protect themselves from the COVID-19 virus:
For more information go to coronavirus.tarrantcounty.com or call the Tarrant County Public Health information line, (817) 248-6299, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
COVID-19 Positive cases: 990*
COVID-19 related deaths: 30
Recovered COVID-19 cases: 157
Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.
* These data are provisional and are subject to change at any time.
Deaths and recovered cases are included in total COVID-19 positive cases.
COVID-19 Positive cases: 929*
COVID-19 related deaths: 29
Recovered COVID-19 cases: 103
Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.
* These data are provisional and are subject to change at any time.
Deaths and recovered cases are included in total COVID-19 positive cases.
Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) today reported that four more Tarrant County residents have died as the result of the COVID-19 virus. The deceased, all from Fort Worth, include a man in his 70s, two men in their 80s and a woman in her 80s. All had underlying health conditions.
Tarrant County now has 29 confirmed deaths from the COVID-19 virus. 103 people have recovered. “We are saddened by every death that occurs because of this virus,” said Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja. “Our best hope to save lives in the future is to persevere; keep following the guidelines, and we will emerge stronger than before.”
COVID-19 causes respiratory illness with cough, fever, and shortness of breath, and may lead to bronchitis and severe pneumonia. Everyone should follow these guidelines to protect themselves from the COVID-19 virus:
For more information go to coronavirus.tarrantcounty.com or call the Tarrant County Public Health information line, (817) 248-6299, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Envision Imaging Is OPEN and wants to let you know that they are committed to serving our communities with love and compassion through these challenging times.
Specifically, STAT and NON-STAT exams are available for all Non-Positive COVID patients. We encourage you to visit www.envisionimg.com to make sure you have the most up to date information at any given time.
Giving Thanks
By David Donohue, MD
MY PARTNERS
Texas is growing from, and in, all directions. A dearth of pediatric neurosurgeons in some regions of our state prompted our pediatric neurosurgical group to help. We have been affording 24/7 coverage to children’s hospitals in two other cities over the past 18 months. The arrival of new pediatric neurosurgeons to the afflicted hospitals has finally provided longed-for relief, especially to my partners, who shouldered more than their share of the clinical and administrative load. It is gratifying to witness my younger colleagues deftly assume the care of pediatric neurosurgical patients in Tarrant County and beyond. My Cook Children’s neurology staff also helped keep the wheels turning this year.
TCMS COLLEAGUES
TCMS officers filled in, and advised, enthusiastically during my absences from TCMS board meetings and special events occasioned by my travels, demonstrating their usual good will and devotion to the organization. The increasing scope of Project Access testifies to Tarrant County physicians’ altruism. TCMS members quietly serve on unheralded committees (e.g., Physician Wellness) that do a world of good for physicians. Any contributions I may have made pale in comparison to theirs. The Tarrant County Physician editorial committee has striven to render my dollops of prose throughout Volume 91 less incoherent, while working to create publications the whole membership can enjoy.
TCMS ALLIANCE MEMBERS
Their dedication to the family of medicine remained evident throughout 2019. Highlighting important public health concerns, including pediatric head injury (Hard Hats for Little Heads) and immunization efforts sponsoring public education and free vaccination events (Be Wise Immunize)—vital in these days of appalling immunization agnosticism. Their contributions continue: community outreach, funding of Allied Health scholarships, and offering solace to families of our deceased or disabled physicians. Together with TCMS staff, our Alliance is recruiting more young Alliance members and drawing their physician spouses into organized medicine.
TCMS STAFF
“Things ran smoothly” is a huge understatement. Especially satisfying is witnessing completion of the TCMS building renovation. Our staff arranged and executed many TCMS organizational, political, and social events this year. Beyond the business of running TCMS, our staff facilitates developing working relationships between TCMS physicians and established community players, including City Hall, the DFW Hospital Council, both medical schools, EMS, and the press. TCMS staff are the operations backbone of Project Access.
MY WIFE
Most of all, I want to thank Angela, who encouraged me to participate in the TCMS years ago. There is virtually no Alliance duty or position that she has not undertaken at either the state or local level. As my term expires, she reminds me that the disappointment one senses before the incomplete project or unmet goal betrays not failure, but lofty goals yet to be achieved.
Let’s continue aiming high.
Follow our links below to learn more about TCMS!
Tarrant County Physician Online 