President's Message
July 2020

Robert Hancock, DO, FACEP
President

As we continue to navigate the new constantly changing landscape in emergency medicine, TCEP is here to help and provide support.  We continue to closely monitor PPE availability, hospital capacity, and increasing case numbers.  We continue to work closely with the Texas Medical Association Covid taskforce to ensure EM physicians across the state have access to whatever resources they need.

TCEP has started a campaign to educate the general public about the importance of seeking emergency care early and not delaying care out of fear.  This includes educating the public about the overall safety in emergency departments, and also educating them about the consequences of delaying medical care.  Additionally, we are partnering with other organizations to promote mask wearing throughout the state of Texas.

On a different note, I think it is incredibly important for all of us to take some time to ensure our own mental as well as physical health.  We have all been through a lengthy period of uncertainty, stress, and pay volatility.  Undoubtedly, these have taken a toll on all of us to some degree.  It is important that we be vigilant about our own mental and physical health, while also being mindful of colleagues around us that may be struggling.

As emergency physicians, we are the absolute best at adapting to challenging situations, and we have more than risen to the challenge during Covid-19.  We have fundamentally changed our approach to treating certain patients, while working to keep these changes from effecting other patients.  We have collaborated with physicians from around the world via social media to learn more about Covid-19 and treatment algorithms.  What we have done as emergency physicians in only a couple of months has been incredible!  TCEP will continue to work to educate the general public regarding the critical, highly specialized care we provide to our patients on a daily basis as well as the care we have provided during this pandemic.

As the TCEP President I am here to serve you, our members.  Please reach out and let us know if there is anything we as an organization can do for you or your colleagues.  I welcome any feedback, suggestions or insight from any of our members.  My only request is that each of you take the time to talk to one EM physician who is not currently a member of TCEP and let them know what we are doing to represent emergency physicians across Texas.  Please refer them to myself or Beth Brooks if they want more details about TCEP membership.  I am always available via email at [email protected], and please do not hesitate to contact me.  Thanks to each of you for the work you do every day, and TCEP is proud to represent such an incredible group of emergency medicine specialists.  Most importantly, stay safe!