As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads across the globe, we recognize the importance of our roles as healthcare providers, particularly to patients known for asthma, other allergic conditions, or immune deficiencies who may be at a higher risk of experiencing severe symptoms from the disease. The same way that you are committed to your patients, practices, and communities, we at the AAAAI remain committed to providing you with resources that will help you navigate this difficult period.

Because this is an evolving situation, we invite you to bookmark this page and check it often. We will be continually adding resources.

If you have any specific questions regarding the treatment of patients or management of your practice, please contact us at practicematters@aaaai.org.

 Read all messages from the AAAAI COVID-19 Response Task Force

Webinar Series

This series of COVID 19 webinars are part of the virtual Practice Management Workshop, provide CME/CE credit, and are available free to AAAAI members and their practice staff. Register here.

Listen to Dr. Priya Bansal, Chair of the Practice Management Workshop Planning Committee, discuss details about the Workshop in Episode 31 of the Conversations from the World of Allergy podcast.

Upcoming Webinars

Academic Practice Management in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Thursday, July 16, 7:30 pm CDT
Geared specifically for members in academic practice, this session will review new challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, including managing clinical trial patients, interviewing for FIT positions virtually and workflow and process changes.

Telemedicine Strategies Post COVID-19
Thursday, July 23, 7:30 pm CDT
Panelists will discuss how the procurement of telemedicine will change post COVID-19.

Engineering Your Practice for the Next Crisis
Date and time TBD
Experts warn that a second wave of COVID-19 cases could be coming in the fall, along with flu season. This session will provide practical, actionable steps you and your staff can take to prepare.

Previous Webinars

Recordings are available here: https://education.aaaai.org/20vpmwrec

EIDL, PPP and Stimulus Payments: How Do I Keep it All Straight?
Learn more about the financial assistance programs available through the CARES Act for allergy/immunology practices and the requirements for each specific option.

Job Prospects During the COVID 19 Pandemic: What Options Exist?
This session will address alternative employment options during the COVID 19-pandemic and is primarily geared towards graduating fellows-in-training (FITs) and New Allergist/Immunologist Assembly (NAIA) members, although it will be relevant for any member experiencing employment changes.

Written Resources

 AAAAI COVID-19 Advocacy 

 Do Your Part to Slow the Spread of COVID-19: Wear a Face Covering or Mask (7/20) 
En español: Haga su parte para desacelerar la propogación del COVID-19: Use una cubierta para la cara o una mascarilla

Caring for Pregnant Patients with Asthma during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Updated 7/1/20)

An Update on COVID-19 for the Practicing Allergist/immunologist (6/16/20)

Suggestions or Considerations for Resuming Practice drafted by the COVID-19 Response Task Force (5/5/20) The resuming of a practice depends on a risk assessment of community spread of cases and your state’s current status with respect to being open or closed. Everything in this document presumes that the actual infectious state of your patients is unknown and that asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic patients can spread the virus. 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a Focus on Older Adults: A Guide for Allergist/Immunologists and Patients (Updated 6/1/20)

Immunotherapy during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Work Group Report on Administration of Subcutaneous Allergen Immunotherapy from the AAAAI IASAD Committee (3/25/20)

Podcast Episodes

Episode 30: Clinician Wellness, Burnout, and Finding the Right Work-Life Balance (5/19/20)
In this CME episode, Giselle S. Mosnaim, MD, MS, FAAAAI, discusses the factors associated with high rates of burnout for medical professionals. Listen in to learn great information and helpful tips to maintain wellness, which is especially pertinent during COVID-19. 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is available with this episode through 5/18/2021. Click here to complete the assessment and claim credit. 

Episode 29: Impact of COVID-19 on Allergists and Their Patients (5/7/20)
The Chair of the AAAAI COVID-19 Response Task Force, Paul V. Williams, MD, FAAAAI, joins us to discuss how the pandemic has impacted the way allergy practices are caring for patients and important thoughts about how to resume operations. 

Episode 28: Using Telemedicine to Provide Care for Allergic Conditions  (4/16/20)
Telemedicine expert Jennifer Shih, MD, discusses practical elements of performing virtual visits. This conversation is filled with amazing tips for both patients and clinicians - a must listen for telemedicine novices or experienced users.

Communication and Outreach Tools

With so much misinformation circulating on COVID-19, it is critical for the practicing allergist to be seen as the expert when it comes to how COVID-19 may impact patients with allergies, asthma and immunologic disorders. The AAAAI has created a template media alert describing the unique perspective an allergist can offer, a template press release on what patients need to know about asthma and COVID-19, and a set of talking points. Update the templates and send them to media contacts in your local area and use the talking points to prepare for interviews. Please note that while the AAAAI is providing these materials to help you, you will be speaking on your own behalf in any interviews you may give.  

COVID-19 and Asthma Template Press Release.docx

COVID-19 Talking Points for Allergists to Use with Media.docx

COVID-19 Template Media Alert.docx