As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge healthcare professionals across the nation, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have partnered to build connections across healthcare disciplines and to provide access to the latest information on fighting the disease that has ended the lives of more than 100,000 Americans and affected even more.
The $1.1 million grant spans six months and covers several areas in which IDSA will bring value and support to current and soon-to-be-deployed COVID-19 education, communications and outreach vehicles. Notable initiatives include: IDSA’s role in a CDC clinician call line, where healthcare providers treating COVID-19 patients can receive guidance from infectious diseases specialists, and the creation of the COVID-19 Real Time Learning Network, an online center for frontline clinicians to learn, collaborate and share treatment best practices.
“This grant gives us the ability to provide much-needed resources to frontline health care professionals as they navigate an unprecedented pandemic. I believe our partnership with the CDC will result in deepening our understanding of COVID-19, improving our response, and ultimately, saving lives,” remarked IDSA President Thomas File, Jr., M.D., MSc, FIDSA.
Activities included in the COVID-19 Real Time Learning Network are:
- The creation of a designated COVID-19 Resource Center microsite
- Rapid clinical guidelines development
- Management of the CDC’s weekly COVID-19 Clinician Calls
- Production of COVID-19 podcasts
- A Global Learning Day as part of IDWeek 2020
“It’s critical that we support health care professionals by providing the information and tools they need to protect themselves and treat their patients during this challenging time,” said RADM Betsy Thompson, M.D., Deputy Incident Manager for CDC’s COVID-19 Response. “This collaboration with IDSA allows us to expand and amplify the resources available to this vital and dedicated workforce.”
