JHF, DOH & DOHS Present “Monkeypox: What You Need to Know” Webinar to 680 Participants

On August 4, 2022, the Biden administration declared monkeypox a public health emergency. Since then, every state and Washington, D.C. has recorded cases of the virus. As of Sept. 20, 2022, the CDC reported 24,203 total confirmed monkeypox cases in the United States. Of those cases, 3 percent, or 708 total, were reported in Pennsylvania.

To raise awareness of the epidemic, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Service approached the Jewish Healthcare Foundation's Aging Team, which operates the State's Learning Network, who coordinated just-in-time learning for all long-term care and community programs across Commonwealth. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and Pennsylvania Department of Health presented "Monkeypox: What You Need to Know" on Aug. 31 to a virtual audience of 680 participants.

The webinar "Monkeypox: What You Need to Know" was presented on Aug. 31 to a virtual audience of 680 participants to answer questions about monkeypox and provide information about the status of monkeypox globally, nationally and across Pennsylvania; discuss the symptoms and prevention of monkeypox; courses of action if a person or close contact contracts the disease; best practices in congregate care facilities; and current treatment and prophylaxis options and how they are reimbursed.

JHF Chief Operating Officer and Chief Program Officer Nancy Zionts moderated the discussion among a panel of experts which included: Lawrence D. Appel, MD, SFHM, medical director of the Office of Long-Term Living at PA DHS; David Kelley, MD, MPA, chief medical officer for PA DHS Office of Medical Assistance Programs; and DOH Chief of Clinical Services Arlene Seid, MD, MPH, FACPM, CMQ; and Jen Wallace, public health physician at PA DOH.

A recording of the webinar is available here.