The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced the state's first laboratory-confirmed case of influenza for the 2020-2021 flu season. The case, which also marks Delaware's first pediatric case of the season, involves a child under the age of 5 from Kent County. Read more.

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) has released its COVID-19 Vaccination Playbook which lays out how it expects to navigate the distribution of the COVID-10 vaccine. Due to an expected shortage of the vaccine, Delaware plans to make the two-shot series available in a multiple step approach by prioritize population groups starting with persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials. View vaccine phase plan. Read full Playbook.

The Health Care Relief Fund (HCRF) is looking to distribute $100 million in CARES Act funds to the health care industry. Applicants can request funds to reimburse or purchase COVID-19-related items and services. Funds can be used to include things like webcams, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platforms, tablets, PPE, testing, and HVAC upgrades. Health systems have a different funding source, so this would not apply to a provider working within one of Delaware's health systems. To learn more about this program, including eligibility requirements and instructions on how to apply, read FAQs.

According to the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), Delaware has a total of 734 fatalities due to COVID-19. Delaware saw its largest single-day case total since May with 465 new cases reported on Thursday, Nov. 12. 

Aggregate K-12 School-Related COVID-19 Statistics: Delaware cumulative number of COVID-19 positive students and staff, statewide, who were in-person at a school or child care facility while potentially infectious, reported to DPH between between Nov. 5 - Nov 12: 

Read more for additional information and an update on outbreaks in long-term care facilities.

Additional demographic data on COVID-19 cases and deaths, including race/ethnicity, more age-specific data and rates information by ZIP code, and information on Delaware's contact tracing efforts can be found on the Division of Public Health's My Healthy Community data portal. 

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recently published a report which concludes that emergency measures taken by Delaware Governor John Carney held down the spread of COVID-19. According to the report, State-mandated stay-at-home orders and public mask mandates coupled with case investigations with contact tracing, contributed to an 82% reduction in COVID-19 incidence, 88% reduction in hospitalizations, and 100% reduction in mortality in Delaware during late April–June. Read report.

Bayhealth has been affected by a data breach through its fundraising data services vender, Blackbaud, Inc. Data was accessed by an unauthorized person or entity, potentially affecting some Bayhealth patients and donors. Data may have included information about a hospitalization such as physician name or department of hospital service. Individuals potentially impacted will receive letters notifying them. The compromised data did not include credit card information, bank account information or Social Security numbers. Read more.

The “Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act” (H.R. 8207) would freeze payments at 2020 rates for services scheduled to be cut in 2021 for a period of two years, while allowing the scheduled E/M increases to take place. Analyses of this approach show improved overall impact numbers for all physician specialties. If Congress does not act NOW, these budget neutrality adjustments will negatively impact many physician practices across the country. Read more.

Researchers are looking for help finding patients for a new study regarding pain management and prayer. The study is a collaboration between the Episcopal Church in Delaware and academic researchers interesting in learning more about the potential relationship between prayer and pain. The study goals are the development of a validated prayer-based clinical instrument and the design of a bedside-prayer-tool serving anyone with pain-related chronic conditions. Learn more. Read request letter. Read clinical article.

Researchers are conducting a study for family caregivers of loved ones with a diagnosis of dementia (any form). This study investigates how COVID-19 and social distancing mandates have impacted the ability of caregivers to cope with providing care to a family member with dementia. This study is completely online and is offered in two separate surveys. The first survey is about 45 minutes in length, and an optional follow-up survey that is to be completed one month after the first survey. Learn more.

MSD member Neil S. Kaye, MD was recently interviewed by Delaware State News, offering advice on how to navigate the increased stress created by the political unrest as well as how to handle the added anxiety created by the election. The Hockessin psychiatrist highlighted the need to grieve and process the emotions during this time. Read article.

It is with sadness we share that MSD member James R. Dearworth, MD passed away on October 30th. Dr. Dearworth, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, worked for more than 50 years as a family physician in Newark. Aside from practicing medicine, Dr. Dearworth was also the founder and a preacher at the Church of Christ in Elkton, Maryland. In addition, he passionately served as a leader in the Sons of the American Revolution in both Maryland and Delaware. Read obituary.

MSD's Membership Department is pleased to announce the newest members of the Medical Society of Delaware. Welcome to the third oldest medical society in the country!

If you know someone interested in joining the Medical Society of Delaware, please contact Michelle Seymour at 302-224-4905 or Michelle.Seymour@medsocdel.org.

MSD members are afforded a seven day review period from the date of this publication to comment regarding an applicant applying for membership. Please contact Mary LaJudice at (302) 224-5183 or Mary.LaJudice@medsocdel.org with any questions or concerns.