MSD Wishes You a Happy New Year |
Office Hours for the Holiday |
As one chapter ends, another begins. MSD will be right beside you to help in whatever the future may bring. Wishing you peace, joy, and happiness, here's to 2022!
In observance of the New Year's holiday, the MSD office will be closed on Friday, December 31st, as well as Monday, January 3rd.
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CDC Updated Guidance in Expectation of Rising Omicron Cases |
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Emergency Guidance for Health Care Worker Isolation/Quarantine |
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- Healthcare workers with COVID-19 who are asymptomatic can return to work after 7 days with a negative test, and that isolation time can be cut further if there are staffing shortages.
- Healthcare workers who have received all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including a booster, do not need to quarantine at home following high-risk exposures.
Isolation relates to behavior after a confirmed infection, and quarantine is following exposure to the virus but without a confirmed infection. These guidelines apply only to the health care workforce and may be revised to continue to protect both health care workers and patients as additional information on the Omicron variant becomes available to inform recommended actions.
The Delaware Division of Public Health has released a Delaware Health Advisory on Managing Exposed Healthcare Personnel.
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CDC Shortens Isolation/Quarantine Period for General Population |
Science Demonstrates Majority of Transmission Occurs Early |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19, to five days, if asymptomatic, followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others. Additionally, the CDC updated the recommended quarantine period for those exposed to COVID-19. For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than two months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, the CDC now recommends quarantine for five days followed by strict mask use for an additional five days. Alternatively, if a five day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure. Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. For all those exposed, the best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day five after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
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Availability of $48 Million to Increase Public Health Workforce |
In Rural and Tribal Communities |
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, is announcing the availability of nearly $48 million in American Rescue Plan funding for community-based organizations to expand public health capacity in rural and tribal communities through health care job development, training, and placement. Awardees will be able to use this funding to address workforce needs related to the long-term effects of COVID-19 as well as health information technology (IT) needs and other key workforce issues. This notice of funding opportunity builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s recent historic workforce announcement of awarding the largest field strength in history for its health workforce loan repayment and scholarship programs. The Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Program addresses the critical need for more trained health professionals in rural communities. This investment will increase the number of well-trained health care professionals and connect them with future employers, including the hospitals and clinics that participate in this program. This approach benefits the workers who receive valuable training, as well as the participating health care providers who will be able to ensure the pool of potential employees is better prepared to provide culturally competent care that addresses specific needs at their sites. These rural communities will gain an expanded, highly trained workforce that will enhance the quality of care and service delivery. Applicants can begin the application process on Grants.gov and apply by Friday, March 18, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
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MSD Launches Its Academic Channel |
Serves as Hub for Publishing Articles Through Cureus Journal |
Are you looking to publish your original article, case report, or technical report? MSD has worked with the team of the Cureus Journal of Medical Science and established a designated online "Academic Channel" for MSD on the Cureus site. As an author interested in publishing your work, this new process will make it simpler and keep you informed along the way of the submission process. The streamlined online submission system and efficient editorial review allow you to publish in weeks, not months. And since this is an open access model and published articles are indexed in PubMed Central, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and more, your work has global exposure. The peer review process leverages the collective intelligence of the Cureus community. We invite you to review the new Medical Society of Delaware Academic Channel and consider populating our "Articles" page with work from Delaware physicians. A separate Digital Digest will also be published and distributed via email to members every several months, delivering information about published articles on the site from your peers, as well as other educational information.
If you would like to join the team of peer reviewers on the Academic Channel, we'd love to have you! Please contact Mary LaJudice for more information.
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December Tornado Disaster Relief |
Help Victims of the Recent Devastating Tornadoes |
Sixty-eight confirmed tornadoes tore across ten US states on Friday, December 10th, and Saturday, December 11th leaving a path of destruction and death in their wake. The total damage and economic loss will take time to sort through. The Southeastern Delegation of the American Medical Association is a coalition of sixteen states, in addition to Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, of which Delaware is a member. The recent tornadoes impacted several of our Southeastern Delegation family states, particularly Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tennessee. The Southeastern Delegation is asking for all the states in the coalition to spread the word to encourage donations to the stricken areas. Donations are encouraged through any fund you feel most helpful, however, please be sure your donation is going to a legitimate site. MSD is sharing the letter that was sent out to the Southeastern Delegation states asking for assistance to help those in need, which provides options for donation sites, including the AMA Foundation. If you can help, please do. Who knows if one day Delaware could face similar circumstances and be in need.
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It is with sadness we share that MSD member Michael J. Guarino, MD passed away on Sunday, December 12 at the age of 67. Dr. Guarino became a member of MSD in 1984, the same year he and his partner, Dr. Stephen Grubbs, founded Medical Oncology Hematology Consultants, PA. His areas of interest included clinical research and bone marrow transplant/cellular therapy. He specialized in the treatment of lung cancer, melanoma, and gastrointestinal malignancies. He served as a principal investigator for a number of pharmaceutical and other clinical trials sponsored by what is now the National Cancer Institute-funded Clinical Oncology Research Program, which plays a critical part to enroll patients in studies for every major type of cancer. Burial was held on December 22nd. In lieu of flowers, the family asked consideration for donation to either St. John the Beloved Church or to Nemours Children's Hospital. Read the obituary.
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Highlight On Events And Educational Offerings |
An Approach to Patients Who Have Not Gotten the COVID-19 Vaccine |
This course module was developed by the "Made to Save" Campaign and will explore a patient-centered approach to COVID-19 vaccine counseling to increase trust, confidence, and vaccine uptake, based on the experience of a national grassroots COVID-19 vaccine education and outreach campaign focused on underserved communities of color. The Yale School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
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Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) Education Series |
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MSD/VIP Lunch and Learn Session |
Join us Wednesday, January 12 at 12:00 noon for an informative virtual one-hour session about the MSD Voluntary Initiative Program (VIP) and how it supports patients enrolled in the state's Health Care Connection Program. You'll learn about participating in the VIP network, the benefits for physicians and patients, and resources available to your practice. The event is open to physicians (including those who are already enrolled in VIP), allied health professionals, office managers, etc. There is no charge to participate, however, registration is required by Monday, January 10th. Once registered, details for joining the meeting will be provided 24 hours in advance.
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2nd Regional Human Trafficking Summit |
Register now for the Regional Interdisciplinary Collaborative 2nd Regional Human Trafficking Summit taking place February 9-10, 2022, held both virtually and in-person at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Human trafficking is a widespread crime and growing public health concern. The goal of the Summit is to lead a multilateral cooperation and synergy among the regional states to work to ensure the safety and freedom of trafficked persons. Learn more.
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Judith B. Gorra, MD - Pediatrics, Delaware Division of Public Health |
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 MSD, please contact Michelle Seymour at (302) 224-4905 or Michelle.Seymour@medsocdel.org with any questions. You could be eligible for a referral discount!
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The Latin phrase Rerum Cognoscere translates to learn, examine, or become aware of facts or things. In this section, we highlight measurable items of interest in health care from MSD, Delaware, the US, and the world. |
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13.6 Million
A record number of people who have enrolled in health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act to date, with weeks still left before open enrollment ends.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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0.1%
U.S. population growth for the 12 months ending July 1, marking a record low and the first time since 1937 that the population has expanded by less than 1 million.
US Census Bureau
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3.07%
Percentage increase per year in overall global incidence of acute pancreatitis since 1961.
Gastroenterology
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January 21, 2022 - SAVE THE DATE! Delaware Section, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Maternal Health Awareness Day "Maternal Care in the 21st Century," 1:00-5:00 p.m., virtual.
March 5-7, 2022 - SAVE THE DATE! Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health 2022 Annual Meeting, Accelerating Climate Solutions: From Urgency to Impact for Health Equity.
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Was the information in this newsletter useful? If so, forward to a friend to let them know the value of your Medical Society of Delaware membership. |
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The information contained herein is solely informational, planned in accordance for a diverse membership audience. This communication reflects news and announcements that have been made available to MSD and is not intended to exclude other pertinent material. The content published is proposed to represent facts of interest and provide awareness to the members. MSD reserves the right to determine what information is relevant to its membership. |
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Copyright © 2021. All Rights Reserved. |
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