Governor Carney Delivers 2022 State of the State Address |
Open and Closing Remarks Focused on Pandemic |
Governor John Carney today delivered his 2022 State of the State address to a joint session of the General Assembly, announcing plans to strengthen our economy, invest in public schools, and emphasize the importance of a sustainable financial plan, all while slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our state. Read the Governor's full State of the State Address. Watch a replay of the State of the State Address. (Pictured is Governor John Carney. Photo by Stacey Hofman)
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Delaware Partners with FEMA for Free COVID Drive-Thru Testing |
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Demand for Testing At An All-Time High |
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The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) announced that the State of Delaware is partnering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to open a free COVID-19 drive-thru testing site from January 17 to February 7, 2022. The site will be hosted at the Delaware City Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and operate on evenings and weekends, six days a week, closing on Wednesdays when DMV has regular evening business hours. FEMA has contracted with eTrueNorth to offer testing services. Individuals will be tested with a PCR shallow nasal swab and results are expected to be returned in 48-72 hours. Appointments will be required. The testing is free and registration can be done at www.ineedacovid19test.com to obtain a voucher. The Delaware City (DMV) is located at 2101 Mid County Drive, New Castle, Delaware. Appointments will be available for the following days of the week:
- Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays: 5:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Sundays: 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Government Website for At-Home COVID Tests Opens a Day Early |
Administration Begins Taking Orders for Free Rapid At-Home COVID-19 Tests |
The Biden administration on Tuesday began taking orders for free rapid at-home COVID-19 tests, one day ahead of the planned launch of the website for ordering and distributing tests to people in the United States. The site launched officially mid-morning on Wednesday. The White House indicated the website's early launch is standard practice to troubleshoot.
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Support for Delaware Hospitals During the Latest COVID Surge |
Retired/Former Health Care Workers, Students in Health Fields, General Volunteers |
Delaware Hospitals are in need of help during the current COVID-19 crisis. Unprecedented volumes of COVID-19 patients have placed a significant strain on hospital staff and resources. The Delaware Healthcare Association needs help to support the hardworking health care workers at our hospitals. Please sign up if you are interested in working or volunteering to support Delaware hospitals through this crisis.
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CDC Updates Mask Website Emphasizing Protection, Fit, Comfort |
Describes Types of Masks/Respirators Used to Prevent Transmission |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week clarified its recommendation on various kinds of masks used for the prevention of transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The CDC indicated that cloth masks frequently worn by Americans do not offer as much protection as surgical masks or respirators. According to the CDC’s new description of masks, loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection and layered finely woven products offer more, but any mask is better than no mask. Well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s are more protective than all cloth masks, and well-fitting respirators, including N95s, offer the highest level of protection. Wearing a highly protective mask or respirator may be most important for certain higher-risk situations, or by some people at increased risk for severe disease. CDC officials removed concerns related to supply shortages and more clearly said that properly fitted N95 and KN95 masks offer the most protection, clarifying that “surgical N95s” are a specific type of respirator that should be reserved for health care settings. The CDC indicated some masks are harder to tolerate than others and urged people to choose good-fitting masks that they will wear consistently.
The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) modified masking guidance on its website, which remains in line with the CDC updates.
Now that federal officials are emphasizing N95 masks having better protection than cloth face masks, the White House announced on Wednesday that 400 million N95 masks will be made available for free to Americans starting next week. The mask will come from the government's Strategic National Stockpile, having more than 750 million currently available. Masks will be available for pickup at pharmacies and community health centers across the country that have partnered with the federal government's COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Shipping will begin this week for distribution late next week. The White House indicated there will be three masks available per person to ensure broad access for all Americans.
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Governor Announces Mask Distribution to Educators/Students |
Masks to be Distributed Starting Next Week |
Governor John Carney, Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, and the Delaware Department of Education on Tuesday announced a one-time distribution of 125,000 KN95 masks to educators, students in grades six and above, and childcare providers across the state to support their in-person instruction efforts. Masks will be distributed to Delaware’s public, private, and parochial schools and childcare providers through school and childcare liaisons. Parents, families, and teachers should expect more guidance from their schools about when they can pick-up their masks. The masks will be distributed based on the number of staff across all schools and the number of students in sixth grade and up due to the size of the masks. Child care providers will need to pre-register through a link that will be sent from the Delaware Department of Education.
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Need PPE, COVID-19 Test Kits, Medical Supplies? |
MSD Membership Matters! Discounted Rates Through Dealmed |
Health care professionals continue to seek reliable PPE in the workplace to help protect themselves from COVID-19 and the highly contagious Omicron variant. Dealmed Medical Supplies, an Affinity partner with MSD, can be that reliable source in providing health care professionals with the necessary PPE. Dealmed Medical Supplies is an independent manufacturer/distributor of medical supplies, injectables, equipment, and PPE. With their distribution center conveniently located in central New Jersey, Dealmed has been able to assist many customers in the area (and beyond) with fast access and delivery of crucial supplies. Please contact Sonja Baggett to discuss how Dealmed can be a great option for much-needed supplies. She can be reached at 302-766-2124 or sbaggett@dealmed.com.
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Health Care COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Enforceable Nationally |
After a judge dismissed a challenge from Texas this week, the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers can officially go into effect nationwide, as reported by Modern Healthcare. A judge with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas had granted a temporary block of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirement that employees at Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Texas. However, the state moved to dismiss the case on Tuesday following the Supreme Court’s decision to let the CMS enforce the mandate while appeals are considered at lower courts. |
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Governor Announces $107M ARPA Support for Universities |
UD, DSU, and Del Tech Are Recipients for Pandemic-Related Projects |
Governor John Carney and Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long on Wednesday announced $107 million for Delaware colleges and universities to support pandemic-related projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The funding announced on Tuesday will provide funding to the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and Delaware Technical Community College. The University of Delaware will use its ARPA funding to help build a state-of-the-art facility for education and research in understanding, treatment, and prevention of diseases and help train the next generation of Delaware public health professionals, including mental health professionals, and help meet demand in the state's health care workforce. The facility is expected to be completed in mid-2024. Plans for Delaware State University are to fund a series of projects to include establishing a comprehensive clinical facility to combat health disparities, creation of the new DSU Early Care and Innovation Center, technology upgrades in classrooms, and improving existing facilities to meet pandemic operational needs. Delaware Technical Community College also has a series of projects to include an Allied Health Center of Excellence, expanding access to its paramedic instructional program and surgical technology program to meet growing workforce demand; building a Childcare Center on the Stanton campus, expanding child care education in New Castle County and additional options for area workers; and a culinary workforce development grant.
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DPH Laboratory Breaks Ground on Expansion |
Increasing Capacity for Testing, Surveillance Demands |
The Delaware Public Health Laboratory (DPHL) will nearly double in size to increase the capacity for routine and outbreak testing to accommodate advanced technical laboratory staff and the infectious disease epidemiology program. State leaders held a groundbreaking for the expansion on the property of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services’ Hospital for the Chronically Ill, located on Sunnyside Road in Smyrna. This project involves 24,954 square feet of additions to the east and west sides of the existing 26,165-square-foot facility building. DPHL will gain two emerging infectious disease laboratories, new administrative office areas, an expanded warehouse, and increased mechanical/electrical space. The 40-person Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program will relocate from Dover. The facility will remain operational throughout the expansion process, and most work is anticipated to be completed by summer 2023.
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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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Bayhealth Medical Grand Rounds - For Health Care Professionals |
Bayhealth Hospital invites health care professionals to attend their Medical Grand Rounds. This regularly scheduled series takes place every fourth Tuesday from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Bayhealth Medical Center in Dover. You can also join via zoom. Registration is required. Upcoming dates for meetings are February 8, March 8, April 5, and May 3, 2022. To join the Zoom by meeting number use Access Code 2435 528 4699 and Password Bayhealth.
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ACOG Annual Maternal Health Awareness Day |
Hurry! Registration will be closing for the annual Delaware Section, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Maternal Health Awareness Day 2022. This year’s event will be virtual and is scheduled for Friday, January 21, 2022, starting at 1:00 p.m. The 2022 agenda will focus on vaccination, improving communications, barriers to care, and innovations as it relates to women’s health and especially those in underrepresented/ minority populations. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required.
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Events Commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day |
The Center for Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus invites health care professionals to two virtual events commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th. The presentation "How Healers Became Killers: Nazi Doctors & Modern Medical Ethics" will begin at 2 p.m. Eastern time, presented by Matthew Wynia, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Bioethics and Humanities. Interprofessional discussion will follow at 3 p.m. Eastern time with "Learning From One Another: The Legacy of the Holocaust in Health Professions Education," moderated by Matthew Wynia, MD, MPH with panelists Dr. Darcy Copeland, Dr. Matthis Krischel, and Dr. Linda M. Woolf. There is no charge to participate, however, registration is required.
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AMA Webinar Addressing Clinician Well-Being in Omicron's Wake |
The AMA will host a webinar on January 27 at 12:00 Noon (EST) exploring strategies for addressing clinician well-being in the wake of the coronavirus’ Omicron variant. The coronavirus’ Omicron variant has caused a surge in COVID-19 cases, putting additional stressors on an already overwhelmed health care system. The AMA STEPS Forward™ webinar “Reconsidering Priorities and Practical Strategies for Addressing Clinician Well-Being in Omicron’s Wake” aims to help CEOs, CMOs and CWOs address the urgent, nearly universal concern about workforce protection and retention during this Omicron wave. Panelists will share their recent experiences and discuss the unique stressors and psychological consequences resulting from the variant. Attendees will learn how the variant has influenced well-being priorities and goals, new Omicron stressors during the crisis, best practices in leadership, and the impact of mistreatment in the context of COVID and beyond. Register. |
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MSD, ACP, DAFP Delaware Virtual Healthcare Town Hall- Advocacy 101 |
Calling all Early Career Physicians! The American College of Physicians Delaware Chapter, the Delaware Academy of Family Physicians, and the Medical Society of Delaware are pleased to present a virtual Town Hall-style event with State Representative Michael F. Smith on February 16, 2022, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. This event is being co-sponsored to bring together the primary care physician community in this dialogue. You are being invited to join us to share your thoughts and ideas about health care, as well as to have an opportunity to engage in dialogue with one of our state legislators and learn about healthcare advocacy. There is no charge to participate but we do require registration.
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Registration for the 2022 AMPAC Candidate Workshop is Now Open |
Ever wonder how Doctors get elected to Congress or your state legislature? Considering a run for office for yourself? The AMPAC Candidate Workshop will teach you how to run a winning political campaign, just like we taught many of your American Medical Association (AMA) colleagues over the years. The Candidate Workshop is designed to help you make the leap from the exam room to the campaign trail and give you the skills and strategic approach you will need to make a run for public office. Political veterans from both sides of the aisle will give you expert advice about politics and the sacrifices needed to mount a competitive campaign. To provide the same high-quality content of the in-person program, the Virtual Candidate Workshop will be conducted over the course of two consecutive weekends: March 12-13 and 19-20. Both weekends are part of the full program and must be attended by participants. Each of the four virtual sessions will start at 11:00 am EST and run approximately four hours. There is a registration fee for both AMA Members and NonMembers, but waived for AMA residents and students (AMPAC Board will review and select four participants from the pool of qualified resident and student applicants). Space is limited. The deadline to register is February 28 or sooner if maximum capacity is reached. For more information please contact: Politicaleducation@ama-assn.org
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Bayhealth announced a new plan to support health care workers who need assistance with repaying student loans. The program will provide qualified applicants up to $30,000 of loan repayment for a 3-year commitment to employment at Bayhealth. The program aims to attract valuable staff and boost Bayhealth’s current workforce. Qualified positions include nursing, respiratory therapy, patient care technician/phlebotomist, diagnostic imaging technician, and clinical medical assistant. Relocation assistance is also available for applicable positions.
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Beebe recently introduced Savi SCOUT®, which is positively impacting the patient experience for many, especially those who require surgery for removal of a tumor in the Beebe Center for Breast Health. Savi SCOUT provides an alternative to wire localization for the removal of breast tumors. Beebe has been utilizing Savi SCOUT in its hospital-based Breast Center since November 2021.
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ChristianaCare's Gene Editing Institute is expanding its educational outreach to high schools and colleges with its groundbreaking CRISPER in BoxTM Educational Toolkit to increase the understanding of one of the most powerful biomedical technologies that is closer each day to impacting the way diseases are treated. Last week, students at Salem Academy in Winston Salem, North Carolina experienced access to CRISPR in BoxTM, a new educational resource that inspires interest in gene editing. The school became the first in North Carolina to offer the workshop.
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Zain Ul Abdin, MBBS- International Medical Graduate
Robert D. Colucci, DO- Psychiatry, Family Tree Psychiatric & Medical Services
Jose A. Pando, MD - Rheumatology, Delaware Arthritis, Lewes
Katherine Perscky, DPM - Supporting Member, DE Orthopaedic Specialists
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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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Matthew T. Caddell, DO - Occupational & Preventive Medicine, Bayhealth |
MSD members are afforded a seven-day review period from the date of this publication to comment regarding applicants for membership. Please contact Michelle Seymour at (302) 224-4905 or Michelle.Seymour@medsocdel.org with any comments.
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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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>1/3
The number of physicians reporting knowing little about the legal responsibilities to patients with disability under the ADA.
Health Affairs
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9.7%
Increase in national health spending in 2021 compared to 2020, due to federal dollars made available to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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30%
Percentage of Americans who now use a wearable health care device with capabilities to track, monitor and transmit data on heart rate, BP, body temp, blood sugar, sleep and early warning signs of COVID-19.
JMIR Publications
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March 5-7 - Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health 2022 Annual Meeting, Accelerating Climate Solutions: From Urgency to Impact for Health Equity.
May 18 - SAVE THE DATE! 2022 Annual Rural Health Conference, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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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 © 2022. All Rights Reserved. |
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