Register for MSD Annual Meeting Events |
The Annual Meeting Events Will Be Held Virtually, November 9-11, 2021 |
Annual Meeting of the Council
In order to represent constituents, Council members are strongly encouraged to register for the Annual Meeting of the Council to be held on Tuesday evening, November 9th at 6:00 p.m. The Council will deliberate resolutions, review and adopt a 2022 budget, and cast votes for those nominees on the election ballot. The deadline to register is Friday, November 5th. Resolutions that will be considered at the Council Meeting include:
- COVID-19 Masking, Vaccination, and Testing
- Elimination of the Race Correction Factor in eGFR
- Engaged Neutrality for Medical Aid in Dying
- Creation of Associate Physician Position
Access links for all of the events will be provided following registration. For more information, visit the MSD Annual Meeting webpage.
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Holding Company Board of Directors Annual Meeting
The Holding Company Board of Directors can register for the Board's Annual Meeting to be held on Wednesday, November 10th at 6:00 p.m. (for Holding Company Board members only). Those who are members of both the Council and the Holding Company Board of Directors can conveniently register for both events on one registration site. The deadline to register is Friday, November 5th.
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Annual Education Program
A separate registration is available for the Annual Education Program, which will be held on Thursday, November 11th beginning at 6:00 p.m. "Legal Concerns with Practicing Telemedicine" will be presented by Adam Balick, Healthcare Attorney with Balick & Balick. The second educational session will be on "Artificial Intelligence Capabilities and Limitations" as presented by Winston Liaw, MD, MPH, Chair of the Department of Health Systems and Population Health Sciences, University of Houston College of Medicine. Questions for both education sessions will be solicited in advance from registrants. The Medical Society of Delaware designates this live activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. The deadline to register for the education program is Tuesday, November 9th.
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50-Year Medical School Graduates to be Recognized |
Annual Recognition of Those Who Graduated Medical School 50 Years Ago |
Each year at the Annual Meeting of the Council, MSD honors the physician members who graduated from medical school 50 years earlier. This year we recognize those distinguished individuals who graduated in 1971 for their years of service to the medical profession and in appreciation of dedicated service to the citizens of Delaware. Congratulations to the recipients of this year's 50-Year Medical School Graduate Recognition: |
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Raafat Z. Abdel-Misih, MD
Brian M. Benson, Jr., MD
Ciriaco G. Bongalos, Jr., MD
John J. Chabalko, MD
Viroon Donavanik, MD
John B. Ferguson III, MD
Thomas W. Fiss, Jr., MD
Edward Goldstein, MD
H. Theodore Harcke, Jr., MD
Moses Hochman, MD
T. Noble Jarrell III, MD
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John B. Kramer, MD, MPH
Ira F. Lobis,MD
Marilyn K. Lynam, MD
Michael L. Mattern, MD
Otto R. Medinilla, MD
Louis F. Owens, Jr., MD
Carol A. Owens, MD
Bruce H. Wales, MD
Newell R. Washburn, MD
Stephen Wetherill, MD
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FDA Approves Use of Booster Dose for COVID-19 Vaccines |
CDC Recommendation to be Announced Soon |
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took action on Wednesday to expand the use of a booster dose for COVID-19 vaccines in eligible populations. The agency is amending the emergency use authorizations (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of a single booster dose as follows:
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The use of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine that may be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series to individuals:
- 65 years of age and older
- 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19
- 18 through 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2
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The use of a single booster dose of the Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered at least 2 months after completion of the single-dose primary regimen to individuals 18 years of age and older.
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The use of each of the available COVID-19 vaccines as a heterologous (or “mix and match”) booster dose in eligible individuals following completion of primary vaccination with a different available COVID-19 vaccine.
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To clarify that a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series to individuals 18 through 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
The FDA’s decision and an expected recommendation today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) could mean that boosters of the two coronavirus vaccines could be available as early as Friday. However, as of the publication of this newsletter, there has been no indication of a decision by the CDC.
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Biden Administration Unveils Vaccine Plans for 5-11 Year Olds |
Pending the Vaccine's Approval by Federal Agencies |
In anticipation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) independent advisory committee meeting on October 26 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) independent advisory committee meeting on November 2-3 (and CDC Director's approval), the Biden Administration announced a plan to ensure that, if a vaccine is authorized for children ages 5-11, it is quickly distributed and made conveniently and equitably available. The start of a vaccination program for children ages 5-11 will depend on the independent FDA and CDC process and timeline. The Administration’s plan will mobilize a comprehensive effort across the public and private sectors to ensure that we have the supply, the sites, and the support needed to get our nation’s children vaccinated and protected against the virus. As with vaccination for those 12 and older, the success of this program will rely heavily on states, Tribes, and territories to help implement a smooth rollout. A major component of the Administration’s operational planning is working closely with state and local leaders to ensure they are prepared to distribute and administer vaccines. The Administration is hosting operational readiness calls with every jurisdiction, encouraging them to help increase enrollment of pediatric providers, and will be providing resources to support them as critical partners in the outreach and public education campaign. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, states will continue to receive unprecedented levels of federal support, including full reimbursement from the federal government for vaccination operations and outreach programs.
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DPH Issues Health Advisory on Legionnaire's Disease |
National Increase in Cases |
The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) has issued a health advisory to inform physicians of a national increase in Legionnaire’s disease and to remind providers to consider Legionnaires’ disease as part of diagnosing patients, as many of the symptoms are similar to COVID-19. Legionnaires’ disease causes severe pneumonia (lung infection) often requiring treatment in a hospital, while Pontiac fever is generally a milder illness that resolves on its own. Although uncommon, Legionella can also cause infections at a body site outside of the lungs, such as heart or wound infections. Contributing factors include stagnation of water due to prolonged shutdowns or reduced occupancy of many buildings which can create conditions conducive to Legionella growth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends jurisdictions consider the following activities, collect a detailed history of each patient’s whereabouts during the 14 days before illness onset. Consider using a tool such as a hypothesis-generating questionnaire when interviewing patients or proxies. Common exposure locations can help define and prioritize search area(s) for potential point sources (e.g., building water systems, cooling towers, hot tubs, decorative fountains). All Delaware physicians, laboratories, and other health care providers are required by regulations to report patients with the indicated conditions to the Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology.
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National Mental Health Emergency Declared by Pediatric Groups |
Declaration of National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health |
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) joined together to declare a National State of Emergency in Children’s Mental Health. In a statement recently published, they identified soaring rates of mental health challenges among children, adolescents, and their families over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbating the situation that existed prior to the pandemic. The inequities that result from structural racism have contributed to disproportionate impacts on children from communities of color. The pandemic has intensified rates of childhood mental health concerns and suicide: across the country, we have witnessed dramatic increases in Emergency Department visits for all mental health emergencies including suspected suicide attempts. The groups are calling on policymakers at all levels of government and advocates for children and adolescents to increase federal funding, address regulatory challenges and improve access to technology, increase implementation and sustainable funding for school-based mental health care, accelerate adoption of effective and financially sustainable models of integrated mental health care in primary care pediatrics, strengthen efforts to reduce the risk of suicide, address challenges of the acute care needs, fund community-based systems of care, promote and pay for trauma-informed care services, accelerate strategies to address workforce challenges in child mental health, and advance policies that ensure compliance with and enforcement of mental health parity laws.
Please join MSD, the Campaign for Kids OBVIOUS Initiative, and Nami Delaware for a virtual event on Mental Health Awareness for School-Aged Children K-12, taking place on November 16th at 6:00 p.m. This free event is open to all allied health professionals and the general public. Registration is required. |
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Consequences for Medicare Patients and Health Care System |
On January 1, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will drastically reduce payments for certain health care providers. If Congress does not act to stop these cuts, it will further strain practices that are still struggling to keep their doors open during the ongoing pandemic. Physician practices face a stack of Medicare financial hits amounting to a 9.75 percent cut. These include: expiration of the current reprieve from the repeatedly extended 2 percent sequester; imposition of a 4 percent Statutory PAYGO sequester resulting from passage of the American Rescue Plan Act; expiration of the Congressionally enacted 3.75 percent temporary increase in the Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS) conversion factor; and a statutory freeze in annual Medicare PFS updates under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) that is scheduled to last until 2026. Recently, Reps. Ami Bera, MD (D-CA) and Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN) circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter highlighting the financial uncertainty within the Medicare payment system and the dangers facing the physician community if Congress fails to enact legislation to address these problems. Within a matter of weeks, 245 of their colleagues showed their support for fixing the problem by co-signing the letter. Now is the time to build on that momentum and demand that Congress take action to address these devastating Medicare cuts before it’s too late - Please take a moment and contact our Delaware Senators and Representative to tell them to cancel the cuts!
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Climate Change: Greatest Global Health Threat in 21st Century |
Opportunity to Redefine the Social & Environmental Determinants of Health |
Climate change is set to become the "defining narrative of human health," as indicated by public health experts and physicians in an article published in the Lancet. In its annual “Countdown on health and climate change,” which tracks 44 metrics of the health impacts of climate change, the Lancet provides a sobering assessment of the dangers posed by a warming planet. More than a dozen measures of humanity’s exposure to health-threatening weather extremes have climbed since last year’s report. The Washington Post reports rising temperatures have led to higher rates of heat illness, causing farmworkers to collapse in fields and elderly people to die in their apartments. Insects carrying tropical diseases have multiplied and spread toward the poles. The amount of plant pollen in the air is increasing, worsening asthma and other respiratory conditions. Extreme floods and catastrophic storms have boosted the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases. Smoke from fires in California infiltrates the lungs and then the bloodstreams of people as far away as Texas, Ohio, and New York. Droughts intensify, crops fail, hunger stalks millions of the world’s most vulnerable people. In a special report released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the WHO called climate change “the single biggest health threat facing humanity,” warning that its effects could be more catastrophic and enduring than the coronavirus pandemic. Dozens of public health experts are headed to the U.N. climate summit starting at the end of the month, aiming to convince world leaders that they must take bolder action to curb their nations’ carbon output.
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FDA Issues Proposal to Improve Access to Hearing Aid Technology
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Would Establish New Category of Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids |
On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a landmark proposal intended to improve access to and reduce the cost of hearing aid technology for millions of Americans. The agency proposed a rule to establish a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. When finalized, the rule would allow hearing aids within this category to be sold directly to consumers in stores or online without a medical exam or a fitting by an audiologist. The proposed rule is designed to help increase competition in the market while also ensuring the safety and effectiveness of OTC and prescription hearing aids.
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Highlight On Events And Educational Offerings |
Virtual Alzheimer's Educational Conference for Delaware Residents |
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free virtual Alzheimer’s educational conference for Delaware residents on Wednesday, November 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST as part of its 2021 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open to everyone, will allow participants to learn from, and ask questions of, health, caregiving, and long-term care experts. To register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour.
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Mental Health Virtual Event |
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Join MSD, the Campaign for Kids OBVIOUS Initiative, and Nami Delaware for a Mental Health Virtual Event taking place on November 16th at 6:00 p.m. Hear presentations by special guest speakers, Anne Slease, M.Ed; Norwood Coleman, Jr., LCSW-S, ACSW; Meghan Tuohy Walls, PsyD; and Vanessa Patel, MD. This free event is open to all allied health professionals and the general public. Registration is required. |
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National Prescription Drug Take Back Day |
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The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held on October 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This program helps to dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted medication. Drop off these medications at one of the designated locations to ensure proper disposal and a safe environment. Drugs must be in a container, such as a pill bottle, box, blister pack, or zip lock bag. Locate a collection site near you. |
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CMS Delaware and Maryland Virtual Town Hall on Rural Health/Rural Issues |
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Philadelphia Regional Office would like to invite you to a virtual town hall with a focus on rural health/rural issues on November 9, 2021, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. ET. CMS will have a listening session at the end and would like to hear about the issues/challenges you are facing and good things that are happening in your area.
When: Nov 9, 2021, 12:00 PM Eastern Time
Register in advance for this webinar:
US: +1 669 254 5252 or +1 646 828 7666
Meeting ID: 161 538 2280
Passcode: 944484
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Bayhealth announced it was recently recognized by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) for its use of technology when serving and supporting staff and in caring for patients and the community. Bayhealth earned 2021 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired recognition as a certified level 9 for both inpatient hospital settings (acute) and outpatient ones (ambulatory). Bayhealth was also awarded HIMSS Analytics stage 7 validation for both its inpatient and outpatient settings. The HIMSS model ranks from stage 0 to stage 7. Higher rankings indicate a greater rate of adoption and use of electronic health records (EHRs).
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Beebe Healthcare has earned two new five-star ratings for the treatment of heart attacks and pancreatitis by Healthgrades®. Ratings are determined based on an evaluation of a hospital’s quality performance in specific clinical categories, with five stars indicating that quality measures and associated patient outcomes are higher than predicted and expected. Healthgrades is a web-based company whose mission is to help consumers make educated decisions about where to turn for the highest quality medical care. Beebe’s heart attack and pancreatitis five-star recognitions are added to Beebe’s existing Healthgrades accolades, which include active five-star ratings for orthopaedics, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and critical care.
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TidalHealth announced that 18 of its services earned 5-star rankings in 2022 from Healthgrades®, the leading resource that connects consumers, physicians, and health systems. The Healthgrades 5-star ranking indicates those service lines are performing statistically significantly better than their counterparts at other United States hospitals. At TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford, Delaware, 5-star designations were earned in the following service lines: hip fracture treatment (for two years in a row, 2021-2022); total hip replacement; and gallbladder removal surgery.
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Stacy J. Castaldi, DO - Southern Delaware Imaging Associates |
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.
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Denise G. Karasic, DO - Retired Pediatrician
Kimberly N. Rogers, MD - Internal Medicine, Progressive Health of Delaware
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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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14%
Percent increase of alcohol consumption by adults from 2019 to 2020 as the COVID pandemic surged. Reasons included increased stress, alcohol availability, and boredom.
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1 in 8
Number of women in the US who will develop breast cancer at some time in her life.
American Cancer Society
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60%
Percent of health care consumers who are researching potential health care providers online before booking with them.
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October 28 - 5th Annual Tilton Award Event, 6:00-7:30 p.m. University & Whist Club, 805 N. Broom St, Wilmington. Register: contact Katie.Hamilton@medsocdel.org or (302) 224-5192.
November 6 - Bayhealth Graduate Medical Education Conference, Outpatient Diseases, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., 640 S. State St., Dover Pavilions 1 & 2. (In-person and virtual event).
November 10 - Alzheimer's Foundation Association Educational Conference, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., virtual event.
December 13 - 2021 Communicable Disease Summit "How 2020 Changed the World," 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., virtual and in-person (must show proof of vaccination) at John H. Ammon Medical Education Center, ChristianaCare Newark Campus (limited to 70 in-person attendees).
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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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