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October 14, 2021
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 their 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. To date, three resolutions have been presented for consideration by the Council. The deadline to register is Friday, November 5th.

Access links for each of the events will be provided following registration. For more information, visit the MSD Annual Meeting webpage.
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.
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.
Join Us to Celebrate the 5th Annual Tilton Award Event
Tilton Award Pays Tribute to MSD's First President
This year the Medical Society of Delaware and the Tilton Society of Delaware are honored to recognize Ray A. Blackwell, MD, Chief of Cardiac Surgery, and the W. Samuel Carpenter lll Distinguished Chair, Cardiovascular Surgery at ChristianaCare. Dr. Blackwell is being recognized for his commitment to innovation and excellence in the practice of medicine. Our event this year will be a cocktail reception - black tie optional. In order to have a safe and responsible event during the pandemic, attendance is limited to fifty people and attendees are respectfully requested to present proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test.

The Tilton Awards Reception will be held Thursday, October 28, 2021, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Tilton Mansion – University & Whist Club, 805 N. Broom Street Wilmington, DE. Registration fee is $100.00 per person or $150.00 per couple.

Please RSVP to Katie Hamilton at Katie.Hamilton@medsocdel.org or 302-224-5192 no later than October 22, 2021.
Delaware Today Publishes Top Docs for 2021
Pick Up Your Copy to See Who Made the List This Year!
This year brought continued medical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but recognizing extraordinary physicians who go above and beyond every day is no less important. This year's top doctors for 2021 come from a variety of specialties. To make the cut as a Delaware Top Doc, physicians were asked to vote for their peers using a secure online balloting system. Pick up the October issue of Delaware Today to see the best of 2021 as voted on by your peers. You can also view a list here. Congratulations to MSD member, William M. Chasanov II, DO, Director of Clinical Transformation and COVID-19 Medical Response Director at Beebe Healthcare, for making this year's cover!
Governor Signs Legislation Today
Multiple Bills to be Signed
Governor John Carney will sign multiple pieces of legislation at Legislative Hall today, which includes the following bills:

Senate Bill 105 - Allows pharmacists to administer or dispense contraceptives under a standing order from the Division of Public Health.

Senate Bill 107 - Requires that individual, group, state employee, and public assistance insurance plans provide coverage for a medically necessary insulin pump at no cost to a covered individual.

Senate Bill 161 - Delaware is among 16 states that only permit a baby to be surrendered to a hospital without fear of prosecution under the infant safe haven laws. This Act adds police stations to the designated safe havens where an individual may surrender a baby.

Senate Bill 166 - Establishes the Prescription Opioid Settlement Fund and Prescription Opioid Distribution Commission to ensure that settlement money from opioid distributors, manufacturers, and pharmacies is used to remediate and abate the opioid crisis and is not diverted to other purposes.
Workforce Support for Hospitals, LTC, 24/7 State Facilities
American Rescue Plan Act Funding for Recruitment/Retention
Governor John Carney announced more than $75 million in financial support for Delaware hospitals, long-term care facilities, and State of Delaware-operated 24/7 facilities. Funding can be used to make recruitment and retention payments to Delawareans working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in facilities that are facing significant staffing shortages.
State Discontinues Free COVID Tests Dispensed Through Libraries
Supply Issues Cited
As part of the COVID-19 testing program offered through the State of Delaware, an arrangement was made for the availability of free rapid at-home testing kits to be available for pick up through the state's public libraries. However, this free COVID-19 testing program has been discontinued due to supply issues. Libraries received their final shipments of the rapid at-home tests last week. Some libraries may still have kits available. The state continues to offer other opportunities for testing throughout the state. The Division of Public Health provides testing location flyers in various languages, including scheduled locations for this week, to use as a resource.
NIH Study Shows Best Booster for J&J is an mRNA Vaccine
Stronger Immune Response Than Two Doses of J&J
According to a National Institutes of Health preprint study released on Wednesday, the best booster for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine may be either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. The 500-participant study found that the J&J shot followed by one of the mRNA vaccines as a booster produced a stronger immune response than two doses of J&J. The data will be presented to an FDA advisory committee on Friday afternoon.
DPH Announces Second Case of West Nile Virus
79-Year-Old Sussex County Woman is Latest Victim
Last week, the Division of Public Health (DPH) announced that a woman from Sussex County became infected with West Nile Virus (WNV), the state's second case of human WNV in 2021. Symptoms of severe WNV infection include headache, high fever, stiff neck, and/or tremors and muscle weakness. The elderly and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk. Anyone who experiences any of these severe symptoms should seek medical help immediately. Symptoms may progress to stupor, disorientation, coma, convulsions, paralysis and possibly death.
Delaware's Cancer Mortality Rates Continue to Decrease
DPH Releases Latest Cancer Report
According to the latest cancer data from the Division of Public Health (DPH), Delaware’s mortality rate for all cancer sites combined (all-site cancer) improved in most categories during the last decade; however, the state remains 15th -highest in the U.S. for the timeframe of 2013-2017, which is unchanged from 2012-2016. Delaware also remains second-highest nationally for all-site cancer incidence during the same period, which may be partly due to the state’s continued increases in early detection and screening. DPH presented its data report, Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Delaware, 2013-2017, to the Delaware Cancer Consortium (DCC) on Monday. The annual report seeks to compare Delaware’s cancer incidence and mortality trends for 2013-2017 to those of the U.S. over the same period. DPH also summarizes how Delaware and U.S. cancer rates have changed from the five-year periods of 2003-2007 to 2013-2017. This year’s report analyzes all-site cancer and eight site-specific cancer types: breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, kidney, leukemia, oral, and prostate. DPH also issued a new compendium report, Census Tract-Level Cancer Incidence in Delaware, 2013-2017, which replaces previous secondary analysis reports. This report presents modified calculations and detailed maps with all-site cancer incidence rates by census tract. 
WHO Announces Proposed Members of Scientific Advisory Group
Expert Group to Investigate Origins of the Coronavirus and Other Outbreaks
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the proposed members of the WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO). The 26 experts were selected from over 700 applications and were chosen for their world-class expertise and experience in a range of disciplines, as well as their geographic and gender diversity. SAGO will advise WHO on the development of a global framework to define and guide studies into the origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential, including SARS-CoV-2. A two-week public consultation period will take place to provide feedback on the proposed SAGO members.
USPSTF Rethinking Use of Aspirin to Ward Off First Attack/Stroke
Task Force Planning to Overhaul Guidelines Based on New Studies
Taking low-dose aspirin regularly to prevent a first heart attack or stroke has been the recommendation for middle-aged and older Americans. However, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's (USPSTF) draft recommendation statement indicates this treatment may have a "small net benefit" for those who are at risk for cardiovascular disease. Aspirin is a blood thinner and can help prevent clots, but it can also cause major bleeding especially in older adults. The Task Force is now proposing that starting this regimen in adults ages 40-59 with a 10% or greater 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk should be an individual decision, as evidence indicates that the net benefit of aspirin use in this group is small. Persons who are not at increased risk for bleeding and are willing to take low-dose aspirin daily are more likely to benefit. Adults age 60 or older shouldn't start taking low-dose aspirin daily for the primary prevention of CVD, as the higher risk of bleeding with age cancels out the potential benefit of aspirin. The announcement isn't a surprise and follows a number of medical organizations, such as the American Heart Association, that have indicated that older Americans without high risk of heart disease should forgo daily low-dose aspirin.
FDA Issues Sodium Reduction Final Guidance
Significant Step in Efforts to Reduce Diet-Related Chronic Diseases
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing final guidance for the food industry that provides voluntary, short-term (2.5 year) sodium reduction targets for a broad range of processed, packaged, and prepared foods to help reduce the amount of sodium in the U.S. food supply. Sodium reduction is a critically important public health issue because Americans consume on average 50% more than the recommended limit for those age 14 years and older. In the U.S., diet-related chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability. Additionally, these chronic diseases are experienced disproportionately by racial and ethnic minority groups. The targets in the guidance are designed to support decreasing average daily sodium intake by about 12%—from approximately 3,400 milligrams (mg) to 3,000 mg per day, with expectations of tens of thousands of fewer cases of heart disease and stroke and billions saved in healthcare costs. The FDA believes these targets are feasible to achieve in two and a half years and covers both manufactured foods and foods prepared by commercial establishments, such as restaurants.
Mandatory 10-Digit Dialing Effective October 24
988 Hotline Becomes Available Nationwide on July 16, 2022
Delawareans with (302) phone numbers will need to dial 10 digits to others in the 302 area code starting October 24th. The change to 10-digit dialing not only affects Delaware but also 16 states and territories and 84 area codes. The reason for the switch is to start 988 as a new national suicide hotline number. The National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline remains at (800) 273-TALK until it moves to 988 on July 16, 2022. Local calls dialed with only seven digits beginning on October 24 may not be completed. Verizon notes that the change affects life safety systems and medical monitoring devices, PBXs, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, fire or burglar alarm systems, other security systems or gates, speed dialers, mobile or other wireless phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, and other similar functions. Make sure you have adjusted any pre-set numbers for your office and your home to include the appropriate area code as needed.
AI Is Just What the Doctor Ordered
Machine-Based Learning Identifies Errors Based on Physicians' Behaviors
The electronic health record (EHR) many times can cause or worsen drug ordering errors due to all the intricacies inherent in the system. Problems often begin with mistakes at the point of the clinician-computer interface. Researchers at New York University have designed a machine-based learning model for identifying medication orders requiring intervention using the ordering clinician's behavior and other contextual features. The goal of this innovation is to reduce prescription-drug errors and better ensure patient privacy and security. The study was published on October 5 in JAMIA Open.
Highlight On Events And Educational Offerings
Mental Health Virtual Event
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.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
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.
34th Annual Festival of Trees
Hosted by Delaware Hospice to support its programs, Festival of Trees features a magnificent display of beautifully decorated trees and wreaths. A variety of events and activities help make the weekend truly special. The event will take place the weekend of November 19-21 at Brantwyn Estate in Wilmington.
Hospital News
Bayhealth
Bayhealth and Post Acute Medical (PAM) Health announced a new joint venture and management services agreement that expands rehabilitation services in Kent and Sussex Counties. Effective January 1, 2022, PAM will manage all inpatient rehabilitation services at Bayhealth Sussex Campus. Additionally, the joint venture agreement will deliver inpatient rehabilitation services at PAM Health's existing facility in Dover, as well as at a new facility in Georgetown, scheduled to open next year.
In Memoriam
Jose Austria, MD
It is with sadness that we share that MSD member Jose Austria, MD passed away on January 18, 2021, from complications resulting from a subdural hematoma. Dr. Austria settled in Dover with his family in 1971, where he maintained a private practice in Internal Medicine and also served as an attending physician at Kent General Hospital. Through the years he was an active community volunteer, provided free athletic physicals for the school district, and cooked and served meals for various local soup kitchens. Upon retirement, he volunteered at the Hope Medical Clinic in Dover and also worked as a physician at the Perdue Farms Wellness Centers. He was attentive to his patients and spent countless hours following up with them. Dr. Austria was a member of MSD since 1971. A Celebration of Life will be held when it can be done safely. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 12:00 Noon on Friday, October 15th at The Church of The Holy Cross in Dover. Read the obituary.
"Rerum Cognoscere"
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.
44%
Percentage of Americans surveyed who said they were unsure about or not planning to get a flu vaccine this year.
>75%
Percent of adults who are missing at least one routinely recommended vaccine.
41%
Decrease in risk of severe COVID-19 by eating healthy plant-based foods, based on study of diet quality and severity of COVID-19.
Upcoming Events
October 16 - 2021 John Scholz Stroke Education Conference, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon, virtual event.
October 18-19 - 2021 Virtual Maryland Rural Health Conference, virtual meeting.
October 21-22 - MSD Medical Front Office Skills Certificate Program, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., MSD Conference Center, Newark.
October 22 - 50th Dr. Margaret I. Handy Annual Memorial Lectureship, 12:00-5:30 p.m., virtual.
November 3, 4, 11, 12 - MSD Certified Medical Office Manager, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., MSD Conference Center, Newark.
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 9 - MSD Annual Meeting of the Council, 6:00 p.m., virtual event.
November 10 - MSD Holding Company Board of Directors Annual Meeting, 6:00 p.m., virtual.
November 11 - MSD Annual Education Session, 6:00-8:00 p.m., virtual event (MSD members only).
November 16 - Mental Health Awareness Education Session, 6:00 p.m., virtual event, open to the general public and all allied health professionals. 
November 17-19 - AMA 2022 CPT® and RBRVS Annual Symposium, virtual.
November 19-21 - Delaware Hospice Festival of Trees, Brantwyn Estate, Wilmington.
November 2021 - April 2022 - ECHO Autism Adult Healthcare, virtual series.
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).
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.
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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