Veterans Day - November 11

The Veterans Day National Committee publishes a commemorative Veterans Day poster annually, chosen from a selection of artwork submitted by artists nationwide. The theme for Veterans Day 2022 is "Honor." There is distinct honor in serving to protect our way of life and the Constitution of the United States. MSD thanks those who have had the honor of answering the call to duty and serving in the U.S. military. On the eleventh day of the eleventh month, may we observe a day once dedicated to the cause of world peace and celebrate and honor American veterans of all wars for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice. We thank you.

Business, Education, and Fun for This Year's Events

MSD provided another successful Annual Meeting schedule of events last week, concluding on Saturday with the 5k Run/Walk and Health Fair in the morning at Rockford Park in Wilmington and the Inaugural Reception in the evening at the Smyrna Opera House. MSD has prepared the full report of the business conducted, as well as producing a video to capture the moments from the Council Meeting and Inaugural Reception. Congratulations to the 2023 newly elected officers, the 50-Year Medical Service Awardees, the COVID-19 Honorees, and Distinguished Service, President's, Young Physician, and Special Recognition award recipients!

• View the Annual Meeting Full Report
• Presidential Address to Council
• Incoming President Address to Council
• View the Annual Meeting Picture Video
• View the 5k Run/Walk and Health Fair Video

Proceeds Support Youth Programs at West End Neighborhood House

The annual holiday in-person sale of poinsettias grown at the greenhouse on the Department of Health and Social Services’ (DHSS) Herman Holloway Campus near New Castle begins Nov. 28 and runs through Dec. 22. The greenhouse is operated by Bright Spot Urban Farm, a program operated by West End Neighborhood House in Wilmington. DHSS has an agreement with West End to operate the greenhouse and gardens on the Herman Holloway Campus. Proceeds from the sale of the nearly 3,000 poinsettias grown this season will help support youth programs at West End. Read more about the Bright Spot Urban Farm initiative.

The greenhouse is on the Herman Holloway Campus, 1901 N. DuPont Highway (U.S. 13) and is open to the public. Follow the signs for the greenhouse. The greenhouse will be open for walk-in sales Nov. 28 to Dec. 22. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The greenhouse will be closed on Sundays. Bright Spot accepts cash, check or credit card. For more information, call 302-255-2993. Orders can be made online using the order form at brightspotfarms.org/shopholidays.

Experienced Health Care Management Strategist Hired After Lengthy Search

Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro welcomed Cristine Vogel to the Delaware Department of Insurance as its Director of Value-Based Health Care Delivery this week after a lengthy national search to fill the role. As the inaugural Director, Vogel will lead efforts that relate to value-based care, primary care, pharmaceuticals and pharmacy benefit managers, affordability, and other health-policy initiatives including grant programs.

Leading the Office of Value-Based Health Care Delivery, Vogel will establish, implement, and monitor Affordability Standards such as those to increase primary care investment, and manage the reporting of carrier investments in health care. This will include assessing commercial reimbursement rates for primary and chronic care services, the role of price and utilization in health care spending, and prescription drug spending as a driver of total cost of care.

Vogel most recently served as the Director of Population Health Initiatives for Nuvance Health System in Connecticut, where she developed solutions to improve clinical outcomes, increase quality of care, and control healthcare costs through implementing a nurse care management program, a clinical pharmacy program, and through integrating behavioral health within primary care practices. Her experience in health care reform also includes leading the State of Connecticut’s Office of Healthcare Access and evaluating Certificates of Need. The position, funded by the department, was made necessary by several legislative mandates related to healthcare affordability and pharmacy benefits.

Flu Cases Increased Dramatically

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced the launch of the My Healthy Community (MHC) influenza (flu) dashboard, which shares weekly as well as seasonal data on positive cases, hospitalizations, deaths, and for the first time, vaccinations in the state. The dashboard is intended to provide an accurate picture of flu activity among Delawareans and make influenza data readily and easily available. Updates will occur weekly on Thursdays for local data, and monthly for other geographies. The flu dashboard can be found by visiting the My Healthy Community webpage and clicking on the "Influenza Dashboard."

Increased Respiratory Virus Activity, Early in 2022-2023 Fall and Winter

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory about early, elevated respiratory disease incidence caused by multiple viruses occurring especially among children and placing strain on health care systems. Co-circulation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, and others could place stress on health care systems this fall and winter. This early increase in disease incidence highlights the importance of optimizing respiratory virus prevention and treatment measures, including prompt vaccination and antiviral treatment.

Region 3 of the Department of Health and Human Services has indicated the increase incidence of respiratory infections is in large part the result of fewer cases of RSV and flu because of social isolation during the COVID pandemic in 2020-21. While there is an increase in cases of RSV, the disease is not more severe and there has not been an increase in deaths from RSV compared with pre-pandemic numbers. The virus is appearing earlier in the season and it is expected that cases will drop sooner. While persons of any age can develop RSV, it is most common in children younger than 2 and can be severe, especially for infants and older adults. Most infected children do not end up in the hospital and most will recover in one to two weeks.

Novavax and Moderna Have Begun Developing Combo Vaccines

Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, announced last week that Phase 1 testing has begun on an experimental flu and coronavirus vaccine combination. The vaccine combines the influenza vaccine and the omicron-targeting booster. The study will be conducted in the United States, and researchers plan on enrolling 180 volunteers ages 18 to 64. Study participants will be followed for six months. Other manufacturers, such as Novavax and Moderna, have begun developing combination influenza and coronavirus vaccines.

Volunteers to Provide Virtual Education to Homebound Delawareans

As reported in TownSquare Live, a $675,000 grant from the Administration for Community Living will go toward educating older homebound Delawareans who struggle to find ways to manage conditions such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis. The grant was awarded to Education Health Research International (EHRI), the non-profit arm of the Milford Wellness Village. Over the next three years, the non-profit will train 100 volunteers on how to provide virtual educational programs on self-management of chronic diseases to up to 1,000 homebound individuals. Some of the content in the courses addresses managing portion sizes and tracking sugars and salts in meals. The courses will also help bridge the digital divide that many of the country’s elderly experience. For the elderly who don’t have access to technology, the program will provide laptops and iPads using grant money.

For Food, Medical Device, and Hand Sanitizer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced several recalls which may impact you and your patients. A list of the most recent announcements are listed below with links to the FDA website for additional information.

Giant Food Private Label Wild Caught Alaskan Sockeye Smoked Salmon - Seven Seas International is voluntarily recalling this product because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The product was distributed by Giant Food in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, and Delaware.

Nestle Toll House Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough - Nestle USA is initiating a voluntary recall of a limited quantity due to the potential presence of soft plastic film. The recall is isolated to three batches produced August 1-3, 2022 and distributed to retailers nationwide. This does not involve any other Nestle Toll House products.

Omnipod DASH Personal Diabetes Manager - Insulet Corporation announced a Medical Device Correction for all Omnipod DASH Personal Diabetes Managers (PDM) distributed globally. Issues include battery swelling and leakage, and in rare cases extreme overheating that resulted in fire. The PDM is at increased risk of malfunction if overcharged beyond the maximum battery voltage.

Adam's Polishes Hand Sanitizer (consumer level) - A voluntary recall on lot 133475 as FDA testing has found this lot to contain undeclared methanol. Adam's Polishes is recalling 19 other lots in an abundance of caution.

Linked to Deli Meat and Cheese

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health agencies are collecting data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections. Maryland is among the six states identified with a Listeria outbreak as the cause for sickness. the true number of sick people is likely higher than the number reported and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, as some recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria. Information collected so far shows that deli meat and cheese purchased at deli counters in multiple states are the likely sources of this outbreak. Because Listeria spreads easily between food and the deli environment and can persist for a long time in deli display cases and on equipment, it is difficult to identify a single food as the source of outbreaks. The CDC advises people at higher risk of severe Listeria illness to not eat meat or cheese from any deli counter, unless it is reheated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit or until steaming hot.

Opportunity for Those Nearing Retirement or Transitioning to Part-Time

The Saint Francis Family Medicine Residency Program is looking for more part-time preceptors to work with our residents. If you are interested in sharing your knowledge one to three half days per week in their office, they would love to have you join them! This opportunity is perfect for a board-certified Family Medicine physician who is moving toward a part-time practice or retirement, or is just interested in teaching the next generation and can spare a half day or two or three. The office suite is under renovation, so you will be working in a beautiful new facility that is now in the final phases of completion! Excellent compensation, flexible days. If interested, please email Louise at louise.digenova@che-east.org

2023: Physician Medical Licensure Renewal Year

Delaware law requires that, in order for medical professionals to renew their license, they must attest that they have completed training on:

• how to recognize child sexual and physical abuse, exploitation and domestic violence
• your reporting obligations under the Medical Practice Act and Regulatory Provisions Concerning Public Health

The 2023 Mandatory Reporting Training for Medical Professionals will be available on January 1, 2023, and features videos from professionals within the child welfare field that walk participants through how to detect and respond to child abuse and neglect.

Licensed physicians must take the 2023 Mandatory Reporting training even if they recently completed mandatory reporting training. This training must be completed before every medical license renewal. Physicians are required to attest to completing the training on their renewal application. Failure to do so will delay the renewal of the medical license.  

This training is provided by the Office of the Child Advocate. To complete the training on or after January 1, 2023, go to https://stateofdelaware.csod.com/default.aspx?c=courts-oca to create an account. If you already have an account, just click the “login in” icon and sign in User ID and Password. Once training is completed, medical professionals can then reapply for licensure through the Division of Professional Regulation's website at https://delpros.delaware.gov/OH_HomePage.

Which Seasonal Time Change Would You Prefer if There is Only One?

Setting the clocks back this past weekend gave us all an extra hour of sleep or productive time, as well as darkness now falling upon us earlier in the evenings. For those of you who get confused, Daylight Saving Time starts in the spring when we turn the clocks forward one hour, resulting in a lost hour to our day, more darkness in the morning, and more light in the evening. Standard Time is what we recently experienced by turning the clocks back one hour in the fall, which lasts for approximately the next four months. American opinion is mixed as to the benefits of Daylight Saving Time versus standard time and most do not like the switch itself due the adjustments each change brings. What do you think? Read more.

SAVE THE DATE! Thursday, November 17th

The Delaware Rural Health Initiative wants you to SAVE THE DATE! for National Rural Health Day 2022 to be held on Thursday, November 17th from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. at Beebe Healthcare's Specialty Surgical Hospital, 19161 Healthy Way, Rehoboth Beach.

On this 12th National Rural Health Day, you are invited to a reception to recognize three champions innovating and serving rural Delaware. Please attend for remarks and refreshments at one of Sussex's newest health sites. More information to come!

MSDIS Members Have Access to My Benefit Advisor for Help

It comes as no surprise that there has been a shift in priorities for many employees over the past year. The things individuals thought were important as little as two years ago no longer seem so critical, while some issues now have come into the forefront and are deemed to be absolutely necessary. Decision makers for employee benefits have taken notice and are responding with a revised menu of benefit options. Primarily, they’re focused on enhancing benefit selections, rounding out wellness coverage, boosting mental-health coverage, and adding childcare programs and telehealth options.

Employers are generally mindful of how financially stretched their employees might be and are trying to limit how much they add to their burden. Instead of raising benefit levels for all employees across the board, it may be beneficial to develop a more targeted approach and let individuals select the benefits that are best suited for them, through a voluntary benefit package as an example. One thing is clear however… in today’s economy employees have shifted their perspective on compensation, focusing intensely on the employer sponsored benefit portfolio.



The Medical Society of Delaware Insurance Services offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at www.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Sharon Ruth at (302) 397-0173.

Serve Your Community, State, and Nation

The Delaware Air National Guard is your hometown force located in New Castle, Delaware, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to defend freedom and protect communities – locally and globally. Did you know they also fill a variety of medical roles? There are positions for health care professionals ranging from Physician Assistant to Internist, Flight Nurses, Optometrists and Dentists, and even Flight Surgeons. These specialties are part time, paid military positions with most of the commitment being one weekend per month and 10 to 15 additional training days per year. Read more about how the Delaware Air National Guard serves our local Delaware community. If you would like to learn more about the mission and how you can serve in a way that fits your lifestyle, reach out for an introductory conversation. Contact:

Samuel Lewis, SMSgt, DE ANG

HQ DE ANG Recruiting & Retention Senior Enlisted Leader

(302) 547-6655 or samuel.lewis.2@us.af.mil

2023 Annual Meeting - March 19-20, 2023

Join the Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health for its 2023 Annual Meeting, which will be held in person and virtually on March 19-20, 2023, with in-person Congressional visits on March 21. The meeting will take place at Van Metre Hall on George Mason University's campus in Arlington, Virginia, and on Zoom. The theme for this year's meeting is Seize the Moment for Climate Action: Building The Climate Health Movement. Register today!

How You Can Help Families Avoid the Health Risks of Climate Change

My Green Doctor this month is offering MSD primary care members free waiting room brochures on how families can avoid the health risks of climate change. This is part of a four-week, IRB-approved study that asks offices to give patients brochures at check-in and for the patients to answer a five-minute confidential survey at home. All materials are provided in English and Spanish. The nurses and doctors are not involved. If interested, email Dr. Todd Sack as soon as possible to enroll in the study (mygreendr@gmail.com). 

Bayhealth

The Southern Delaware Heart Walk was one for the record books with premier sponsor Bayhealth far exceeding its fundraising goal, becoming the American Heart Association of Delaware’s (AHA’s) top health system fundraiser in the state of Delaware with more than $51,000 donated. This comes just a week before Bayhealth, AHA, Food Bank of Delaware, and Food Rescue Hero Network launch a first-in-the-nation food rescue program. Droves of Bayhealth team members and clinicians packed Rehoboth Beach on Sunday, Nov. 6 as a sign of their commitment to fighting heart disease and making their community a heart healthy one. And some of Bayhealth’s cardiovascular patients walked with their care providers. Visit 302FoodRescue.org to learn more about 302 Food Rescue. 

Beebe Healthcare

Beebe Healthcare is taking care to the people of Sussex County with the addition of a new 36-foot Community Mobile Health Clinic. The mobile clinic arrived Wednesday, Oct. 26 and will be operational later this year. A public ribbon cutting event is planned for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16. The Mobile Health Clinic will be operated by Beebe’s Population Health and Community Outreach departments in partnership with Beebe Behavioral Health. An emphasis of the Mobile Health Clinic will focus on addiction medicine and behavioral health services. As part of Beebe’s five-year strategic plan, the system is focused on adding more access to services. 

ChristianaCare

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (“Hims & Hers”, NYSE: HIMS), the trusted consumer-first platform focused on providing modern personalized health and wellness experiences to consumers, and ChristianaCare announced a partnership that will expand access to health care services and create a more seamless care journey for patients. The partnership will benefit customers in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and expands the Hims & Hers’ partnership network with physicians and non-physician practitioners to now include 10 states and Washington D.C. Hims & Hers offers treatments for a broad range of conditions, including those related to sexual health, hair loss, dermatology, mental health and primary care. This collaboration allows licensed health care professionals on the Hims & Hers platform to connect patients with ChristianaCare’s Center for Virtual Health and extensive primary and specialty care network when appropriate. Referrals may occur if a patient presents with a complex medical history, requires additional in-person follow up or evaluation, or needs care for a condition that the Hims & Hers platform does not support.

Jeffrey J. Boxer, MD - Beacon Pediatrics

Erin P. Fletcher, DO - Beacon Pediatrics

Stacey G. Fox, MD - Beacon Pediatrics

Irwin L. Lifrak, MD - Internal Medicine/Addiction Medicine, Irwin Lifrak, PA

Meredith A. Luckenbaugh, MD - Beacon Pediatrics

Michelle E. Papa, DO - Family Medicine, Seth L. Ivins, MD, LLC

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!

Liann Abu Salman, MD - Nephrology Associates, PA

Amir K. Abdel Kader, MD - Anesth/Pain Med, DE Orthopaedic Specialists

Priyanka Dixit-Patel, MD - FM, Christiana Care Primary Care at Smyrna

Brandt J. Feuerstein, MD - Vascular Surgery, Vein Center at Eden Hill, LLC

Kareem H. Genena, MD - Nephrology Associates, PA

Malene K. Ingram, MD - Bariatric Surgery, TidalHealth General Surgery

Jessica A. Magdeburger, MD - Family Medicine, Dover Family Physicians

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 on the current pending members(s) listed above.

• DPH Flu Dashboard
• DPH Delaware Weekly Influenza Surveillance Reports by week.
• CDC https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm
• WHO https://www.who.int/teams/global-influenza-programme/surveillance-and-monitoring/influenzaupdates/current-influenza-update

• DPH Public Health Alerts: de.gov/publichealthalerts
• DPH Hotline - (866) 408-1899 (Monday -Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or DPHCall@delaware.gov
• Reporting suspected monkeypox rash in Delaware: Contact DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (OIDE), at 302-744-4990 (business hours) or 1-888-295-5156 (after hours).
• Delaware health care facilities that require specimen collection kits can order through OEMS@delaware.gov using a SHOC Request form.
• DPH website: de.gov/monkeypox
• DPH Social Channels: Facebook (@DEPublicHealth), Instagram (@depublichealth), DHSS Twitter (@Delaware_DHSS)
• FDA Monkeypox Response Website
• CDC Monkeypox Website
• CDC Case Definitions for 2022 Monkeypox Response
• CDC Considerations for Monkeypox Vaccination for the recommended use of vaccine in the U.S.
• CDC Monkeypox Treatment Information for Healthcare Professionals
• Specimen collection: Follow Lab Advisory: CDC Updates Specimen Collection Guidelines for Monkeypox Virus 

Information as of 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 10

• DPH Public Health Alerts: de.gov/publichealthalerts
• DPH COVID-19 Booster Information: de.gov/boosters
• Federal website for information on navigating COVID: COVID.gov
• CDC COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Calculator
• COVID-19 Treatment Options
• Medical Provider Guidance for Administering Therapeutics
• COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator
• CDC COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review.
• For testing flyers (available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole): https://covidmaterialsde.com/resources/community-organizer
• For all testing site referral locations, visit: de.gov/gettested
• For vaccination site referral locations, visit: de.gov/getmyvaccine
• Pfizer/Moderna pediatric vaccine information: de.gov/youthvaccine
• FDA At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests provides a list of all FDA-authorized at-home over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 diagnostic tests
• Know the COVID-19 Community Level where you live
• DPH COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Check Page to help separate fact from fiction.
• Subscribe to the COVID-19 Update podcast - on Apple Podcasts or Simplecast.