Delaware to Focus on Jobs, Schools, Safety

Governor Carney today delivered his annual State of the State address to a joint session of the General Assembly, announcing plans to strengthen our economy and infrastructure, invest in public schools and child care, and maintain a sustainable financial plan. He pointed out that compared to six years ago when Delaware faced a deficit, the state today is in solid financial shape to help provide good jobs, quality education and safe communities. Next week the Governor will release his Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal. He has already announced that the budget will include a raise for teachers, to keep current teachers in the state and attract new teachers. There will also be an investment in a childcare program that helps low wage earners pay for day care. Click here to read Governor Carney’s full State of the State address, as prepared for delivery. Watch the presentation.

Seeing an Increase but Not as High Compared to 2022 Post-Holiday Surge

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is seeing an increase in post-holiday COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, though the increase is not nearly as high as the 2022 post-holiday surge. Still, DPH encourages individuals to take specific action steps to stay healthy and prevent the spread of the virus.

This time last year, Delaware reported the highest number of new positive daily cases since the start of the pandemic at 3,666 reported on Jan. 6, 2022, and 759 hospitalizations on Jan. 12, 2022. Comparatively, the data posted to the My Healthy Community dashboard shows there were 151 new cases (7 day average) on Jan. 17, 2023, and 197 hospitalizations. While the reduced number of cases reported does not take into account the large number of likely positive results from at-home testing, which are not reported to DPH, the fact that hospitalizations remain so much lower is a good indicator that there is not as much serious illness being caused by COVID-19 infection. Even with new emerging variants, the tools available to successfully fight COVID-19 have become increasingly effective. The updated bivalent booster provides the best level of protection against serious illness and hospitalization as it strengthens the antibody response against two strains of COVID-19: the original strain of the virus and the Omicron variants. Health experts say if has been eight (8) months or more since a person's last vaccine, their protection is limited. For children 5+ having been at least two months or more since their completed your primary series, and haven’t had a recent infection since July, or haven’t been boosted since August, they are eligible for an updated booster. 

Medically related questions regarding testing, symptoms, and health-related guidance can be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.     

Data Suggests There is Unlikely a Clinical Risk for Pfizer Bivalent Vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), a near real-time surveillance system, met the statistical criteria to prompt additional investigation into whether there was an increased risk for ischemic stroke in people ages 65 and older who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent in the 21 days following vaccination compared with days 22-42 following vaccination. This preliminary signal has not been identified with the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent. In a statement released last Friday, the totality of the data currently suggests that it is very unlikely that the signal in the VSD represents a true clinical risk. The CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will continue to evaluate the data from the safety monitoring systems and other vaccine safety systems. No change in vaccination practice is recommended.

Provide Latest Updates, Outline Emerging Dangers, and a Call to Action

On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, along with top leaders from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS), led a community response briefing to provide the latest information about suspected drug overdose deaths in the state, current and emerging dangers of illicit drug use, and a clear call to action to reduce overdose deaths through collaboration and innovative programs.

In 2021, Delaware reported 515 overdose deaths, an increase of more than 15% over 2020, according to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science (DFS). DFS also reported that 425 of the 515 deaths involved fentanyl, a synthetic pain reliever that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. Preliminary reports show that there were 406 confirmed overdose deaths in the first three quarters of 2022, with approximately 124 suspected overdose deaths still pending final testing from the last quarter of 2022.

DHSS’s Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) announced the establishment of the Opioid Response Center, which will soon utilize overdose incident data to dispatch targeted community outreach teams who will distribute Narcan and share information about how individuals can get help if they are struggling with addiction. The center is also planning to provide follow-up outreach to community members who have overdosed but who refused subsequent medical care. MSD member, Gregory K. Wanner, D.O., Chief Physician for the Division of Public Health, provided a demonstration of the use of fentanyl test strips that are now included in the Narcan kits being distributed. The test strips are highly sensitive and will detect fentanyl down to 0.1 mcg/ml.

Resources:

• Call the 24/7 Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE or 1-833-946-7333 – a single point of contact in which callers can connect to a variety of resources and information, including support from clinicians and peer specialists plus crisis assistance.
• DHSS’ Bridge Clinics can provide an in-person assessment.
• Visit TreatmentConnection.com to find out the location of treatment providers.
• Visit HelpIsHereDE.com, DHSS’ one-stop website where Delawareans can search for treatment services and resources in Delaware or nearby states.
• Learn where to find Narcan training, get the medication through the mail, and download the OpiRescueDE App here.

New Training Requirements to be Introduced for Prescribers

As similarly reported in the January 12, 2023, issue of MSD's eNews and Views, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced a change to the DEA registration requirement, which was sent to DEA registrants.

With the signing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (the Act), Congress eliminated the “DATA-Waiver Program.” The elimination of the X-Waiver will increase access to buprenorphine for those in need. All physicians and health care practitioners who have a current DEA registration that includes Schedule III authority, may now prescribe buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder in their practice if permitted by applicable state law.

All DEA registrants should be aware of the following:

• A DATA-Waiver registration is no longer required to treat patients with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.
• Going forward, all prescriptions for buprenorphine only require a standard DEA registration number. The previously used DATA-Waiver registration numbers are no longer needed for any prescription.
• There are no longer any limits or patient caps on the number of patients a prescriber may treat for opioid use disorder with buprenorphine.
• The Act does not impact existing state laws or regulations that may be applicable. (Refer to Delaware Policy and Procedure)

Separately, the Act also introduced new training requirements for all prescribers. These requirements will not go into effect until June 21, 2023. The DEA and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are actively working to provide further guidance and DEA will follow up with additional information on these requirements shortly. Importantly, these new requirements do not impact the changes related to elimination of the DATA-Waiver Program described above.

AMA Response

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published today the proposed rule that would ban most noncompete clauses. The proposed rule would, among other things, provide that it is an unfair method of competition for an employer to enter into or attempt to enter into a noncompete clause with a worker; to maintain with a worker a non-compete clause; or, under certain circumstances, to represent to a worker that the worker is subject to a non-compete clause. Comments must be received on or before March 20, 2023.  Interested parties may file a comment online or on paper. Write ‘‘Non-Compete Clause Rulemaking, Matter No. P201200’’ on your comment, and file your comment online at https://www.regulations.gov, by following the instructions on the web-based form (search on Matter No. P201200). If you prefer to file your comment on paper, write "Non-Compete Clause Rulemaking, Matter No. P201200" on your comment and on the envelope, and mail your comment to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite CC–5610 (Annex C), Washington, DC 20580.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has been asked what approach it expects to take. The AMA has existing policy specifically addressing noncompetes, including a Code of Medical Ethics opinion. This ethics opinion recognizes that physicians often have diverse opinions about noncompetes. AMA policy opposes unreasonable noncompetes. The AMA will be submitting comments by the March 20 deadline, and their comments will be guided by this policy.  

Working Towards a Smooth Transition for Medicaid Members

Effective January 1, 2023, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has contracted with “Delaware First Health” as the newest Delaware Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO), joining Highmark Health Options and AmeriHealth Caritas DE. 

In order to ensure a smooth transition for both practices and patients and that care of Medicaid members continues uninterrupted, Delaware First Health is sharing important information to accomplish this goal. Please follow the enclosed links for additional information, based on your current status as either a participating or non-participating practice with Delaware First Health.

Delaware First Health Participating Practices:

https://www.delawarefirsthealth.com/newsroom/welcome-to-delaware-first-health-.html

If you have any additional questions, visit DelawareFirstHealth.com or call (877) 236-1341 for more information.

Non-Participating Practices:

https://www.delawarefirsthealth.com/providers/provider-news/non-participating-provider-continuity-of-care-and-billing-inform.html 

Goal is to Have All Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries in Accountable Care

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that three innovative accountable care initiatives will grow and provide higher quality care to people with Medicare in 2023. More than 700,000 health care professionals and organizations will participate in at least one of the three initiatives – the Medicare Shared Savings Program and two CMS Innovation Center accountable care model tests. This growth furthers achieving the CMS’ goal of having all people with Traditional Medicare in an accountable care relationship with their health care provider by 2030. The announcement includes three CMS accountable care initiatives: the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program); the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (ACO REACH) Model; and the Kidney Care Choices (KCC) Model.

In 2022, CMS published a vision for increasing access to accountable care to bring coordinated, high-quality care to patients by supporting organizations new to value-based care and shared savings to increase participation in ACOs, advancing health equity by expanding the reach of ACOs in underserved communities, and scaling successful features of model tests into the permanent Shared Savings Program. The Shared Savings Program is the largest accountable care initiative in the country and is a permanent program in Medicare that was established by the Affordable Care Act. While the Shared Savings Program experienced a decrease in the number of ACOs and assigned beneficiaries for 2023, the policies finalized in the CY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule are expected to grow participation in the program for 2024 and beyond, when many of the new policies are set to go into effect. These policies are expected to drive growth in participation, particularly in rural and underserved areas, promote equity, and advance alignment across the accountable care initiatives, and increase the number of beneficiaries assigned to ACOs participating in the program by up to four million over the next several years.

Notice of Funding Opportunity

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epilepsy Program announces a new, 5-year, non-research cooperative agreement in fiscal year 2023. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is designed to build health care system capacity to deliver evidence-based self-management supports (e.g., evidence-based epilepsy self-management programs) through health care settings (e.g., epilepsy center clinics) to address gaps in delivering these types of services to people with epilepsy. Learn more about eligibility, funding amounts, and how to apply on CDC’s website.  

Application Deadline Approaching

The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has launched a state-sponsored Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program (HCPLRP). Under the new loan repayment program, eligible clinicians may receive up to $50,000 per year in loan repayment for a maximum of four years of employment in Delaware. The Delaware Health Care Commission (DHCC) is responsible for the administration of the program. Eligible clinicians must be a new primary care provider in an ambulatory or outpatient setting and completed graduate education within six-months of the application for HCPLRP grant being submitted. Employers may apply on behalf of their affiliated, qualifying clinicians for education loan repayment grants and must provide a 50% match for loan repayment awards. Awarded clinicians will be asked to commit to an initial contract term of two (2) years with the State of Delaware to receive loan repayment. Priority consideration will be given to Delaware Institute of Medical Education and Research (DIMER)-participating students and participants in Delaware-based residency programs. The DHCC accepts applications on six-week rolling intervals (see chart below). Program application is available online.

Loan Repayment in Exchange for Two-Year Service Commitment

The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (LRP) is now open! The program offers loan repayment to registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and nursing faculty in exchange for a two-year service commitment at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses, or, for nurse faculty, an eligible school of nursing. Additionally, the 2023 Nurse Corps LRP has special funding for nurses and nurse faculty who specialize in women’s health to combat disparities that put women at risk before, during, and after pregnancy. There is also special funding to promote the integration of mental health, substance use disorders, and other behavioral health services into primary care. Accepting applications through Thursday, February 23. Find out more about the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program and apply now.

2021-2022 School Year Data Compared to Previous Years

Immunization rates for all state-required vaccines decreased to approximately 93% among kindergartners during the 2021-2022 school year. The exemption rate remained low (2.6%). An additional 3.9% without an exemption were not up to date with measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. During the 2020-2021 school year, national coverage with state-required vaccines among kindergarten students declined from 95% to approximately 94%. This is according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.  A second CDC report found that children from poor families, those who live in rural areas, those lacking health insurance, or who are Black or Hispanic are more likely to be unvaccinated by the time they are 2 years old.

Honoring Martin Luther King Day, January 16th

It took until 1983 before Congress passed a bill recognizing Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day as a national holiday. Each year on MLK Day, people across the nation honor his work as a civil rights leader in a day of peace and service, and MSD was no exception. Staff volunteered their time creating fleece blankets to donate to Project Linus, a non-profit organization that provides new handmade blankets to children in need. Made for providing warmth and comfort to someone in need, the blankets were dropped off to the donation site where a Delaware Chapter representative will distribute to various locations in Delaware. Participating in MSD's MLK service day event are, left to right, Molly Williams, Katie Hamilton, Michelle Seymour, and Mary LaJudice with their blanket creations.

Increasing Worker Morale and Productivity Through Your Benefit Portfolio

Soaring inflationary pressures and mounting recession fears have combined with pandemic and employment concerns to create a heightened level of financial stress among employees. For employers, this represents both a dilemma and an opportunity. The employee benefit portfolio that may have worked well in the past may not adequately address these needs going forward. By investing in planning and some resources, however, business owners can both demonstrate their concern for employees and solidify, if not increase, worker morale and productivity at the same time. Employers can implement a programs for employees to show their support, such as: emergency savings accounts, lifestyle spending accounts, student loan assistance, and provide financial guidance resources. Read more.

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.

Improving the Diagnostic Process, A Free 18-Month Program

Is your practice interested in improving the cancer diagnostic process for your patients who receive some or all of their care via telemedicine? The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is recruiting practices for a free 18-month program to improve diagnostic verification, timeliness, and communication with patients. Practices will receive training and one-on-one expert coaching to implement sustainable improvements to effectively close the loop at critical points in the cancer diagnostic process. Learn more and sign up for an informational webinar on the program website: safetyprogram4telemedicine.org. Access the flyer for more detailed information.

2023 is the Biennial 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 is available, and 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.  To complete the training, 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.



If you are having difficulty accessing or logging in to the site, the state has provided a step-by-step self-registration guide to assist you.

For Those Working with Adult Patients or in the Field of Gerontology

Senate Bill 283, signed by Governor Carney in 2022, requires practitioners who treat adults to take continuing education on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. MSD opposed this legislation on all fronts (read the MSD/DNA joint letter of opposition).

According to the Delaware Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, the following requirement must be completed during each biennial medical license renewal period beginning with the 2025 renewal cycle. Senate Bill 283 requires all medical professionals who work with adult patients or in the field of gerontology in a health care setting to complete at least one (1) hour of continuing education on the topic of diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. During license renewal in 2023, you will be required to acknowledge your understanding that, you will have to complete this mandatory CE requirement starting in renewal cycle 2025, if you work with adult patients or in the field of gerontology in a health care setting.

DE ACOG Holding Annual Maternal Health Awareness Day Event

House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 3, sponsored by Representative Melissa Minor-Brown on behalf of all Representatives and Senator Sarah McBride on behalf of all Senators, was passed this week designating January 23, 2023, as Maternal Health Awareness Day in the State of Delaware in order to continue to raise public and professional awareness about important health trends that affect maternal morbidity and mortality and initiatives and programs that promote maternal safety and decrease health disparities. In Delaware from 2015 to 2019, there was a pregnancy-related death rate of 10 in 54,908 and the Maternal Mortality Review Committee of Delaware has reported that mental health and substance use disorders continue to be significant factors in the maternal mortality rate in Delaware. Black and brown women are disproportionately affected due to systemic racism and implicit bias, resulting in such health disparities. The effects of mental health illness do not only affect patients, but physicians also, with physician burnout considered a public health crisis.

The Delaware Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists will hold its annual Maternal Health Awareness Day event on Monday, January 23, 2023. "Minding Mental Health for Providers and Patients" is this year's them. This event is geared to educate physicians and other health care professionals, community members, and legislators on how to enhance awareness, and de-stigmatize the prominent need for and role of appropriate mental health care in the lives of patients and health care professionals. State and federal legislators will discuss their priorities and goals for maternal and physician mental health.

The event will take place virtually and in-person at the Eden Hill Medical Center in Dover from 1:00-4:30 p.m. If you are interested in attending, please register.

What to Know and How to Prepare

If your practice serves or interfaces with people that have health insurance through Medicaid or CHIP then this call is for YOU! You are invited to join the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Enrollment Unwinding: What to Know and How to Prepare, A Partner Education Monthly Series on January 25 at 12:00pm ET. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (CAA, 2023) enacted December 29, 2022, does not address the end date of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), and as of January 2023, the PHE is still in effect; it does, however, address the end of the continuous enrollment condition, the temporary Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) increase, and the unwinding process. Under the CAA, 2023, expiration of the continuous enrollment condition and receipt of the temporary Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) increase will no longer be linked to the end of the PHE. The continuous enrollment condition will end on March 31, 2023. Beginning April 1, 2023, states will be able to terminate Medicaid enrollment for individuals no longer eligible. 

This partner education webinar will take place on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET. To register for the webinar go to: https://cms.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_qma5AvyBQWCTB0vbNF3lTA. A zoom link will be provided following registration. Please send all questions to PARTNERSHIP@cms.hhs.gov. The recordings, transcripts, and slide decks from the previous webinars can be found on the CMS National Stakeholders Call Webpage.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day Events

Friday, January 27th, the 2023 International Holocaust Memorial Day, marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland on this day in 1945. The United Nations urges every member state to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazism, and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.

In honor of the International Holocaust Memorial Day, the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities will present "How Healers Became Killers: Nazi Doctors and Modern Medical Ethics" on Friday January 27, 2023 beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET, followed by a Panel Discussion, Professional Complicity in the Holocaust: What Can the Professions of Today Learn from Each Other?, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Both events are free and presented virtually via zoom and in-person. To register for one or both events, visit https://ucdenverdata.formstack.com/forms/hgcbremembrance2023.

MSD/DE-ACP/DAFP - A Collaborative Effort for Advocacy Education

The American College of Physicians Delaware Chapter, the Medical Society of Delaware, and the Delaware Academy of Family Physicians are pleased to present a virtual Town Hall-style event with key Delaware legislators on Wednesday, February 8th from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

This event is being jointly sponsored to bring the physician community together in dialogue. You are invited to join to share your thoughts and ask questions as they relate to the issues surrounding primary care, prior authorization, climate change, and nutrition. We anticipate a robust discussion followed by an opportunity for members to engage one another. There is no charge to participate, however, registration is required. We look forward to you joining us on February 8th!

Updated Content-Specifically for Delaware Physicians, Nurses & Pharmacists

Join us for this live webinar on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. ET.

SCOPE of Pain is an in-depth training that focuses on:

• Effective communication skills and the potential risks and benefits of opioids for managing acute and chronic pain
• The assessment of opioid misuse risk and recognition and treatment of opioid use disorder
• Helping you safely and effectively manage patients with acute and/or chronic pain, when appropriate, with opioid analgesics

SCOPE of Pain is provided by Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine; Department of Health and Human Services; national collaborators include the Council of Medical Specialty Societies and the Federation of State Medical Boards.

Planned in partnership with the Delaware Chapter of the American College of Physicians, the Delaware Academy of Family Physicians, and the Medical Society of Delaware.

Accreditation

Physicians: Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 2.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM.

AAFP: The AAFP has reviewed SCOPE of Pain: Safer/Competent Opioid Prescribing Education, and deemed it acceptable for AAFP credit. This session is approved for 2.50 AAFP Live Credits.

ABIM MOC Part II: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn 2 MOC points and patient safety MOC credit in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.

Registration is free, but required at scopeofpain.org.

Free Continuing Education Opportunities

The University of Washington (UW) Infectious Diseases Education & Assessment (IDEA) program recently launched the second edition of the free Hepatitis B Online curricula which includes six updated lessons on hepatitis B virus epidemiology, immunization, initial treatment regimen, perinatal transmission, reactivation, and hepatocellular carcinoma screening. UW will launch four additional new lessons in early 2023. This education is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Physicians and other health care professionals can earn free CME, CNE and CE. Learn more and register.

Beebe Healthcare

Beebe Healthcare announced that four of its clinical service lines have been named in the 2023 Women’s Choice Award Best Hospitals® listing. Each award is an evidence-based quality designation, which uses data and accreditations from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), along with weighted data from consumer surveys that indicate what matters most to women as they are making healthcare choices for their families. Beebe has earned the following recognitions for 2023: Best Hospital for Bariatric Surgery (Weight Loss); Best Hospital for Emergency Care; Best Hospital for Cancer Care; and Best Hospital for Minimally Invasive Surgery.

Beebe Healthcare announced the appointment of Anthony Buonanno, MD, MBA, as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Beebe Medical Group, effective January 31. He joins Beebe after serving as Chief Medical Officer at Lehigh Valley Physicians Group in Allentown, Pennsylvania, an affiliate of the Lehigh Valley Health Network which encompasses nine hospital campuses, more than 275 physician practices, 25 health centers, and 20 express care locations. In his role, Dr. Buonanno will provide executive and clinical oversight for Beebe Medical Group (BMG), the physician network group that employs hospital-based physicians, walk-in care providers, and a diverse line of clinical specialists who practice in more than 30 primary care and specialty practices across Sussex County. His leadership will be instrumental as Beebe continues to expand its clinical capabilities and reach to best serve those who live in, work in, visit, and seek care in Sussex County. 

ChristianaCare

For the third consecutive year, ChristianaCare has earned Healthgrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals Award™ and is among the top 1% of more than 4,500 hospitals assessed nationwide for consistent, year-over-year superior clinical performance. ChristianaCare’s Christiana Hospital and Wilmington Hospital are the only hospitals in Delaware to receive the America’s 50 Best Hospitals recognition.

Saint Francis Healthcare/Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic

Saint Francis Hospital and Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, along with other health care systems across Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, have joined thousands of hospitals and health associations in a nationwide campaign to encourage families and communities to take an active role in protecting children from gun violence. The campaign, “It Doesn’t Kill to Ask,” focuses on providing caregivers, parents, and community members with actionable tools to speak up about safe gun storage and help them feel empowered to ask other parents about access to guns in a home their child might visit. The campaign comes at a time when an average of 13 children die from guns every day, making guns the leading cause of death in children. Gun violence requires a comprehensive approach to prevention and treatment through community education, outreach, and advocacy. The campaign is spearheaded by Northwell Health, New York State’s largest health system.

Westside Family Healthcare

Westside Family Healthcare announced that Lolita Lopez, President & CEO, plans to retire on July 1, 2023. The Board of Directors has named the current Chief Operating Officer, Chris Fraser as Westside’s next Chief Executive Officer. Read the full press release here. Please join on June 15 for their Secret Garden Gala to celebrate all of Lolita's accomplishments!

• 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

• Delaware "My Healthy Community" COVID-19 Dashboard (updated weekly on Wednesdays)
• COVID-19 by County Community Level Check (# hospital admissions and beds used and total number of new cases)
• COVID-19 Community Transmission (based on cases per 100,000 people and positivity rate, both measured over the last 7 days)
• Fact Sheet: Data Points on Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccination (November 16, 2022)
• 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-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Presentation Wall Chart (updated November 15, 2022)
• 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.