Congratulations and thank you to all our members for the work you have done and continue to do to vaccinate the citizens of Delaware! Today Governor Carney and MSD member Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), announced that Delaware has reached President Biden's goal of 70 percent of adults receiving at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, and a few days shy of the July 4th target date. The data source is from the CDC, which takes into account those Delawareans vaccinated in other states, as well as doses administered to Delawareans by various Federal agencies not reported to Delaware's immunization system. After July 4th, vaccination efforts will not slow down due to the threat of variants of the virus. Learn more at https://myhealthycommunity.dhss.delaware.gov.

The second round of funding through the Health Care Relief Fund is available to support health care providers through the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Eligible applicants must be a health care organization or provider serving clients or patients in Delaware and have been in operation as of February 1, 2020. Funding can be used for COVID-19 related investments (such as technology upgrades, purchase of PPE, environmental modifications in health care facilities). The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is authorized by the State of Delaware to distribute CARES Act Relief funds to health care entities for expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To qualify for the funding, all goods must be received and all work must be finished by October 31, 2021. Read more.

In a study released by the Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI) and conducted by Avalere Health, nearly 70% of US physicians are now employed by hospital systems and corporate entities such as private equity firms and health insurers. The study examined the period between January 1, 2019, and January 1, 2021. Data suggests the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a long-term national trend of hospital and corporate entities acquiring physician practices and employing physicians.

Increasing in-person and online access to diabetes programs and establishing a diabetes registry are key recommendations in The Impact of Diabetes in Delaware, 2021 biennial report. Eight recommendations have been made to reduce Delaware's diabetes burden and improve health outcomes among adults with, or who are at-risk for, the disease. Read the announcement.

Retail giant Walmart is expanding deeper into pharmacy and outpatient health care services with the launch of its own private label insulin. The ReliOn NovoLog product is a rapid-acting analog insulin, the first and only private brand of analog insulin. It is available this week in Walmart pharmacies and at Sam's Club pharmacies in mid-July across the US. Walmart indicates their product will save patients 58% to 75% off the cash price of branded insulin products. A physician prescription is required. Read more.

The American Medical Association (AMA) STEPS Forward^TM webinar series has two events coming up in July. Integrating Organizational Actions Toward Patient Safety And Clinician Well-Being will be held July 15, 2021, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET. The second webinar, Promising Practices To Support Physician Well-Being During COVID-19: A Case Study From EvergreenHealth, is taking place on July 20, 2021, from 12:00 Noon - 1:00 p.m. ET. Read more information on both webinars.

"Achieving the Quadruple Aim: Resilient Systems In Times Of Crisis" is the theme for the 2021 American Conference on Physician Health. Jointly sponsored by the American Medical Association, Mayo Clinic, and Stanford University, the hybrid conference will take place on October 7-9, 2021, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Register today! Check the full speaker lineup with live and virtual events. For more information.

The Medical Society of Delaware is working with local community partners to host a Community Wellness Health Fair. Everyone is invited for fun, COVID-19 vaccination opportunities, and free health services for the whole family on Saturday, July 17 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Father Tucker Memorial Field in Wilmington. Share information with your patients. Volunteers are needed to help with setup and other tasks to make this event a success! If you are interested in volunteering or have questions, please contact Michelle Seymour at (302) 224-4905 or Michelle.Seymour@medsocdel.org.

Bayhealth's Pastoral Care team was recently honored with HealthCare Chaplaincy Network's Excellence in Spiritual Care Award for its contributions to advancing the integration of spiritual care in health care to improve patient experience and satisfaction and to help those faced with illness and grief to find comfort and meaning. Bayhealth is the only health system in Delaware to receive the award and is one of the first in the nation to receive it for the third consecutive time. Read more.

For the second year in a row, Modern Healthcare has recognized ChristianaCare President and CEO Janice E. Nevin, MD, MPH, as one of the nation's 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives. Read more.

Lisa Maxwell, MD, MHCDS, has been appointed President of the ChristianaCare Medical Group. Dr. Maxwell previously served as interim president for the Medical Group, leading the vaccine rollout for patients of ChristianaCare's primary and specialty care practices. Read more.

ChristianaCare-GoHealth Urgent Care has expanded its footprint in Delaware and entered Maryland with the opening of six new centers. The locations were acquired from ExpressCare and are being updated based on the design and technology-driven care capabilities of the ChristianaCare-GoHealth Urgent Care model. Read more.

Delaware Palliative, a program of Delaware Hospice, announced a new partnership with Saint Francis Healthcare, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic to provide palliative consultative services to Saint Francis Healthcare patients. Read more.

This week's spotlight is on Briana D. Krewson, a medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2023. Read more.

If you would like to be featured in the Spotlight section, please contact Michelle Seymour, Membership Manager.

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.

MSD members are afforded a seven-day review period from the date of this publication to comment regarding an applicant applying for membership. Please contact Michelle Seymour at (302) 224-4905 or Michelle.Seymour@medsocdel.org with any questions or concerns.