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September 3, 2020
MSD Holiday Hours
Happy Labor Day!
The Medical Society of Delaware offices will close at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4th and will reopen on Tuesday, September 8th in observation of the Labor Day holiday. We wish everyone a restful and healthy holiday. Thank you for all each of you do every day for the benefit of health care in the First State.
Governor Carney Issues Fall Sports Guidance
26th Modification to the State of Emergency Order Released
Governor John Carney signed the 26th modification to his State of Emergency Order this week, releasing updated guidance from the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) on playing fall sports safely in Delaware. The new guidance categorizes sports by risk - high risk, medium risk, and low risk - and requires sports organizers to follow guidance around masks, social distancing, and other preventive measures to keep players, families, and coaches safe. Read guidance
DHSS to Begin Approving Visitation to LTC Facilities
Reopening Plan to Begin Next Week
The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has approved indoor visitation plans for 26 nursing homes and assisted-living facilities in Delaware. Under DHSS' COVID-19 reopening plan for long-term care facilities, which takes effect on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, those facilities that have not had a new positive COVID-19 case originate there within the last 14 days and have adequate staffing to meet the needs of residents would be eligible to submit a plan for resuming indoor visitation. Visits will be limited to one to two people per resident and will be by appointment only. Visits must occur in a visitation room near an entrance. Read more.
DE Relief Grants: Applications Accepted Tuesday
Small Businesses and Nonprofits to Apply
The DE Relief Grants program will open for application submissions on Tuesday, September 8th. These grants will help Delaware small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations affected by COVID-19. The program is funded by $100 million from the federal CARES Act. A business or nonprofit can receive up to $100,000, based upon 2019 revenue. Read more
DPH Announces Latest COVID-19 Statistics
17,652 Total Confirmed Cases - 606 Total Deaths in Delaware
According to the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), Delaware has a total of 606 fatalities due to COVID-19. Individuals who have died ranged in age from 21 to 104 years old.

Sixty individuals are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Delaware, twelve are critically ill.

The latest Delaware COVID-19 statistics include:
  • 17,652 total laboratory-confirmed cases
  • New Castle County cases: 8,360
  • Kent County cases: 2,655
  • Sussex County cases: 6,346
  • Unknown: 292
  • Age range: 0 to 104
  • Hospitalized: 60; Critically ill: 12
Additional demographic data on COVID-19 cases and deaths, including race/ethnicity, more age-specific data and rates information by ZIP code, can be found on the Division of Public Health's My Healthy Community data portal. 
DPH Updates 
Reporting Requirements, Return to School/Work Notes
The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), in coordination with the Medical Society of Delaware, held a well-attended conference call for physicians and practice managers Wednesday night. The call allowed for questions and answers and focused on patient guidelines for returning to work, especially as it pertains to educational and child care settings. DPH Medical Director Rick Hong, MD has compiled key information physicians should know as Delaware continues its battle on COVID-19. Read moreListen to recording
COVID-19 Test Results Available Via the DHIN
Fast, Convenient, and Accurate Information
The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) has  issued a health advisory to ensure physicians are aware of the availability of COVID-19 test results via the Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN) by health care personnel and in some cases, patients.

The DHIN provides a secure Community Health Record (CHR) through which physicians' offices, hospitals, labs, and imaging facilities share clinical information safely and effectively. DHIN is now able to interface with the Delaware Electronic Reporting and Surveillance System (DERSS) so that laboratory-processed COVID-19 test results will be available to health care personnel through CHRs, with plans to make other COVID-19 test results (e.g., point-of-care and rapid test results) available through CHRs in the near future. Read more
Your Feedback is Vital!
Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine
A draft report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, regarding an equitable plan for allocating the COVID-19 vaccine, is now available now for public comment until 11:59 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, September 4th.

The plan, commissioned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, recommends high risk workers in health care facilities and first responders should get coronavirus vaccines first as part of a recommended four-phase rollout plan.

Under the plan, the first phase would also include vaccinating people with underlying conditions that put them at significantly higher risk of contracting severe COVID-19, as well as older adults living in long-term care facilities or overcrowded settings. Members of the public are encouraged to submit comments for consideration by the study committee as they work to finalize the report. Read more
Nanticoke / Peninsula Regional Under New Name
TidalHealth Medical Partners
TidalHealth, a Salisbury, Maryland-based health system of hospitals, health campuses, physician and specialty offices, has announced the Peninsula Regional Medical Group and the Nanticoke Physician Network have officially joined under the new name TidalHealth Medical Partners. Delaware physician offices previously affiliated with Nanticoke are still affiliated with it, and have access to all services offered at the hospital now known as TidalHealth Nanticoke.  Read more.
Delaware ACA Premiums Expected to Decrease
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Remains Soul Insurer
According to Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro's office, policies sold through the Delaware Health Insurance Marketplace will drop by an average of one percent for the coming year. This is the second year Delawareans have seen a decrease. Highmark is the only company offering policies through Delaware's Health Insurance Marketplace. Read more.
Member News
Janice Tildon-Burton, MD Joins AMPAC Board
Congratulations to MSD member and Past President Janice E. Tildon-Burton, MD on being appointed to the Board of Directors of the American Medical Association Political Action Committee (AMPAC). Dr. Tildon-Burton will serve a two-year term beginning December 1, 2020 with the potential to serve three additional two-year terms. Dr. Tildon-Burton has represented Delaware on its AMA delegation for almost a decade.  
In the News
Delaware Medical Journal Article Gets Attention
Delaware Division of Public Health Director and MSD member Karyl T. Rattay, MD was recently published in the Delaware Medical Journal (DMJ) regarding ways physicians can stem the tide regarding addiction. The article received broad attention and was recently published by Delaware State News.
Read full article.
Read July/August DMJ
Medical School Loan Assistance
Delaware State Loan Repayment Program Accepting Applications
The Delaware State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) is now accepting applications. Dental and medical professionals with advanced or mid-level degrees are eligible to apply for SLRP awards ranging from $30,000 to $100,000. Each applicant must commit to two years of full-time employment in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area HPSA. Deadline to apply is September 15, 2020. Read more.
UD Offers Online Telemedicine Course
Last Chance to Register - Virtual Classes Begin Next Week
The University of Delaware's Healthcare Professional Development Department will be offering an Advanced Telehealth Coordinator online certificate class from September 7th - Dec 14th. The program provides the foundations of telehealth for participants interested in utilizing telehealth for the delivery of health care, including technology evaluation, business and operational considerations, regulations, ethics, privacy and more. To register.
MSD Blood Drive Needs Donors
Blood Bank of Delmarva Experiencing Shortages
The Blood Bank of Delmarva is in need of blood donations due to a reduction of donations as a result of the coronavirus. They are especially in need of 0+ blood. Please consider donating life-saving blood and helping MSD's Blood Drive reach it's goals. At the time of your donation complete a "Hero Card" by filling in your name and Medical Society of Delaware. Please consider sharing a picture of yourself donating with us and on your social media accounts and tag the Medical Society of Delaware to encourage others. Read more.
Welcome New Members
Patrick Q. Eckert, MD - ChristianaCare Pulmonary Associates
Chantel Imran, MD - Delaware Gynecology
Yushane Celestine Shih, MD - Pediatric Orthopaedic Fellow at Nemours/Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children
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!
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If you know someone interested in joining the Medical Society of Delaware, please contact Michelle Seymour at 302-224-4905 or Michelle.Seymour@medsocdel.org.
In Memoriam
Sancho A. Manubay, MD, Jr.
It is with sadness that we share long-time MSD member Shancho A. Manubay, MD passed away last week. Dr. Manubay immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines after graduating from Far Eastern Medical School. A general surgeon, Dr. Manubay maintained his New Castle County practice for more than thirty years. He is survived by his wife Gloria who he was married to for thirty-one years. Read more.
"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.
6,125,916
Total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States as of September 3, 2020.


Johns Hopkins University
186,185
Total number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the United States as of September 3, 2020.


Johns Hopkins University
14,000+
Approximate number of women who will die of ovarian cancer this year. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition