Biden Lays Out Plan To Mandate Vaccines Or Testing For Millions Of Workers: “The president outlined a forthcoming federal rule that all businesses with 100 or more employees have to ensure that every worker is either vaccinated for COVID-19 or submit to weekly testing.” - Health News Florida

Texas SB 8 puts bounties on doctors’ heads for delivering care: “A new Texas law bans virtually all abortions in the state after about six weeks’ gestation and invites private parties to file civil lawsuits against anyone performing or “aiding and abetting” an abortion.” - AMA

Unvaccinated People Are 11 Times More Likely To Die Of COVID-19, New Research Finds: “Unvaccinated people are 11 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated, new research has found, bolstering evidence that the inoculations continue to provide powerful protection, even against the delta variant.” - NPR

By Lifting Stay, Judge Allows School Districts To Continue Masks Mandates During Appeal: “The judge said actions like the governor's executive order on masks, typically should be upheld while working through court challenges: ‘But we're not in normal times, We're in a pandemic.’ - Health News Florida

Joint Statement from the American Boards of Family Medicine; Internal Medicine; and Pediatrics on Dissemination of Misinformation by Board Certified Physicians about COVID-19: “The Federation of State Medical Boards (...) recently issued a statement saying that providing misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine contradicts physicians' ethical and professional responsibilities (....). We (...) support FSMB's position. We also want all physicians certified by our Boards to know that such unethical or unprofessional conduct may prompt their respective Board to take action that could put their certification at risk.” CISION

HHS Announces the Availability of $25.5 Billion in COVID-19 Provider Funding: “The Biden-Harris Administration announced today (9/10) that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration, is making $25.5 billion in new funding available for health care providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The application portal will open on September 29, 2021.” More Info - HHS

FDA official hopeful younger kids can get shots this year: “Dr. Peter Marks (director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research in the Food and Drug Administration) told The Associated Press he is “very, very hopeful” that vaccinations for 5- to 11-year-olds will be underway by year’s end." - AP

- JUST LAUNCHED! CCMS Physicians Care PSA: “What did COVID-19 take from me?" Collier County residents share the personal impact of COVID-19. English | Spanish

- Partial List of Vaccine Appointment Resources

- Vaccine Flyers for Physician Offices: English | Spanish | Creole

- Florida DOH COVID-19 vaccine provider page

- CDC Vaccine FAQ

- Webinar: What Physicians Need to Know: Vaccine misinformation

- Obtaining COVID-19 Vaccination Records

- Employer Mandated Vaccinations, Sample Policy and Procedures Form

- Statement on School Safety from Dr. Alejandro Perez-Trepichio, CCMS Board President

- CDC's latest mask guidance: An explainer for your patients

- COVID Safety Graphics for Download

- CDC COVID Data Tracker

- State Government Press Conferences on COVID

- NCH COVID Updates (right-hand column of page)

- COVID-19 Guidelines, Variants, Vaccines FAQs

- Weekly Florida COVID Report

- Weekly DOH-Collier COVID-19 Update

- COVID Testing Site Locator

- Pediatric Physicians COVID PSA | Spanish

- Updates Regarding the Direct Order and Reporting Process for Monoclonal Antibodies

- NCH outpatient for monoclonal antibodies: More Information | Updated Order Set | Pediatric Packet (Providers who do not have NCH ordering privileges contact (239) 624-0940 for a telemedicine patient evaluation and receive patient orders.)

- What's new | COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines (nih.gov)

- Find Monoclonal Antibody Sites

- Lee Health Monoclonal Orders

More updates and resources available online

Invitation to join CCMS Committees: Membership in CCMS committees is open to all CCMS physician members. If you are interested in serving on any CCMS committees, including the new CCMS ad hoc Committee on Diversity, Health Equity, and Inclusion, please contact April Donahue, CCMS Executive Director / (239) 435-7727.

CCMS Physician Member Survey Results: View our responses on member physicians who are accepting new patients to help with your referral needs. Member physician who would like to be included, be sure to complete the CCMS Member Survey to help us better connect with CCMS members, and connect members with each other. The survey also offers to collect and share member cell phones with each other for those who provide permission solely for this purpose. To request a list of members who’ve given permission, contact CCMS.

Physician Wellness Resource of the week: Vital Signs: The Campaign to Prevent Physician Suicide: Tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 17th is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day (#NPSADay), a call to action for organizations and individuals to help prevent physician suicide. While physician suicide isn’t a new crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgency of supporting physicians’ mental health and well-being. Visit NPSADay.org to learn about actions everyone can take to help support physicians who are struggling.

Confidential, cost-free counseling/coaching sessions with the CCMS Physician Wellness Program (operating via telehealth or in-person during the COVID-19 outbreak) are open to all CCMS physician members. *Update: CCMS is extending the offer of sessions to non-member physicians during the pandemic. Learn more online.

Note: Click here for information on various CME courses available

Sat., Oct. 16, 8:30AM, White Mass at St. Agnes Church

Features keynote speaker Paul Hiltz, President and CEO of NCH, panel discussion with the Presidents of the 3 largest hospital systems in the region, and a blessing of the stethoscopes. Includes breakfast and 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Cost: $50 | More Information | Register

This panel-based CME activity shares timely and relevant information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and how Florida has and continues to be affected. This course will provide a forward-looking picture of shifting health policy and clinical adaptations being made to get patients back on track to better health. 3 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Cost: Non-Member Price $250 / Member Price $125 | Register

The Woodruff Institute for Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery is pleased to announce that they closed their office at 671 Goodlette Road North and opened a new state-of-the-art office in downtown Naples. The new office is located at: 1333 3rd Avenue South, Suite 201.

When Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman physician in the United States, graduated from medical school in 1849, I bet she would little suspect the number of women who would be physicians today or that a month would be dedicated to celebrating our contributions. Women in Medicine Month was established by the American Medical Association years ago and the Collier County Medical Society has been observing since the 1990s. One of the results of CCMS’s Women in Medicine month activities was the establishment of the annual Women’s Health Forum, where women doctors have outreach to women patients in the community. Many of the female physicians of Collier County who were involved with the initial health forum continue to participate in this highly anticipated event today, which draws over 300 attendees and approximately 24 CCMS member physician speakers each year.

Currently, there are approximately 860,000 actively practicing doctors in the United States of which 36% are women. In 2017, 21,338 incoming first year medical students were women, making up 50.7% of incoming classes, the first time in history. By 2019, over 50% of medical students in the United States are women. Women are practicing in all specialties in medicine, however, what we practice is not evenly distributed. Over 60% of all Pediatricians are women, over 50% of Obstetrician/Gynecologist are women while less than 10% of practicing physicians in Interventional Radiology, Urology, Neurosurgery, Interventional Cardiology, Thoracic Surgery, and Orthopedic Surgeons are women. Women, who made up about 10% of practicing Gastroenterologists in the early 1990s now only make up 16% of that subspecialty. As the current physician population ages, with over 44% of all physicians over age 55, this inequity in the distribution of what type of medicine women practice can potentially lead to physician shortages, especially in the surgical subspecialties where we are underrepresented.

CCMS member home for sale: Grand Waterfront home, Royal Harbor on canal, 4900 sq ft, two stories with elevator, 2 boat lifts, exterior and interior with kitchen upgrades 2020-2021. Contact John, Morguard Management at (504) 579-4672.

Physician Assistant Student Seeking Internal Medicine Preceptor: In need of an internal medicine preceptor (MD, DO, PA, NP) who is willing to precept for one month. Available months are October-December. If interested, please contact Samantha Isabella at (239) 285-6706.

Board-certified anesthesiologist/pain medicine specialist interested in office space share. Physician with pain medicine/addiction treatment practice in Washington, D.C. looking to open office in Naples area and share space with another physician. More information at dcpaindoc.com. If interested, contact John Dombrowski M.D. FASA at (202) 345-1784.

Busy physician office in North Naples is seeking medical assistant who is highly skilled, motivated and experience is a plus. This is a fast paced, growing practice and candidates must be self-starter, multi-tasked and highly motivated. Please call Jennifer at (239) 591-2803.

Medical Graduate Seeking Externship/Observership: Dr. Tareefe Montaque, medical graduate from the University of The West Indies and Post Graduate Medical Studies candidate for a US Surgical Residency Program, is looking to secure an externship/observership in SWFL to prepare for the 2023 Match. More information & contact details.

Neighborhood Health Clinic is seeking a Part Time Database Assistant to join the Development team as an integral internal representative, working with the donor base, fundraising objectives, donor and volunteer relationships, and independent projects. Contact CDO Keith Maples at (239) 529-2264.

Naples pediatric practice seeking NP or PA for 3 to 5 days a week. Please contact CCMS if interested.

Seeking physician offices who can welcome a high school student for career learning opportunities such as shadowing, scribing, lab work, etc. If interested, please contact CCMS.