Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Reopens COVID Unit |
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare is reopening its COVID-19 unit as North Florida sees a dramatic increase in coronavirus hospitalizations.
With the COVID unit back open, the hospital is no longer accepting new elective surgery cases that require an inpatient bed stay, through Friday, July 30. All pre-scheduled and outpatient procedures will continue as normal, according to the hospital.
Source: WCTV.tv
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CDC: Florida Leads Nation In New HIV Cases |
The federal agency's HIV surveillance report uses the most recent data, collected from 2015 to 2019. Florida identified 4,584 new diagnoses, and the CDC estimates that this accounts for only 86.5% of all people with HIV in the state. Hillsborough and Pinellas counties were listed among 48 “areas of concern” nationally.
Source: Health News Florida
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Florida Ranks Second In Nation For Overdose Deaths |
Overdose deaths were already on the rise, but the pandemic accelerated the situation. “Alcohol use is up, drug use is up, and stress is up,” says Dianne Clarke of Operation PAR, a treatment program in Pinellas County. CDC data show overdose deaths last year increased nearly 30% nationally. In Florida, the rate increased more than 37%.
Source: Health News Florida
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New Doctor Rules for Smokable Medical Marijuana |
New rules laying out the do’s and don’ts physicians must follow when certifying patients to smoke medical marijuana took effect last week, but it’s not clear that doctors or patients are fully aware of them. Physicians who don’t comply could face disciplinary action from their state boards if complaints are filed and found to have merit.
Source: Health News Florida
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Noncompetes, Healthcare and a New Executive Order |
On July 9, 2021, President Biden signed a far-reaching Executive Order that could have significant impact on the healthcare industry.
Source: Florida Healthcare Law Firm
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New Legislation Affecting Physician Assistants (and Physicians Who Supervise PAs) |
HB 431, presented during the 2021 Legislative Session, was signed by the Governor and took effect on July 1, 2021. The bill amended sections 458.347 and 459.022, Florida Statutes, regarding the practice of physician assistants (PAs) under the supervision of allopathic and osteopathic physicians, respectively.
The bill:
- Increases the number of PAs a physician may supervise from four to 10;
- Removes the requirement that a PA notify a patient of the right to see a physician prior to the PA prescribing or dispensing a prescription;
- Authorizes a PA to procure medications and medical devices, with exceptions;
- Repeals authorization for the Department of Health (Department) to issue prescriber numbers to PAs and eliminates the need for PA prescriber numbers on prescriptions;
- Authorizes a PA under the supervision of certain practitioners to prescribe up to a 14-day supply of Schedule II psychotropic drugs to minors;
- Except for a physician certification, authorizes a PA to authenticate any document if the document may be authenticated by a physician;
- Authorizes a PA to supervise medical assistants;
- Amends provisions related to program approval for the education and training of PAs and allows trainees to perform medical services rendered within the scope of an approved program;
- Amends the licensure requirements for PAs based on the date a PA graduated from an approved program as defined in the bill by specifying which PA education and training programs are approved for PA licensure;
- Authorizes a PA to satisfy the continuing education requirement on controlled substance prescribing through a designated course;
- Removes the requirement that PA licensure applicants seeking prescribing authority provide course transcripts;
- Removes the requirement for a PA to notify the Department in writing within 30 days of employment or after any change in supervising physician, which eliminates the need for the supervision data form;
- Removes the requirement for a PA to notify the Board of Medicine/Board of Osteopathic Medicine of his or her prescribing supervising physician(s) or to complete the Application for Changes to the Prescribing License;
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Requires supervising physicians to report to the Board of Medicine/Board of Osteopathic Medicine the delegation of prescribing authority to a PA, which may be done using the form located at https://flboardofmedicine.gov/forms/pa-prescribing-notification.pdf;
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Maintains the requirement that supervising physicians report to the Board of Medicine/Board of Osteopathic Medicine the delegation of dispensing authority to a PA, which must be done using the form located at https://flboardofmedicine.gov/forms/pa-disp-form.pdf.
- Requires the revision of rules related to the formulary and the application for licensure, which will be amended by the Physician Assistant Council and the Board of Medicine.
Source: Florida Board of Medicine
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Open Notes in Healthcare: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Cures Act |
On April 5, 2021, a requirement of the 21st Century Cures Act went into effect: Patients must be able to access information in their EHRs “without delay.” Healthcare providers should understand the implications of the Cures Act open notes provisions so they can meet the requirements and reap their benefits, while avoiding the potential for fines or sanctions based on noncompliance, or other negative impacts.
Source: The Doctors Company
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Teens Need Later School Start Times |
In addition to getting athletes on the field (and river!) earlier in the day to escape the blanket of afternoon heat and deteriorating weather conditions, it's long been a truism that later start times for teens benefit the student, family, and community. Delaying school start times for teens by an hour, or even two, could optimize a teen's sleep and their ability to learn throughout the day.
Source: MedPage Today
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Just for Fun...Superstitious Numbers Around the World and the Meaning Behind Them |
Humans are a superstitious bunch. As a child, you may have avoided sidewalk cracks (so as not to break your mother’s back), or searched out lucky pennies. Good or bad, these irrational beliefs — like in a lucky rabbit’s foot or a seven-year curse stemmed from breaking a mirror — have been passed down for centuries.
Among the many sources of superstition are numbers. From ancient Pythagorean number cults to more general numerology, people have tried to make sense of the world through numbers. Whether you consider 13 to be unlucky or not, various numbers can be either good or ill fortune, depending on the culture.
Source: Trivia Genius
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House Bill 831 (2019), Electronic Prescribing, was signed into law by Governor DeSantis. The effective date is January 1, 2020. The bill provides important new requirements for prescribers to generate and transmit all prescriptions electronically upon licensure renewal or by July 1, 2021, whichever is earlier.
The purpose of the Florida ePrescribing Clearinghouse is to provide information that contributes to the promotion and implementation of electronic prescribing by health care practitioners, health care facilities, and pharmacies in order to prevent prescription drug abuse, improve patient safety, and reduce unnecessary prescriptions. This Clearinghouse contains information on the advantages, processes, products, rules, and laws of ePrescribing as well as Florida ePrescribing reports.
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Discounted Event Tickets at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center |
Capital Medical Society members can receive a discount on certain events at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center by using our promo code "CMS". The newest events are:
July 27, 2021
7:00 pm
September 28-29, 2021
Members can receive the discount a few different ways:
- Click the show links above and enter the promo code "CMS"
2. Call 850-645-0747 to purchase over the phone and mention the promo code "CMS"
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Save the Date for Upcoming CMS Meetings/Events |
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September 14, 2021
Celebration Awards Dinner
University Center Club at FSU
6:30 pm
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September 21, 2021
Virtual CME
(2-Hours)
Panel Discussion-
Updates and Debates in Cancer Screening
6:30 pm
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October 19, 2021
CME
(2-Hours)
Prevention of Medical Errors
6:30 pm
Location TBA
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We all need co-pilots. That's why the Capital Medical Society Foundation Physician Wellness Program is here for its members. The CMSF has teamed up with five wonderful resources who will help you fly - confidentially and autonomously. Your first six wellness coaching visits are at no cost to you. None. Nada. No identifying information. Nothing except peace of mind. Seriously. Pick up the phone and call any of the resources noted below. Telehealth options available.
Special thanks to MagMutual Foundation and others who are helping the CMSF fund this program.
Local Wellness Coaching Resources:
- Paul Deitchman, Ph.D. - 850-878-3571
- Tracey Morse, Ph.D. - 850-556-7944
- Debra Weaver, Ph.D. - 850-942-5585
- Stephen Wright, Ph.D. - 850-222-3045
C. Vincent Dix, Ph.D. has announced his retirement effective March 31, 2021. We appreciate the services Dr. Dix has provided to local physicians since the inception of the Capital Medical Society Foundation's Physician Wellness Program in 2017.
The Elephant in the Doctors' Lounge - With roughly 156 million Americans fully vaccinated for COVID-19, physicians are seeing signs of relief on the horizon. That relief can't come soon enough. The initial energy and adrenaline that drove physicians to treat their acutely ill patients in the early months of the pandemic have been replaced by fatigue, burnout, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It's time to talk -- and to act -- so these feelings of struggle don't drive more of our colleagues into a mental health emergency.
Source: MedPage Today
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Diabetic Retinopathy Webinar: Strategies for Improving Patient-Centered Care - 1.0 CME Credit Opportunity
August 27, 2021
5:00 pm
All-day Virtual Conference
September 10, 2021
8:15 am - 3:45 pm
Free with fees for CME credit
Wolfson Pediatric CME Webinars - 5.5 CME Credit Opportunity
Wolfson Children’s Hospital is proud to provide Continuing Medical Education opportunities to our partners and referring providers by offering monthly virtual CME sessions at no cost. If you have missed any of our previously offered live webinars and still wish to obtain CME credit for them, we have provided 4 recorded webinars for a total of 5.5 CME credits possible. Please follow the instructions below in order to take advantage of this opportunity!
1. Open the flyer and choose which education session you would like to watch.
2. Click the link in the attachment for the desired education session.
3. Watch the webinar.
4. Follow the instructions included in the video description to complete the required survey and input the associated activity code.
*Please note, if you are licensed outside of the state of Florida, you must contact the CME office at [email protected] to request an official transcript of your participation.
Easy to use web portal makes it easy to find courses and track credits. Accredited activities for over 30 medical specialties; Over 100 active courses at any given time; Activity accreditations include ACCME, ANCC, AANP, ACPE, and more; Content is always current, and always free.
Free 1-hour online CME opportunity!
University of Florida's Department of Epidemiology
Raising awareness for Alzheimer's disease and increasing screening for cognitive impairment. This CME has a focus on primary care physicians but is applicable to all physicians who may encounter patients with cognitive impairments.
On-Demand CME by The Doctors Company
Diagnostic error continues to be a top patient safety concern, a global burden, and cause patient harm from treatment delay, testing, or misdiagnosis. “Prevention of Diagnostic Error in Primary Care” is an on-demand CME activity that features patient safety expert Jeffrey A. Gold, MD, professor of medicine, vice chair for quality and safety, for the department of medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University. This program highlights major contributing factors of diagnostic error along with the diagnostic process of care framework with additional focus on strategies to mitigate risk of patient harm in the primary care setting.
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Looking for Some Non-CME Credit Learning Opportunities? |
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Opportunity to Support the 2022 CMS Membership Directory |
The Capital Medical Society will publish its 2022 Membership Directory early next year. It will be distributed to all members. We have once again contracted with a company called E&M Consulting to produce the directory. E&M will be contacting our members over the next few months about advertising opportunities in the directory. E&M will manage all the ad sales, creative design, and formatting of the publication for us. This is a very professional group with experience in publishing association directories. If you have any questions or would like to advertise, please contact Rob Schmidt with E&M at 850-347-8182, 800-572-0011, or [email protected]. Information on the available advertising opportunities can be viewed here or can also be viewed online at https://www.emconsultinginc.com/adreservation/cms/. Please be responsive and help support this directory. Remember, it will include our entire medical community.
CMS will provide the content - including photos of our members. If you have an updated photo - please send it to us!
Please feel free to call us if you have any questions - and thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
The CMS Staff
(850) 877-9018
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ABIM Extends Maintenance of Certification Requirement Deadlines Through 2022 |
Board-certified physicians are getting another extension on the deadline to maintain their internal medicine credentials.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) once again extended the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements through December 2022.
Source: Fierce Healthcare
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Coronavirus - Information, Updates, Resources |
Updates and Resources
and the White House Coronavirus Task Force analyzes and distributes the report.
The New England Journal of Medicine - A collection of articles and other resources on the Coronavirus outbreak, including clinical reports, management guidelines, and commentary
Epidemiological and Clinical Resources For The COVID-19 Pandemic
CDC Healthcare Supply of Personal Protective Equipment
CDC Guidance for People at Higher Risk for COVID-19 Complications
CDC PPE Poster
CDC Guidance for Travelers from Countries with Widespread Sustained (ongoing) Transmission Arriving in the United States
CDC Communication Resources
NETEC coronavirus page includes PPE validation checklists and video resource, in addition to many others:
Vaccine Updates
(Florida Department of Health in Leon County)
(Florida Department of Health in Leon County)
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
COVID-19 Pandemic Planning FAQ (dated 11/19/2020) includes important information regarding procurement and handling of costs for vaccine administration. (FEMA)
What Happens Once There is a COVID-19 Vaccine? Key Challenges to Vaccinating America (12/3/2020) - VIDEO or SLIDES (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Reporting for Health Care Providers and Laboratories
If you have any patients who meet the person under investigation criteria, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Leon County Epidemiology Program at 850-404-6299.
Epidemiology and Disease Control Program
Florida Department of Health in Leon County
2965 Municipal Way
Tallahassee, FL 32304
Office Number: (850) 404-6299
Confidential Fax: (850) 921-9855
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Florida RX Card has created a new program and resource card to help Children's Miracle Network children and families in need. This card will work just as Florida Rx Card, helping people save on their prescription medications.
The flyer explains the program and can be used to share/download the app.
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Informed Webinar Series: Understanding the CMS Proposed Rule: Reducing Provider and Patient Burden by Improving Prior Authorization Processes |
On December 11, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would improve the electronic exchange of healthcare data among payers, providers, and patients. If finalized, the CMS rule would streamline processes related to prior authorization with the goal of reducing the burden on providers and patients. Medicaid, CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program), and QHP (Qualified Health Plan) payers would be required to build and implement FHIR-enabled APIs that could:
- Allow providers to know, in advance, what documentation would be needed for each different payer.
- Streamline the documentation process.
- Enable providers to send prior authorization requests (and receive responses electronically) directly from the provider's EHR or other practice management system.
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PAP Machine Donations Needed! |
A PAP (Positive Airway Pressure) machine is an electronic respiratory ventilation device used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Capital Medical Society Foundation, Inc.'s We Care Network program assists low-income, uninsured adults, whose income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, with obtaining these potentially life-saving medical devices, when prescribed by a pulmonologist. Thanks to our partners at Desloge Home Oxygen and Medical Equipment, Inc., we are able to provide refurbished CPAP, AutoPAP, and BPAP machines for eligible We Care Network patients in Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, and Wakulla Counties. We Care Network also accepts unused, unopened supplies for PAP machines, such as masks, nasal cannulas, and tubing. We Care Network coordinates over $8,000,000 in donated specialty medical and dental care annually.
Machine donations can be dropped off at Capital Medical Society Foundation's office at 1204 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Donations to Capital Medical Society Foundation are tax-deductible within IRS guidelines Federal Tax I.D. #: 59-2104510. For additional information, please call 942-5215 or email [email protected].
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You Can Support the CMS Foundation! Sign Up and Shop Today on AmazonSmile! |
For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the Capital Medical Society Foundation!
Click here to access AmazonSmile and support the CMS Foundation today!
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Check Out the Latest CMS Member Benefits |
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To view the DocbookMD Training Manual, click here.
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