CDC Revises Guidance On Indoor Masking
In a reversal, the CDC is recommending that some fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors in areas with significant or high spread. Much of the country falls into that category, including Florida. In addition, the agency recommends that all teachers, staff and students of K-12 schools wear masks, even if they are vaccinated.
Source: Health News Florida
CDC Brings Back Mask Recommendation for Vaccinated People in Areas with High COVID-19 Spread
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said that the decision to change the guidance, which previously said vaccinated people didn’t have to wear masks indoors no matter where they are, was “not taken lightly.” She added that the vaccines continue to protect the vast majority from infection.
Source: FierceHealthcare
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Mayhew: COVID Hospitalizations Approaching Peak Levels In Florida |
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Florida are reaching some of their highest levels yet during the pandemic.
As of Thursday afternoon, 8,907 people were currently hospitalized with confirmed cases of the disease statewide, according to the latest update from the Florida Hospital Association. The organization announced it will start sharing daily hospitalization updates. The state stopped doing so in June.
Thursday’s numbers are close to the peak the state recorded on July 23, 2020, which was 10,179.
Source: Health News Florida
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State Health Workers Facing Vax Requirement |
As coronavirus infections spike because of the delta variant, providers ranging from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville to small physicians’ offices are beginning to put requirements in place for staff to get the shot.
Source: Health News Florida
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How the Coronavirus Infects Cells — and Why Delta is So Dangerous |
The coronavirus sports a luxurious sugar coat. “It’s striking,” thought Rommie Amaro, staring at her computer simulation of one of the trademark spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2, which stick out from the virus’s surface. It was swathed in sugar molecules, known as glycans.
“When you see it with all the glycans, it’s almost unrecognizable,” says Amaro, a computational biophysical chemist at the University of California, San Diego.
Source: Nature
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CDC Reports 1st Cases of Untreatable Fungus |
Two clusters of untreatable Candida auris infections have been detected in Texas and Washington, D.C., since January, according to the CDC's latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published July 23.
It's the first time the fungus has been detected in people who never received antifungal medication, suggesting it may have spread from person to person.
Source: Becker's Hospital Review
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Florida Receives $10.6 Million For HIV Prevention |
Florida is getting $10.6 million as part of a federal initiative called "Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded a total of $117 million to state and local health departments to address to expand and tailor HIV prevention strategies in local communities.
In Florida, the money will be split between seven counties: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Broward, Duval, Miami-Dade, Orange, and Palm Beach.
Source: Health News Florida
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UF Health Jax CEO Leon Haley, 56, Dies In Jet Ski Accident |
Dr. Leon L. Haley Jr., CEO of UF Health Jacksonville, was killed Saturday in an accident involving a personal watercraft, authorities said. He was 56.
Dr. Leon L. Haley Jr. was lauded for his efforts in response to COVID-19. In December, he was the first person in Jacksonville to receive the Pfizer vaccine.
Source: Health News Florida
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The Dawn: A Med Student’s Roadmap to Finding a Light in Their Darkest Hour |
Dr. Delicia Haynes is on a mission to improve medical student mental health and raise awareness of the stressors they may experience while completing their medical education journey. It's important they understand what they can do to maintain their mental health throughout training.
Students will:
✅ know their risk for depression
✅ understand how it may show up in themselves and their colleagues
✅ know how to get help
✅ gain tools to improve their mental health throughout their career
✅ Know that they are not alone!
Please go to www.whitecoatsafespace.com to become a book sponsor and help share a gift that will last a lifetime. Use the code “ambassador” to get 20% off whichever level of medical student support you choose. Choose the medical school to where you'd like the books sent or leave the entry blank and the books will be sent to you for distribution.
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How the “Dog Days of Summer” Got Their Name |
Beach vacations, the smell of sunscreen, and the sound of kids splashing in the pool mark the arrival of the so-called “dog days of summer.” While, to most of us, the well-known phrase evokes drowsy canines panting on a sweltering day, it has nothing to do with man’s best friend. Instead, “dog days” refers to an astronomical observation made more than 4,000 years ago of Sirius, a star 8.6 lightyears away from Earth.
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 event is:
September 28-29, 2021
Members can receive the discount a few different ways:
- Click the show link 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.
On-Demand CME by The Doctors Company
1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Explore the challenges and risks associated with telehealth. Concerns regarding privacy, security, licensure, and technology that might instigate a malpractice claim are discussed.
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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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