August 19, 2022
Tell Congress to Prevent Medicare Physician Payment Cuts
The AMA has released a form letter to help physicians contact their Congress members about taking action to prevent several Medicare payment cuts poised to take effect in 2023.


Source: Florida Medical Association
For Medically Vulnerable Families, Inflation’s Squeeze is Inescapable
For millions of families living with chronic diseases, inflation is proving a punishing scourge that could be harmful to their health. Unlike dining out less or buying fewer clothes, many patients don’t have a choice when it comes to paying for medicine, medical supplies and other ancillary costs.


Source: Health News Florida
CDC Announces Shake-Up, Citing COVID Mistakes
The planned changes — CDC leaders call it a "reset"— come amid criticism of the agency's response to COVID-19, monkeypox and other public health threats. The changes include internal staffing moves and steps to speed up data releases. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says the changes were not directed by the White House.


Source: Health News Florida
What We Owe Long COVID Patients
Long COVID presents varying and unpredictable symptoms and has no known cure, so with very little information, health-care providers are facing an uphill battle when it comes to providing adequate care to these patients.


Source: The Doctors Company
Monkeypox and the Prolonged COVID Pandemic Could Seal the Fate of the Health Care System
In the current situation, I believe the term moral injury more accurately expresses how many health care workers are feeling. Moral injury is a term used more frequently in the medical field to describe the feelings of betrayal and disillusionment that many health care workers feel. Burnout does not fully capture the emotion and mental distress that often accompanies moral injury.


Source: KevinMD
Meningococcal Outbreak Slows But Still a Threat
Florida has recorded 50 cases of meningococcal disease so far this year, but the concern is that it's deadly, with a 25% fatality rate and up to 40% in more severe forms, says a health department official.


Source: Health News Florida
Can Airborne Exposure to Red Tide Affect Your Brain?
A Sarasota-based nonprofit that works to find treatments for brain disorders is the first to suggest that airborne exposure to red tide could have neurological impacts. The study by the Roskamp Institute suggests that people are more susceptible if they have a medical history of migraines or chronic fatigue syndrome.


Source: Health News Florida
Is Your Patient a Drug Seeker? 13 Red Flags to Watch For.
As doctors, we know the complications the opioid epidemic can cause. We have all seen patients who were seeking drugs, whether we recognized it or not. And I would hazard a good guess that we've all fallen for prescribing controlled substances to a seeker at one point or another in our careers. Doctors and other healthcare providers want to do our best for our patients. When they are in pain, we want to alleviate it. But, we are often conflicted when we are treating a patient in pain because so many tried to scam us in the past and we cannot honestly tell which ones are telling the truth or not.


Source: Medical Economics
Hearing Experts Applaud FDA Approval of Over the Counter Hearing Aids
The FDA's final rule could make hearing aids available as soon as October. With nearly 30 million American adults struggling with some form of hearing loss, the change will greatly expand access to hearing care, experts say.


Source: MedCity News
Alzheimer's-Defying Brain Offers Clues to Treatment, Prevention
Genetic mutation found that could shed light on mechanism for disease resistance, lead to new therapies.


Source: The Harvard Gazette
16 Specialties Ranked by Base Pay
The 2021 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives produced by medical search giant Merritt Hawkins laid out the base salaries of a number of specialties. It found that many specialties decreased.

These rankings are based on the 2020-2021 average base salary or guaranteed income offered to physicians by recruiters that were included in the report. It does not include production bonuses or benefits.


Source: Medical Economics
8 Questions to Ask Before Taking Out a Loan
Taking out a loan is a major financial decision. Whether you own a medical business or are an employed physician, you may need financing for continuing education courses, investing in technology and equipment, funding new initiatives or growth and expansion. Not all lenders or loans are created equal. Asking the right questions in advance can help you find the best solution.


Source: Medical Economics
Amid Inflationary Concerns, Healthcare M&A Creates Career Headroom for Employees, Stable Investments for the Market
The cost of labor is continuing to increase, further cutting into already-thin profit margins. As those employees face the squeeze from inflation, they may elect to look elsewhere for higher paying work, leaving providers in the position of having to raise wages while facing no increase in reimbursements.


Source: Orlando Medical News
Should Medical Students Buy Disability Insurance?
The earlier you buy insurance, the younger you are and the less it costs. This time when I got the question, I decided to look into it a little deeper and even solicit some opinions from a few of the trusted disability insurance agents that have been vetted by thousands of white coat investors over the years.


Source: The White Coat Investor
Community Health Centers’ Big Profits Raise Questions About Federal Oversight
Nonprofit federally funded centers are a linchpin in the nation’s safety net because they treat the medically underserved. The average profit margins are 5%, but some have recorded 20% or more in three of the past four years.


Source: Health News Florida
How One Doctor is Supporting Ukraine by Providing Medical Supplies
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has produced an outpouring of support for that nation from all Americans, but especially those of Ukrainian descent or with family ties to that nation. Among them is Taras Mahlay, M.D., an internist in Cleveland Ohio with deep ties to the city’s Ukrainian community. Since the start of the invasion has been leading a drive to collect and ship vital medical supplies to Ukraine.


Source: Medical Economics
Jimmy Dang - Patient-Centered Ethics: Pathography
“The last place I’d want to be is in the hospital.” My preceptor thought out loud during the daily coffee time banter in the doctor’s lounge. It’s a general sentiment which both patients and physicians can agree upon to some degree.


Source: Orlando Medical News
CMS Members: Capital Medical Society Community Service Family Food-Packing Event - Saturday, September 17 - RSVP Today!
Please print and complete the Volunteer Waiver Forms to bring with you, or please arrive at 9:15AM to complete before event.

 
In 2021, Second Harvest delivered about 13.8 million pounds of nutritious food, enough for about 11.5 million charitable meals given to people in need for no charge.
 
Second Harvest of the Big Bend provides healthy food and other needed items for low-income and unemployed people to relieve situations of emergency and distress. As the region’s primary source for charitable food, Second Harvest acts as a storage and distribution depot for over 149 smaller front-line agency partners (emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, children’s homes, homes for the mentally disabled, and domestic violence shelters) in 17 Florida counties -11 counties in our Feeding America service area (Calhoun; Franklin; Gadsden; Gulf; Jackson; Jefferson; Leon; Liberty; Madison; Taylor; and Wakulla), plus 6 counties under agreement with other North Florida food banks. Five of our counties (Gadsden, Madison, Leon, Jackson and Jefferson) are among Florida’s 10 most food-insecure.
Capital Medical Society Membership & CME Meeting
The Capital Medical Society and Florida Medical Association
Present
Tuesday, September 20, 2022 – 6:00 PM
at 
Maguire Center for Lifelong Learning at Westminster Oaks
Advances in Migraine Treatment. The Future is Bright!
Live 1-Hour CME Presented by:
Danny Estupiñán, MD, MS
Tallahassee Neurological Clinic, PA

Medical-Dental Integration Virtual Symposium
Focus on Integrated Health Care for Seniors

August 24, 2022
2PM - 6PM EDT
Virtual
 
The focus of the 2022 symposium is Integrated Health Care for Seniors. The free symposium will include presentations from a cross section of medical and dental professionals who will discuss the components and benefits of medical-dental integration -- an approach that coordinates dental and primary medical care to improve overall patient systemic health. The symposium is a collaboration between Florida Blue Foundation and Florida Combined Life.
 
For information and to register, click here.
Live Webinar: How to Invest in Real Estate Without Being a Landlord
August 25, 2022
1PM EDT
Virtual

Having spare time is a luxury for medical professionals in 2022. But what if you could free up your time by investing in multifamily real estate?

Private placements offer a hands-off way to invest in the real estate sector. No managing tenants, toilets, or termites. Let professional teams do the heavy lifting, so you can focus more time on what you love and enjoy!

Join full-time multifamily investor Travis Watts for an exclusive webinar where he shares how to be an investor, not a landlord. Learn how to build passive income, gain tax advantages, diversify from the stock market, and build long-term wealth using multifamily private placements.
For more information and to register, click here.
Your Dose of Medical Humor
Hurricane Season Resources
Weather Resources
National Hurricane Center: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
National Weather Service Tallahassee: https://www.weather.gov/tae/

Helpful Guides
The following resource put together by Leon County contains a comprehensive guide on all things disaster. NOTE: Certain services may be specific to Leon County agencies and/or residents and are not available to persons and/or agencies outside of Leon County


County Resources
Franklin County Emergency Management: https://www.franklinemergencymanagement.com/
Gadsden County Site: https://www.gadsdencountyfl.gov/
Jefferson County Site: http://www.jeffersoncountyfl.gov/
Leon Ready Resources: http://www.leonready.com/
Liberty County Emergency Management: https://libertycountyflem.com/
Madison County Emergency Management: https://madisoncountyfl.com/emergency-management/
Taylor County Sheriffs Office: https://taylorsheriff.org/
Wakulla County Emergency Management: https://www.wcso.org/emergency-management

Regional Resources
Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/local/florida/north-florida.html
2-1-1 Big Bend: https://211bigbend.org/

Other Weather
College of DuPage has a great satellite loop for tracking storms:

Special Needs Registry for Special Needs Shelter (SpNS) for someone who during periods of evacuation or emergency, requires sheltering assistance due to physical impairment or disabilities who are medically stable and do not require medical care:
It Will Huff...and Puff...
And if you’re lucky, a hurricane will never blow your house down…but it could take part of or your entire roof. Own a home long enough and you will have to replace your roof due to age, damage, aesthetics, or any number of other reasons. With such an expensive and long-term investment, it is vital to choose the right roofing company to match your needs. Since we are right in the middle of hurricane season, here are a few roofing scams to be on the lookout for should a storm come our way…
•  Door-to-door salespersons, especially after a storm. Successful Florida roofing companies are so busy that they do not have time to solicit work. The State of Florida ruled this illegal as of July 1, 2021. Unfortunately, doorknockers are still out there.
 
•  Companies that offer extremely low bids. If it’s too good to be true, most likely it’s not true and you’ll most likely find extra costs tacked on to your bill as the project progresses – but by that time, you’re stuck. Read all contractual terms before you sign. Get at least three bids and always make sure you’re comparing apples-to-apples. Make sure you’re looking at the same quality of materials as you review your quotes.
 
•  Some businesses will exaggerate damages or even create more damage during an inspection. Ask for pictures and/or join the inspector on the roof. Check online reviews and research any company before hiring.
•  A contractor should never ask the homeowner to pull a permit for a new roof. This can only mean that contractor is not approved with that city or county. Permitting should be part of the contract. Some companies do not carry insurance or have a valid license. Ask to see both.
 
•  Large down-payment or full payment requirements before the project starts should be avoided. 15 percent or less at contract signing is reasonable. A successful roofing company should be able to wait until the end of a project to get final payment.
 
•  Insurance fraud is huge in Florida. Be wary of anyone offering you anything for free! Generally, the company will have you sign over your insurance benefits to them. Your insurance will then be stuck between a very overpriced roof or attorney fees. You may end up with a free roof; however, your insurance company will hike your rates or drop you. These scams also affect your family’s, friends’ and neighbors’ insurance costs.
Your home’s roof protects your family and your investment. Check out reviews on Google, Facebook, and the Better Business Bureau before making your final choice. Ask your neighbors about their experiences. Protect yourself, your family, and your investment by choosing the right roofing company for you.
 
Information provided by Beery Roofing & Redesign, Deland
Where Do Front Line Workers Go For Help With Mental Health Challenges?
Trauma of tragedy, pandemic burnout and long hours may push physicians to need mental health treatment, but stigma keeps them from getting help.


Source: Newsy
Medical Economics' Physician Burnout Survey
To view/complete the quick Physician Burnout Survey,

Source: Medical Economics
CMS is Here for Physicians, and Now TMH Residents
Overloaded? Stressed? You're Not Alone.

Does your workday start before dawn and end well after dusk? Do you go to bed tired and wake up the same way? Maybe it’s time you talk to someone who can help you make positive changes for a healthier, happier life and lifestyle. The CMS has six professional counselors who are available to you - free of charge - free of worry. This program remains one of the few in the state that serves all local practicing physicians, and now, also TMH Residents, without cost, without question. Six sessions annually are completely confidential and autonomous. 
 
WELLNESS COACHES: 
Paul Deitchman, Ph.D.
313 Williams St., #5
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850-878-3571
UNIVERSITY: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
Tracey Morse, Ph.D.
1114 E. Tennessee St.
Tallahassee, FL 32308
850-556-7944 
UNIVERSITY: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY – CARBONDALE
Stephen Wright, Ph.D.
313 Williams St., #7
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850-222-3045
UNIVERSITY: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
SPECIALTY AREA WELLNESS COACHES:
Family, Marriage, and Trauma
Kenneth Fowler, Ph.D., LMHC & Certified Traumatologist
1028 E. Park Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-212-6873
UNIVERSITY: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
CERTIFICATE: FSU TRAUMATOLOGY INSTITUTE
Dr. Fowler is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) and an Approved Supervisor for mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists and social workers. As a result of his expertise in psychological trauma, Dr. Fowler was called to respond in New York City following the 9/11 attacks. As a leader in his field, he was able to help with this national tragedy. His work with natural disasters led to him being called to assist with the Hurricane Katrina disaster by debriefing first responders who were exposed to the aftermath of the trauma. Currently, he consults with the Southcom Command of the United States Armed Forces to help returning soldiers and their families deal with the effects of war as well as post-traumatic stress disorder. 
Family and Marriage
Jane Marks, LFMT, LMHC
3325-C Thomasville Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
850-385-8222
 UNIVERSITY: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

For five decades, Jane Marks has helped countless families navigate the challenges in life. As a Licensed Family & Marriage Therapist, she will bring a thoughtful approach to wellness for those seeking individual, family or marriage coaching through the CMS Foundation’s Physician Wellness Program.
Grief, Loss, and Trauma
Brenda Rabalais, Ph.D.
216 Lake Ella Drive
Tallahassee, FL  32303
850-841-7733 
UNIVERSITY: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

Brenda Rabalais, Ph.D., specializes in providing counseling services to those who are struggling with a loss or a trauma. Examples include; divorce, abandonment (foster care, adoption, service families), abuse, suicide, homicide, crime, loss of functionality, loss of home or job, long-term illnesses, other life transitions, as well as death. Brenda founded Lee's Place, a grief, loss and trauma counseling center, in 2000 and has been a practicing therapist as well as the Executive Director for those 21 years.
Special thanks to the MagMutual Foundation and the TMH Medical Staff for helping the CMS fund this program.
Save the Date for Upcoming CMS Meetings/Events
Here's Another Connection for CMS Members: Healthcare Lawyer On Call
The CMS has had a long-standing relationship with Jeff Cohen and The Florida Healthcare Law Firm. Did you know that you can tap into a program called Healthcare Lawyer On Call through Jeff and his firm? That's right! On-Call is different than what you may be used to and doesn't mean that you'll find an attorney at 3 AM to answer a question, but what it does mean is that you can call and speak with someone at The Florida Healthcare Law Firm for 15 minutes at no charge! Please remember that any purely verbal discussion on legal matters is simply the lawyer’s best (and unconfirmed) understanding. Another benefit of being a CMS member!
AMA Resources
COVID-19 Shadow Pandemic: Mental Health Impacts on Patients & Care Teams
“Shadow Pandemic: Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19 on Patients and the Care Team,” the latest on-demand webinar in the AMA’s Overcoming Obstacles series, explores how experts have engaged pediatric and adult patients before and during the pandemic, and how patient health needs have changed over time. Hear the challenges encountered and solutions used to creatively address patient needs, and what is next for patient care.


AMA to Host Interactive Session on Telehealth for Dermatology

The AMA is hosting an interactive session that will highlight the innovative ways that telehealth is currently being used in dermatology. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with speakers, as well as gain insights on ways to leverage a variety of telehealth modalities, including provider-to-provider e-consults, live audio/visual, and store-and-forward.


AMA STEPS Forward® Podcast: Creating A Culture That Supports Well-Being

In the latest AMA STEPS Forward® podcast episode, Dr. Nigel Girgrah, Chief Wellness Officer at Ochsner Health System, discusses strategies for creating a culture of well-being at your health care organization – including addressing mental health stigma, building a strong EAP program, employing an opt out vs opt in approach, and encouraging leadership to be vulnerable about their own burnout struggles.


Source: American Medical Association (AMA)
WEBINAR - Navigating the Current Healthcare Landscape: COVID-19, Staffing Crisis, and Administrative Burden
Physician practices across the country continue to operate in an atmosphere of uncertainty, now compounded by a staffing crisis due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. In the latest AMA STEPS ForwardTM webinar, “Navigating the Current Healthcare Landscape: COVID-19, Staffing Crisis, and Administrative Burden,” attendees will hear about the current health care workforce landscape, how to plan for workplace shortages, and best practices in workplace safety and efficiencies for staff. The webinar will also feature practical, actionable resources to transform and improve your practice. Accompanying the webinar, the AMA has released an updated version of “A Physician Guide to Keeping Your Practice Open During COVID-19” to address concerns about workforce protection and retention during the pandemic. 

Source: American Medical Association (AMA)
CME Resources
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 Kimberly.Branham-Nelson@bmcjax.com 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.

On-Demand CME by The Doctors Company
2.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits or 2.5 ADA CE Credits
Opioids play an important role in pain management—both in acute and chronic care settings—but overuse, misuse, and diversion have contributed to an opioid-related epidemic leading to addiction and death. Our on-demand program provides a useful and informative examination of the epidemic’s prevalence and effects.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
If you suspect human trafficking, please call:
  
National Human Trafficking Hotline
1 (888) 373-7888
Suicide Prevention Hotline
Reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line by Phone and Text

By Phone:
Call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline today. 988 is not a nationwide calling code right now.
Veterans should Press 1 to be connected with the Veterans Crisis Line.

By Text:
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available today through online chats. 988 is not a nationwide texting code right now.
Service members, Veterans, and their families can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by texting 838255, and through online chats at veteranscrisisline.net.


Source: Federal Communications Commission
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
Florida E-Prescribing
Electronic Prescribing Requirements (Florida Board of Medicine)
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.

Florida ePrescribing Clearinghouse (Agency for Healthcare Administration)
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.
Opportunity to Support the 2023 CMS Membership Directory
The Capital Medical Society will publish its 2023 Membership Directory early next year. It will be distributed to all members. We have once again partnered with 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 advertising 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 an E&M sales associate at 800-572-0011 ext. 8005 or advertising@eandmsales.com. 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
Coronavirus - Information, Updates, Resources
Updates and Resources

Maguire Medical Library - Florida State University College of Medicine: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Basic & Current Information

The State-Level COVID-19 profile for Florida. This data is collected from medical facilities in one of two system HHS protect or National Healthcare Safety Network  
 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:
 
 
From the Florida Medical Association: Coronavirus Educational Resource Center

Vaccine Updates


 
See the latest state Department of Health data summarizing the number of people in Florida who have either received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or completed the vaccine series (FMA) 
 
 (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

 
 
 
 
Notable recent additions to CDC guidance include more detailed infection prevention and control recommendations for health care settings: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/infection-control.html.

Please continue to closely monitor the CDC novel coronavirus website for situation and guidance updates. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.

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
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 dbixler@capmed.org.
CMS Foundation Physician Wellness Program
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 six 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.
 
Wellness Coaches:
  • Paul Deitchman, Ph.D. - 850-878-3571
  • Tracey Morse, Ph.D. - 850-556-7944
  • Stephen Wright, Ph.D. - 850-222-3045

Specialty Area Wellness Coaches:
Family, Marriage, and Trauma
  • Kenneth Fowler, Ph.D., LMHC & Certified Traumatologist - 850-212-6873
Family and Marriage
  • Jane Marks, LFMT, LMHC - 850-385-8222

Grief, Loss, and Trauma
  • Brenda Rabalais, Ph.D. - 850-841-7733

To view Physician Wellness resources, click here.

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!
Check Out the Latest CMS Member Benefits