Observed Monday, February 19th

Presidents’ Day, officially Washington’s Birthday in the United States (the third Monday in February), is popularly recognized as honoring George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The day is sometimes understood as a celebration of the birthdays and lives of all U.S. presidents. The origin of Presidents’ Day lies in the 1880s when the birthday of Washington was first celebrated as a federal holiday. In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved a number of federal holidays to Mondays. The change was designed to schedule certain holidays so that workers had a number of long weekends throughout the year, but it has been opposed by those who believe that those holidays should be celebrated on the dates they actually commemorate. During debate on the bill, it was proposed that Washington’s Birthday be renamed Presidents’ Day to honor the birthdays of both Washington (February 22) and Lincoln (February 12); although Lincoln’s birthday was celebrated in many states, it was never an official federal holiday. Following much discussion, Congress rejected the name change. After the bill went into effect in 1971, however, Presidents’ Day became the commonly accepted name, due in part to retailers’ use of that name to promote sales and the holiday’s proximity to Lincoln’s birthday. Presidents' day is a federal holiday, reflecting that the U.S. Postal Service, banks, the stock market, and most schools will be closed. MSD observes this holiday and will also be closed on Monday, February 19th.

The Alarming Resurgence of Measles: What You Need to Know

MSD is pleased to announce that the recording of the MSD Hot Topic presentation on the recent increase in measles cases by Dr. Stephen Eppes is now available for viewing on the MSD YouTube Channel. Dr. Eppes specializes in pediatric infectious diseases at Christiana Care Health System. He is active on many Christiana Care committees and serves not only as Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, but also as Associate Infection Prevention Officer for Christiana Care. Throughout his career, Dr. Eppes has been recognized for his clinical and teaching skills. Among his many repeat honors, he has received numerous teaching awards from the pediatric residents. In the presentation/video, Dr. Eppes provides an in-depth look at the signs, symptoms, and diagnosis of measles. He also discusses current treatment strategies, the critical importance of reporting cases, and the role of vaccinations in preventing the spread of this disease. The presentation is an invaluable resource for healthcare professionals, educators, parents, and anyone interested in public health. To watch the video, please visit the MSD YouTube channel or click on the link: https://youtu.be/9o2c6DNPWmk. We encourage you to share this video with your colleagues and friends who may benefit from this important information.

Delaware Issues Health Advisory

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) issued a health advisory to advise clinicians and health care partners of the need to ensure timely syphilis screening and treatment in pregnant people. There has been a nationwide shortage of penicillin G benzathine (Bicillin L-A), which is the only recommended treatment for syphilis in pregnancy. However, DPH has been able to obtain a limited supply of penicillin G benzathine and has this available for the treatment of pregnant people only. Read the advisory and recommendations for health care professionals.

Significant Increase in Rates of Syphilis Across the Country

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published its first comprehensive laboratory recommendations for syphilis testing. This new guidance includes approaches for laboratory-based tests, point-of-care tests, sample processing, and how laboratories should report test results to clinicians and health departments. Intended primarily for clinical laboratory or disease control personnel, the guidance is also for clinicians to understand how to collect and process specimens, interpret test results, and counsel and treat patients. These comprehensive recommendations are the first published by CDC on laboratory testing for syphilis, which has traditionally been based on serologic algorithms to detect a humoral immune response to T. pallidum. Limited point-of-care tests for syphilis are available in the United States; increased availability of point-of-care tests that are sensitive and specific could facilitate expansion of screening programs and reduce the time from test result to treatment. 

Supports the State's Efforts to Improve Health Care Quality

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and the Delaware Health Care Commission have launched the Benchmark Trend Report Dashboard to further support the State’s efforts to improve health care quality for all residents, while simultaneously working to monitor and reduce the economic burden of health care spending. This dashboard allows an interactive view of Delaware’s health care spending and quality data comparing across multiple years. Users can directly interact with the data and visualizations, allowing a customizable journey through the dashboard. Information is broken down by state-, market- and insurer-level spending, as well as type of insurance and total health care enrollment. The spending and quality benchmarks were originally developed to support Governor John Carney’s vision for the state. In November 2018, Governor Carney signed Executive Order 25, establishing a state health care spending benchmark, an annual per-capita-rate-of-growth benchmark for health care spending, and multiple health care quality measures that are to be evaluated and adjusted every three years. The benchmarks were subsequently codified in August of 2022 through House Bill 442. To learn more about Delaware’s health care spending and quality benchmarks, visit the Delaware Health Care Commission website at https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhcc/.

Steven Blessing Named Division Director

Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Josette Manning announced a new leadership team at the Division of Public Health (DPH), led by Division Director Steven Blessing. Director Blessing oversees over 1,000 staff and manages a $433 million budget in grant and state funding. He previously served as Interim DPH Division Director since September 2023.

Shonetesha (Tēsha) Quail, PhD, LPCMH, NCC was named Deputy Director of DPH in October 2023, providing oversight for over 1,000 employees. Previously, Dr. Quail served as DPH Associate Deputy Director since December 2022 and oversaw the Birth to Three Programs and Community Health Promotion Branch. With 25 years of organizational experience working in the private and government sectors, she ensures health equity with a continuum of care approach and continues to serve as Chief Health Equity Officer. 

MSD member Awele Maduka-Ezeh, MD, MPH, PhD, CCHP was recently named Medical Director of DPH. Dr. Maduka-Ezeh is a public health physician with expertise (research and practice) in pandemic preparedness and response among vulnerable and marginalized populations, and in managing public health laboratories. She previously worked for DPH as State Medical Director and Chief of the Infectious Disease Prevention Section, and Director of the Delaware Public Health Laboratory. Prior to her appointment, Dr. Maduka-Ezeh was the Medical Director and Health Care Epidemiologist for the Delaware Department of Correction’s Bureau of Health Care, Substance Abuse, & Mental Health since 2018.

Plan to Join Your Colleagues at the Historic Smyrna Opera House

Registration is now open for the MSD 2024 Interim Council Meeting to be held on Thursday, April 18th at the Smyrna Opera House, located at 7 W. South St., Smyrna, DE. The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. with sign-in and a half-hour cocktail social, followed by the Interim Council business meeting beginning promptly at 6:30 p.m. As a member of MSD, this event affords you the opportunity to connect with your peers and meet new colleagues, all the while enjoying fine food and beverage at a historic Delaware location!

If you are interested in serving as a Council member or not sure if you are a Council member, please contact Mary LaJudice, Senior Director of Corporate Services at (302) 224-5183 or email Mary.LaJudice@medsocdel.org.

Consider submitting a resolution. Resolutions are a vehicle to submit to Council your issues for change. Learn more about writing a resolution from the MSD Resolution Writing Guide or the brief training video developed. Resolution submission deadline is Friday, April 5th. Please email resolutions to Mary.LaJudice@medsocdel.org. Plan to attend this year!

To register go to: https://reg.planetreg.com/INTERIM2024. Registration deadline is Thursday, April 11 by end of business day.

Due to Continued U.S. Mpox Cases

Although reported cases of mpox in the United States have significantly declined since the outbreak peak in the summer of 2022, small clusters have continued to occur. Severe mpox manifestations, including deaths, also continue to occur. Currently, only one in four of the approximately 2 million people eligible to receive JYNNEOS in the United States have received both doses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages health care professionals to remain diligent about taking their patient’s sexual history and recommending the two-dose JYNNEOS vaccine to those who are eligible to help reduce the risk of continued mpox transmission.

An Update from the Delaware Health Information Network

In December, Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN) notified of a Maryland law restricting health information exchanges (HIEs) operating within Maryland from providing access to Maryland data associated with abortion and abortion-related care to their participants without explicit patient consent. That law required the Maryland Department of Health and Maryland Health Care Commission to publish regulations providing further information to HIEs and the public about what data would be subject to this heightened consent requirement and how HIEs should be expected to implement these restrictions over time. On January 12th, those draft regulations were published in the Maryland Register. 

In general, the regulations require HIEs – including DHIN – to block access to certain reproductive health data that was generated at a Maryland location on or after May 31, 2022 and to prevent such information from being disseminated through DHIN's standard distribution channels on a going forward basis. In addition to providing the specific codes to be blocked, the draft regulations also required HIEs that, like DHIN, were not presently blocking data associated with the newly-published code sets to submit to the Maryland Health Care Commission, on or before January 29, 2024, an implementation plan describing the HIE's efforts to develop the technology needed to block the requested information and providing a timeline for completion.  DHIN's implementation plan submitted confirms that DHIN is currently developing the technology needed to implement the new regulations and expects to have code fully tested and fully deployed in its systems according to a set schedule. Read more.

Final Rule to Implement the Bipartisan CARES Act Legislation

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), finalized modifications to the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Patient Records regulations at 42 CFR part 2 (“Part 2”), which protect the privacy of patients’ SUD treatment records. Specifically, the final rule increases coordination among providers treating patients for SUDs, strengthens confidentiality protections through civil enforcement, and enhances integration of behavioral health information with other medical records to improve patient health outcomes. A fact sheet on the final rule may be found at: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/regulatory-initiatives/fact-sheet-42-cfr-part-2-final-rule/index.html

Seeks Strategic Partnerships Focused on Shared Goals

Quality Insights, a non-profit organization with a mission of improving health and healthcare, is actively seeking partnerships to elevate healthcare excellence across the Mid-Atlantic region, covering Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Early this year, Quality Insights will apply for an opportunity to lead collaborative healthcare improvements under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) program, one of the largest federal programs dedicated to improving the quality of health care at the community level. If successfully awarded in the region, Quality Insights will collaborate and coordinate with health care professionals, community organizations, patients, and advocates to positively impact care in nursing homes, hospitals, clinician practices, and the community. The organization will support quality improvement initiatives around prevention and chronic disease management, patient safety, behavioral health, care coordination, health equity, quality management infrastructure, technology, and emergency preparedness. Read more.

Will Allow Beneficiaries to Pay Part D Out-of-Pocket Costs Over Course of the Year Starting in 2025

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the second part of draft guidance for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan that outlines requirements for Medicare Part D plan sponsors, including outreach and education requirements, pharmacy processes, and operational considerations, for the program’s first year, 2025. The draft guidance is part of the implementation of President Biden’s prescription drug law, the Inflation Reduction Act, which will help reduce the burden of high upfront out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors and people with disabilities with Medicare prescription drug coverage by allowing them to spread out costs over the year rather than requiring they pay in one lump sum. The guidance complements CMS’ forthcoming national education and outreach efforts to engage interested parties, including pharmacies, health care professionals, and beneficiary advocates, on program implementation and ensure that they have the support and materials needed to communicate effectively on the program. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which goes into effect in 2025, is part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s suite of provisions aimed at lowering prescription drug and health care costs. On January 1, 2024, the law expanded eligibility for the Low-Income Subsidy program (LIS or “Extra Help”) under Medicare Part D. In addition, as of January 1, 2024, for some people enrolled in Medicare Part D who have very high drug costs, for the first time, their out-of-pocket costs will be capped at about $3,300 to $3,800 for most people. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan complements these provisions by allowing individuals to spread their spending over the year rather than paying the total out-of-pocket cost upfront. CMS is seeking comments from the public on today’s draft part two guidance. The comment period is open for 30 days. Comments received by March 16, 2024 will be considered during development of the final guidance. Comments should be sent to PartDPaymentPolicy@cms.hhs.gov with the following subject line: “Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Guidance – Part Two.”

Moderna Vaccine More Effective Than Previous Experimental Vaccines

According to Reuters Health Rounds (2/13/24, Lapid), an experimental mRNA cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine from Moderna elicits some of the most promising immune responses of any CMV vaccine candidate to date, according to researchers. Compared with an earlier experimental vaccine from Sanofi and Novartis that never progressed to late-stage trials, Moderna's was more effective at preventing the virus from infecting the cells lining the mouth and nose that are the body’s first line of defense. It was also more effective at triggering the immune system to destroy CMV-infected cells, the researchers reported in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The vaccine is being developed to protect adults against CMV, which could also prevent women from passing it to their babies during pregnancy. The virus rarely causes symptoms in healthy adults, but it can cause birth defects and brain damage in newborns infected in utero. One in every 200 newborns worldwide are infected with CMV during their mother’s pregnancy. CMV can also be deadly in immunocompromised patients, including organ transplant recipients.

Significantly Increases Health and Clean Air Protections

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last Wednesday finalized a significantly stronger air quality standard that will better protect America’s families, workers, and communities from the dangerous and costly health effects of fine particle pollution, also known as soot. By strengthening the annual health-based national ambient air quality standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from a level of 12 micrograms per cubic meter to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, the EPA’s updated standard will save lives — preventing up to 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost workdays, 800,000 fewer cases of asthma symptoms and 2,000 less emergency department visits, yielding up to $46 billion in net health benefits in 2032. For every $1 spent from this action, there could be as much as $77 in human health benefits in 2032. Soot is a killer, driving heart disease, our asthma epidemic, and other serious illnesses. The people who suffer most are children and older Americans who live in communities of color and low-income communities. This strategy will make Americans healthier and more productive, while underpinning a manufacturing resurgence in America. Since 2000, PM2.5 concentrations in the outdoor air have decreased by 42% while the U.S. Gross Domestic Product increased by 52% during that time.

Updates for Week Ending February 3

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that seasonal flu activity remains elevated, with increases occurring in some parts of the country, particularly the Midwest and Central regions. Nationally, percent positivity for influenza overall remained stable. However, percent positivity for influenza A decreased slightly, and percent positivity for influenza B increased slightly, driven primarily by activity in regions 5 and 7. Eight flu-related deaths in children were reported. One additional death registered last season was corrected and updated to this season, bringing the total number this season to 74. Learn more.

A CDC study that examined people’s immune response to various flu vaccines suggests that vaccination with non-egg-based flu vaccines might improve the antibody response to circulating flu viruses over traditional egg-based vaccines. The findings indicate that repeated vaccination with non-egg-based flu vaccines could redirect antibody responses from immune memory, offering possible insights for improving vaccination strategy. Learn more.

According to the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), six suspected flu-related deaths for the 2023-2024 influenza season have occurred since December. All decedents were over the age of 55 with one reportedly up to date on their flu vaccination. Cases were statewide.

Contact MSD If You Are Interested In Serving

On April 1, 2005, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) began implementing a preferred drug list (PDL). The PDL is composed of drugs that are medically appropriate and less expensive than other drugs in the same class. The drugs are chosen for inclusion on the list by a Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee (P&T Committee). The P&T membership includes clinicians from various specialty areas and includes public advocates. The P&T Committee meets to make recommendations to the Division regarding drugs to be considered for inclusion on (or deletion from) the PDL.

MSD has been asked to nominate a physician for consideration in serving on the Delaware P&T Committee. Currently, the state is looking for nominations of an oncologist, gastroenterologist, or pulmonologist to serve. However, if you are interested but do not practice in these subspecialty areas, they welcome all! The P&T Committee meets four times a year on Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are three scheduled virtual meetings and one meeting in person that the committee member can either attend or otherwise participate virtually. Physician appointments are made by the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. Terms are for three years. If you are interested, please email Mary.LaJudice@medsocdel.org and provide an updated CV. It is appreciated to receive a response by Friday, February 24th.

MSD Welcomed the Opportunity to Speak with Future Physicians

ChristianaCare partnered with Harrington Trust to develop a regional event for pre-medical students who identify as underrepresented in medicine. MSD was asked to attend to provide information to these future health care professionals. Ms. Lynn Robinson, Director of Professional Education, and Ms. Michelle Seymour, Membership Manager, attended the symposium held at the John H. Ammon Medical Education Center on February 10th. Approximately 100 students from the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Wilmington University, and other area colleges spent the day networking and listening to speakers discuss topics, such as the "Road to Medical School" and "Leadership Pathways to Medicine." There was time for the students to visit exhibitors, including MSD to share information about membership, as well as speak with area medical schools and other health care organizations.

Highlighting February as American Heart Month

According to the Center for Disease Control (2023), greater than 356,000 people experience According to the Center for Disease Control (2023), greater than 356,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a health care facility in the United States annually, and about 60% to 80% will die before reaching the hospital. To highlight February as American Heart Month, we are announcing “The Cardiac Compression Challenge." This event is sponsored by University of Delaware (UD) Honors College, UD Nursing, and MSD's charitable foundation, the Delaware Medical Education Foundation and will take place on Sunday, February 25th from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the STAR Health Sciences Complex Atrium in Newark. Those making it to the second round will compete after 12:00 p.m. There is no fee to register, but you must register for a 20-minute time slot in "Daysmart" registration system. Click here for scheduling instructions.

Each registrant will receive a $20 entry donation to be given to a charitable organization, such as B+, Honors College, UD Nursing, UD PT Marquette Challenge, or MSD's Delaware Medical Education Foundation.

Based on the number of compressions completed in their 20-minute session, registrants move up and then compete in the "Playoff Bonus Money - 2nd Round." The winner of this round will receive $1,000 for 1,000 compressions to be given to the charitable organization of their choice (must be a 501c3 organization). A practice station will be set up in the Health Sciences Complex Atrium from January 22nd to February 23rd. Participants may bring knee pads (recommended) and wear wrist supports.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH. Click to schedule for a time slot.

Find Medicare Participating Physicians and Suppliers

The 2024 Medicare Participation Physicians / Suppliers Directory (MEDPARD) is now available. As in the past, there will be no hardcopy distributions. Beneficiaries can use the Physician Compare website or contact 1-800-MEDICARE for assistance in locating a participating supplier near their home. 

The Medicare Participation Physicians/Suppliers Directory (MEDPARD) contains the names, addresses, telephone numbers and specialties of Medicare Participating physicians and suppliers. Note the directory does not list individual physicians/non-physician practitioners who are reassigning benefits to a group/employer; only the group/employer information is available. Also, in accordance with instruction issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), most group practices are enrolled as "multi-specialty" and are therefore listed under the "Clinic/Group Practice" specialty selection. Medicare participating physicians and suppliers have agreed to accept assignment on all Medicare claims for covered items and services. The information available is based on 2024 participation data. Also available is a list of Rural Health Clinics that have contracted with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Rural Health Clinics agree to accept payment by the Medicare program as full payment for their services, except for the applicable deductible and coinsurance amounts for which the beneficiary is responsible.

Coverys

MSD is pleased to highlight one of our 2024 Premier Educational Program Partners. Coverys has been a part of the effort to keep our professional medical and public education programs growing through its partnership with MSD as a Premier Educational Program (PEP) Partner.

Coverys is a leading provider of medical professional liability insurance committed to helping reduce distractions so health care professionals and organizations can focus on what matters most—patients. You can count on Coverys for flexible coverage options, innovative insurance solutions, advanced data analytics, best-in-class education and risk mitigation resources, and unique support programs to assist health care providers who are experiencing a claim, adverse event, or burnout. With 40+ years of experience serving the medical community and underwriting companies with “A” (Excellent) ratings from A.M. Best, you can be confident in Coverys’ financial strength and stability. Please visit coverys.com for more information.

If you would like to become a PEP Partner, please contact Lynn Robinson, Director of Professional Education. 

Why Employee Benefits Matter

A comprehensive and well put together compensation package, including both wages and benefits, goes a long way in meeting corporate goals for attracting and retaining necessary talent. A targeted, rich benefit package can help a company stand out among its competitive peers and can provide the company with a competitive edge when it comes to attracting necessary new and top talent. Corporate leaders also know that employees who feel valued and cared for through benefits like health insurance, retirement plans and liberal paid time off programs are more likely to remain with their current employer rather than seek opportunities elsewhere. Additionally, by providing employees with access to benefits that can help meet their health and well-being needs, employers can help their workforce achieve a better work-life balance, reducing absenteeism and creating a healthier, happier, and more engaged workforce. While the compilation of a good employee benefit program does come with expense, it often leads to a long-term cost reduction not only through the efficiencies mentioned above but also through a reduction in health care costs due to lower rates of claims utilization. Employee benefits contribute significantly to producing a positive company culture, leading to improved employee and long-term success for the organization.

The Medical Society of Delaware Insurance Services offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit the website at www.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Sharon Ruth at (302) 397-0173.

Attract the Best and Brightest Young Talent by Joining My Green Doctor

Attracting the best young professionals to your practice is essential for your long term success. It is not enough anymore simply to offer a high salary and a reasonable work schedule. This month, the Medical Society of Delaware’s My Green Doctor explains this in a three-minute blog, “I’ll Be Joining an Environmentally Friendly Practice.”

My Green Doctor is a free money-saving membership benefit from MSD. Members use the "Meeting-by-Meeting Guide" to learn how to adopt environmental sustainability, save resources, and help create healthier communities. The program adds just five minutes to each regular office staff meeting or weekly office "huddle," making small changes at each meeting that over time really add up. Everyone in your practice can register as Partner Society members at www.MyGreenDoctor.org or at www.MyGreenDoctor.es (si, en espanol). Use the discount code MGDMSD to get full free access to My Green Doctor, save $60 instantly, and save $1,000s in the first year. Register today and watch the "Three Minute Video" that explains how easy it is to add My Green Doctor to your next agenda. You can do this!

Organize Around the Team

Practices looking to eliminate waste with Lean improvements can emphasize a team orientation rather than a task orientation. Key features of this strategy include cross-training of roles to promote flexibility and workload balancing—optimizing task distribution and better using people in a system to improve workflow. With the flexibility of these structures, workers can “flex” to a different role when demand varies, preventing breakdowns in workflow.

Toolkits:

• Lean Health Care
• Team-Based Care

Playbook:

• Saving Time

AMA STEPS Forward^® offers a collection of engaging and interactive educational content designed to help put the joy back into medicine.

Network, Network, Network!

American Medical Association (AMA) member Samuel Lin, MD, PhD, is working to change the landscape for senior physicians by changing how they think of themselves. He shares his secret to a successful career—no matter your age. Read on.

The current process of medical education across a physician's career is inefficient, inequitable and inflexible. The brief, “Precision Education: The Future of Lifelong Learning in Medicine,” shares how precision education offers a personalized approach to students and physicians as they progress along the educational continuum and through their professional life. The academic community is currently defining this emerging concept and tackling the challenge of translating it from vision to implementation. Access the brief now.

Stacey M. Kuhfahl, DO - Direct Primary Care, Delta Health and Wellness

Matthew Wiltshire, MD - Anesthesia Associates, PA

Please join MSD in welcoming the newest members of the Medical Society of Delaware. As the third oldest medical society in the country, MSD has an amazing history. Thank you for taking part in our continued success!

Information on Recent Product Recalls

Investigation of Lead, Chromium Levels in Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches

As of February 13, 2024, FDA has not received any additional confirmed complaints/reports of adverse events potentially linked to recalled product. To date, confirmed complainants, or people for whom a complaint or adverse event was submitted and met FDA’s complainant definition, are between zero and 53 years of age and the median age is one year old. CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health is conducting case finding efforts in collaboration with state and local health departments. CDC’s case definition for state partners includes a blood lead level of 3.5 µg/dL or higher measured within 3 months after consuming a recalled WanaBana, Schnucks, or Weis brand fruit puree product after November 2022. As of February 9, CDC has received reports of 101 confirmed cases, 284 probable cases, and 37 suspected cases for a total of 422 cases from 44 different states through their reporting structure. Read the full update.

Medfusion Model 4000 Syringe Pump

Smiths Medical ASD Inc. is recalling Medfusion model 4000 syringe pump due to issues associated with earlier software versions of the medical pump. Issues associated with earlier software versions of the medical pump may affect the alarm system, the pump, the control screen, and other parts of the pump. The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. Use of these devices may cause serious injuries or death.

Philips BrightView Imaging Systems

Philips is recalling their BrightView, BrightView X, and BrightView XCT, as the detector may unexpectedly fall due to a component failure. Use of the affected device may cause a person to experience neck injury, contusion, traumatic brain injury/concussion, death, crush injury, fracture, laceration, muscle, or ligament sprain/strain, as well as an interruption to the BrightView system operation. If detector is positioned above the large opening of the device (the center of the gantry), there may be an interruption to normal system operation. The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. Use of these devices may cause serious injuries or death. Please be aware, this recall is a correction, not a product removal. 

Beebe Healthcare

ChristianaCare

February 22 - Frank M. and Robert R. Hoopes Medical/Dental Lecture 2024, 6-8:30 p.m., John H. Ammon Medical Education Center, ChristianaCare Newark Campus. This activity has been approved for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 credit.

March 5 - 2024 State of the State Address by Governor Carney, 2:00 p.m., House of Representatives Chamber in Legislative Hall. The event will be livestreamed on de.gov/sots and on the Governor's YouTube channel.

March 9 - 28th Annual Diabetes Update, 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., John H. Ammon Education Center, ChristianaCare Newark Campus. Registration deadline March 1st. This activity has been approved for a maximum of 4.75 AMA PRA Category 1 credit/4.75 ABIM MOC.

March 15 - 6th Biennial Perinatal Palliative Care Symposium: Aspects of Trauma in Perinatal Palliative Care, 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., John H. Ammon Education Center, ChristianaCare Newark Campus. This activity has been approved for a maximum of 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credit.

April 9 - SAVE THE DATE! Delaware Cancer Consortium Retreat, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Bally's Dover Casino Resort.

April 13 - SAVE THE DATE! Delaware Academy of Family Physicians Annual Meeting, Bayhealth SIM Center, Dover.

April 17 - 18th Annual Delaware Healthy Mother & Infant Consortium Summit, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Chase Center on the Riverfront.

October 29 - SAVE THE DATE! 28th Annual Delaware Healthcare Forum, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Bally's Dover Casino Resort, Rollins Center, Dover.

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.

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) encourages you to sign up for Delaware Health Alert Notifications through the Delaware Health Alert Network (DHAN). The DHAN is an electronic notification system to health care professionals through emailing and faxing. The system is activated when a CDC HAN email message is received. The message is sent out to the distribution lists selected by DPH subject-matter experts. Learn more about Delaware's Health Alert Notification system. If you are not currently receiving health alert messages directly and would like to sign up to receive, please self-register in the Health Alert Delaware system.

• 2024 Adult Immunization Schedule (for ages 19 years or older) - www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/adult.html (includes new recommendations for RSV vaccine, Mpox vaccine, and pentavalent meningococcal vaccine)

• 2024 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule (for ages 18 years or younger) -https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html (includes new recommendations for RSV vaccine, RSV monoclonal antibody, Mpox vaccine, 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, and pentavalent meningococcal vaccine)

• Information for from the My Healthy Community Website (updated on Thursdays) - https://myhealthycommunity.dhss.delaware.gov/portals/flu/locations/state/seasons/2023-2024/overview
• Find a Flu Shot

• Information for Delaware Medical Professionals - https://publichealthalerts.delaware.gov/mpox/

• Updates to Clinical Testing Guidance Algorithms - CDC has updated several testing guidance pages for patients with acute respiratory illness (1) not being hospitalized, (2) being hospitalized, and (3) hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients when SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses are co-circulating. Clinicians can use these updated resources to inform clinical decision making. (12/8/2023)
• Ellume tests available for those who are blind or have low vision (free at-home COVID-19 tests) https://acl.gov/accessibletests
• Find COVID-19 Vaccines: https://www.vaccines.gov/
• No Cost COVID-19 Testing Locator can help uninsured people (or those adults without full vaccine insurance coverage) who are symptomatic or exposed find current community and pharmacy partners participating in the Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program.
• FDA At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests provides a list of all FDA-authorized at-home over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 diagnostic tests
• Federal website for information on navigating COVID: COVID.gov
• CDC Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19
• COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator
• CDC COVID Data Tracker
• CDC will report regional-level test positivity data from the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS)
• COVID-19 by County Community Level Check (# hospital admissions and beds used and total number of new cases)
• (Delaware) General Questions: call 211 or email DPHCall@delaware.gov or Vaccine@delaware.gov for vaccine-specific questions.
• Latest information on Delaware's response (testing, treatment, vaccination): de.gov/coronavirus (Updated 2/2023)