Join Us for Candidates' Night - Leading Up to Delaware's Primary Election

DELPAC is hosting the first of two Candidates' Night events for 2024, with the first taking place on August 13th for Delaware's Primary Election. This event is for MSD members and their guest and will feature invited candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor, and Insurance Commissioner. Join us on Tuesday, August 13th, 6 p.m. at the Smyrna Opera House. Learn more and register.

Young Physician Section Social

MSD is thrilled to invite you to the Young Physician Section (YPS) Social at the Riverfront's Constitution Yards on Thursday, August 1st from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Register today for this event, designed to foster connections and collaborations with other young physicians, residents, and fellows while enjoying free food and drink at a fun summer event location! We hope to see you there! Please register to attend.

CMS 2025 Proposed Rule Physician Payment Schedule Shows 2.8% Cut

Join the AMA for an informative webinar reviewing the current state of federal Medicare reform legislation and ways in which physician advocates can engage Congress during the August recess and beyond. Read more.

Launched on July 18th With Two Events

The Division of Public Health (DPH) invited Delawareans to participate in the launch of the Health Equity Institute of Delaware (HEIDE). The virtual event was held on July 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. HEIDE is an initiative of the DPH Office of the Medical Director, Awele Maduka-Ezeh, MD, MPH, PhD, CCHP and the Office of the Chief Health Equity Officer and DPH Deputy Director, Tesha Quail, PhD, LPCMH, NCC. Through HEIDE, Drs. Maduka-Ezeh and Quail aim to train clinicians and public health professionals to approach the work throughout their careers through a health equity framework. Georges Benjamin, MD, President of the American Public Health Association was the keynote speaker during the morning session. The one-hour evening lecture, “Maternal Substance Use Disorder – Challenges in Care and Access,” was given by Hendrée Jones, PhD of the University of North Carolina and Special Expert, R3, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. MSD accredited the evening presentation and will make a recording available for those who missed the presentation.

To Advance Health Equity

It is with deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to this work and what it represents, that the American Medical Association (AMA) shares the AMA’s 2024-2025 Organizational Strategic Plan to Advance Health Equity. Rooted in a history of advocacy and guided by a vision of a more equitable future, the AMA’s 2024-2025 health equity strategic plan is driven by the urgent need to address historical and contemporary injustices within the health care system. The 2024-2025 plan serves as a direct extension of the 2021–23 organizational strategic plan to embed racial justice and advance health equity. Together, the two documents detail the AMA’s health equity strategy over a five-year period.  

To accompany this plan, the AMA released two educational primers related to international medical graduates (IMGs) and ableism in health care, as well as yearly progress updates to highlight the equity work implemented in 2021, 2022, and 2023. 

VIP in Need of Specialty Services

The Voluntary Initiative Program (VIP) is MSD's safety net program for uninsured, low-income Delaware residents who enroll in the Delaware Division of Public Health's Health Care Connection (HCC) program. We need your help to get the word out to physicians in the community that specialty services are needed in the VIP community! Please spread the word to your colleagues that we are especially in need of support in these areas:

• Orthopaedics - New Castle and Kent Counties
• ENT - Kent and Sussex Counties
• Gastroenterology - New Castle and Kent Counties

Learn more about joining VIP to help improve the health of those in need and reduce inappropriate utilization of health resources.

Allows Spreading Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs into Monthly Payments

On Tuesday this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that, starting in 2025, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan will provide the option to people with Medicare prescription drug coverage to spread the costs of their prescription drugs over the calendar year rather than paying in full at the pharmacy counter each time they fill a prescription. Those with Medicare must opt into the plan to utilize the new benefit. This payment option launches at the same time that all individuals with Medicare prescription drug coverage will begin to have their annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs capped at $2,000.

For Detection of Avian Influenza A(H5) Viruses

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a Desk Reference Graphic describing the procedure for collecting, storing, and transporting conjunctival specimens for influenza A(H5) testing of patients with conjunctivitis and suspected infection. 

Application Open Through November 1, 2024

Applications for the 2025 Climate and Health Equity Fellowship are now open! The program, launched in 2021 by the Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health and the National Medical Association, aims to empower physicians from underrepresented groups in medicine to become leaders in climate and health equity. Learn more and apply here. MSD is a member of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health.

Helps Identify Which Preventive Services are Right for Your Patients

Did you know that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) has a free app called Prevention TaskForce? This app can help health care professionals identify which screenings, counseling interventions, and preventive medications are right for your patients. It includes all current Task Force recommendations and can be searched by specific patient characteristics, such as age, sex/gender, and selected behavioral risk factors. Download the free app, on mobile or desktop, to find the preventive services that can help keep your patients healthy.

Anthony R. Caruso, DO - Family Medicine Resident, Bayhealth

Simran R. Patel, MD - Internal Medicine Resident, Bayhealth

Paul N. Rosenberger, MD - Pediatric Resident, Nemours Children's Hospital

Nathan Sarkar, MD - Radiology Resident, ChristianaCare

Please join MSD in welcoming the newest member(s) 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!

Amanda M. Balch, MD - Med/Peds Resident, ChristianaCare

Megan E. Lauris, MD - Family Medicine Resident, ChristianaCare

Olivia P. Soda - PCOM Medical Student, Beebe Healthcare

Tharanitharun (Sibi) Velmurugan -PCOM Medical Student, Beebe Healthcare

MSD members are afforded a seven-day review period from the date of this publication to comment regarding applicants for membership. Please contact Michelle Seymour at (302) 224-4905 or Michelle.Seymour@medsocdel.org with any comments on the current pending member(s) listed above or if you know of someone interested in joining MSD. You could be eligible for a membership referral discount on your dues!

Internal Expertise is Key in EHR Training

Organizations transitioning to a new electronic health record (EHR) system will need to provide ample training and support to their end users. While the company that created the EHR system will offer serviceable guidance and training, focus support at your organization on local systems and the team members who best understand your organization’s needs.

LEARN MORE:

• Toolkit: EHR Transitions
• Playbook: Taming the EHR

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

Final Score Preview Period Launched for the 2023 MIPS Performance Period

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched the Final Score Preview period for the 2023 MIPS performance period. You can now access your final 2023 MIPS scores on the Quality Payment Program (QPP) website. Review Your Scores to ensure all aspects, including Improvement Activities, are accurately reflected. Address discrepancies by reporting any issues immediately via the QPP portal. If discrepancies remain unresolved, file for a targeted review starting in August. Don't miss the opportunity to review and address any discrepancies before the final scores impact your 2025 payment adjustments. Chirpy Bird offers a free month-by-month guide to ensure you don't miss a beat.

Beebe Healthcare

Beebe Healthcare hosted Margaret Rollins and family recently to celebrate the completion of the Shaw Building renovations and thank the Ma-Ran Foundation for its continued generosity. The Ma-Ran Foundation donated $3 million on March 1, 2022, to the Beebe Medical Foundation to establish the R. Randall Rollins Center for Medical Education at Beebe Healthcare, which is located in the historic Shaw Building – the original Beebe Hospital. This transformational gift helped fund Beebe’s Graduate Medical Education program that now hosts third-year medical students and Beebe’s first- and second-year Family Medicine Resident Physicians. The Rollins family and Ma-Ran Foundation have a long history of supporting Beebe and medical education. Beebe’s historic Lewes Campus and School of Nursing are named in honor of Margaret H. Rollins. 

The Family Medicine Residency recently welcomed its second class of resident physicians. Four new residents will take part in a three-year academic curriculum, gaining exposure and hands-on experience in a wide range of clinical areas. The program is also one of just 25 programs across the country that have been selected to participate in a special pilot project facilitated by the Society for Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM). The project is designed to elevate the importance of competency-based medical education while integrating a more individualized and personalized approach to learning for medical residents.

Beebe Healthcare and Nemours Children’s Health are partnering to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week with a free family-friendly event at the Lewes Library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 26. “Powered by Breast Milk” will be an open-house style event for families to access numerous breastfeeding and breast milk feeding resources, alongside a variety of kid activities and raffle prizes. There will be nearly 20 vendors and stations for parents and children. Representatives from Delaware State Police will provide education around car seat safety, as well as Katy Jonas from Feelings Rock and Andrea Kennedy from the Yoga Studio. Feelings Rock is a music and movement-based class that is designed to help preschoolers and their families navigate social emotional development. Kennedy will offer yoga demonstrations that focus on the neck and back for breastfeeding mothers. Registration is requested but not required: tinyurl.com/38ux6sm6. 

Beebe Healthcare has maintained its status as a top Delaware hospital according to the recently released U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospital rankings. Beebe was one of 466 hospitals across the nation to earn a “Best Regional Hospital” designation and the only one in southern Delaware. Driving the regional ranking were the seven "High Performing" specialty areas for procedures and conditions.

ChristianaCare

ChristianaCare will hold a special event to celebrate breastfeeding and share resources for families in the community. The "Latch On & Family Fair" will feature more than 20 local vendors, free food, entertainment, raffles, door prizes and more. The Lactation Center will also offer breastfeeding education and support. Enjoy children's activities with arts and crafts, face painting, and special guests. Spread the word to your patients to register to attend on Saturday, August 3rd from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Information on Recent Product Recalls

I-Pack Injection Kits

Bausch + Lomb and its subsidiary, Synergetics, Inc. are recalling certain lots of I-Pack Injection Kits after being unable to verify that the products were fully sterilized. This recall involves removing devices from where they are used or sold. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. This recall involves removing certain devices from where they are used or sold. If this device continues to be used, it may cause serious injuries, serious health consequences, or death.

Volara System Single-Patient Use Circuit

Baxter International Inc. announced it has issued an Urgent Medical Device Recall for certain lots of the Volara system single-patient use circuit and blue ventilator adapter assembly. The recall is due to reports of the handset plug disconnecting from the nebulizer port on the blue ventilator adapter. To date, there have been no injuries reported in association with this issue. Baxter is working with customers to replace the affected products. Baxter has contacted affected customers, instructing them to stop using the affected patient circuits and arrange for the return and replacement of the accessories by contacting Baxter directly. If a patient does not have another option for therapy, they may continue to use it with caution. 

Illegal Selling of Copycat Delta-8 THC Food Products

In June 2022, the FDA warned consumers about children accidentally ingesting food products containing delta-8 THC. From Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2023, the FDA received over 300 adverse event reports involving children and adults who consumed delta-8 THC products. Nearly half of these reports involved hospitalization or emergency department visits, and approximately two-thirds of these adverse events followed ingestion of delta-8 THC-containing food products such as candy or brownies. Adverse events included, but were not limited to, hallucinations, vomiting, tremor, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness. On Wednesday, the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued warning letters to five companies for illegally selling copycat food products containing delta-8 THC and introducing them into the marketplace in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The warning letters were issued to: Hippy Mood, Earthly Hemps, Shamrockshrooms.com, Mary Janes Bakery Co. LLC and Life Leaf Medical CBD Center. The FDA also issued a warning letter independently to the company GrowGod LLC for the same FD&C Act violations. 

Clonazepam Orally Disintegrating Tablets

Endo USA is recalling one lot of Clonazepam Orally Disintegrating Tablets, USP (C-IV) 0.25 mg tablets, which may also appear as Clonazepam Orally Disintegrating Tablets, USP (C-IV) 0.125 tablets 60-count pack to the consumer level. The product lot is being recalled due to mislabeling where an incorrect strength appears on the cartons of some packs to show the product strength as 0.125 mg and not 0.25 mg due to an error at a third-party packager. The blister strips inside the product pack reflect the correct strength of 0.25 mg. Children and adults who are inadvertently prescribed a two-fold overdose of clonazepam would be at risk for the adverse effects of significant sedation, dizziness, ataxia, and confusion. There is reasonable probability for significant, possibly life-threatening, respiratory depression especially for patients with concomitant pulmonary disease, patients who have prescribed dosing near maximal dosing, and patients also taking other medications that could cause additional respiratory depression. To date, Endo has not received any reports of adverse events associated with this product lot recall. The product lot was distributed through wholesale distributors to retail pharmacies nationwide. 

Birth Equity: Pregnancy, Parenting and Drug Us

On behalf of Delaware's Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA), Mercer and Bowling Business Strategies are excited to present a new 5-webinar series led by Dr. Kima Taylor and Dr. Mishka Terplan of Doing Right by Birth. Download the flyer with the full series description. The audience includes all health care professionals who serve people during the perinatal period, including through one year postpartum. The first webinar description and link to registration is below:

July 22, 12-1:30 PM ET: Pregnancy and Substance Use: Holistic Prenatal Care: Screening, Assessment, Treatment, and Beyond (Part 1)

In this two-part presentation we will review principles and elements of prenatal care for people with SUD. Part one will review: 

• Preconception care
• Screening versus testing
• SUD treatment including MOUD initiation and continuation (split dosing, low dose initiation, etc)
• Other health concerns (syphilis, physical and mental health concerns, for example)
• Harm reduction
• Care coordination

Register Here.

Other webinars scheduled:

• September 11, 12-1:30 p.m. - Pregnancy and Substance Use: Holistic Prenatal Care: Barriers and Facilitators for Dyadic Wellbeing (Part 2)
• September 26, 2-3:30 p.m. - Labor and Delivery: Birth in the Context of Substance Use
• October 7, 12-1:30 p.m. - Postpartum and Infant Year One: Center on the Dyad (Part 1)
• November 8, 12-1:30 p.m. - Postpartum and Infant Year One: Center on the Dyad (Part 2)

August 15 - Delaware Division of Public Health One Health EpiChat Webinar "Vaccine Preventable Diseases" 12-1 p.m. Registration required. Learn more at https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/epi/onehealth.html

August 23 - Delaware Day 2024 Healthcare Recruitment, 9 a.m. -1 p.m., Ammon Education Center at ChristianaCare, Newark. Recruiters will be on site from various hospitals across the state, as well as Westside Family Healthcare, to discuss career opportunities with individuals seeking employment as a physician, advanced practice clinician, and nurse.

September 19 - Delaware Division of Public Health One Health EpiChat Webinar "Fungal Diseases," 12-1 p.m. Registration required. Learn more at https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/epi/onehealth.html

October 17 - Delaware Division of Public Health One Health EpiChat Webinar "Respiratory Season," 12-1 p.m. Registration required. Learn more at https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/epi/onehealth.html

October 19 - DAFP Healthcare Heroes 5k, 9 a.m. start, Cape Henlopen State Park, Fort Miles.

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.

September 19 - SAVE THE DATE! DAFP Geriatric Medicine Symposium, ChristianaCare, Newark.

September 25 - SAVE THE DATE! 2024 Delaware Healthcare Workforce Summit, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Dover.

October 19 - DAFP Research & Education Foundation Healthcare Heroes 5k, Cape Henlopen State Park.

November 21 - Delaware Division of Public Health One Health EpiChat Webinar "What is One Health," 12-1 p.m. Registration required. Learn more at https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/epi/onehealth.html

November 23 - SAVE THE DATE! MSD Annual Meeting and Presidential Reception, Christiana Hilton and White Clay Creek Country Club, Newark.

December 19 - Delaware Division of Public Health One Health EpiChat Webinar "Candida Auris," 12-1 p.m. Registration required. Learn more at https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/epi/onehealth.html

February 28-March 4, 2025 - SAVE THE DATE! Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health 2025 Annual Meeting, Arlington, VA (In-person congressional visits will be held in Washington, DC).

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.