April 5, 2024

Don't Look at a Solar Eclipse Without the Right Glasses. You Can Damage Your Eyes.

Floridians can see a partial eclipse on Monday afternoon. Looking directly at the sun during the event even for a few seconds isn't worth the risk. It can burn retina cells and lead to solar retinopathy.


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Source: Health News Florida

Concierge Care: Some Florida Hospitals Cash in on a Private Equity-Backed Trend

Systems are increasingly stretching a velvet rope, offering “concierge physician service” to an affluent clientele who pay a yearly fee. Critics say the practice exacerbates primary care shortages.


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Source: Health News Florida

HCA Florida Capital Hospital Receives 2024 Patient Safety Excellence Award™

HCA Florida Capital Hospital is the top 5% in the nation for patient safety.


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Source: HCA Florida Capital Hospital

Hospitals Must Obtain Written Consent for Pelvic and Similar Exams, the Federal Government Says

Hospitals must obtain written informed consent from patients before subjecting them to pelvic exams and exams of other sensitive areas — especially if an exam will be done while the patient is unconscious, the federal government said Monday.


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Source: WCTV

US Tuberculosis Cases Were at the Highest Level in a Decade in 2023

Forty states reported an increase in TB, and rates were up among all age groups, the CDC said. More than 9,600 cases were reported, a 16% increase from 2022.


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Source: Health News Florida

These are the Worst Cities in the US for Allergy Sufferers - and Where it's Getting Worse

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America discovered which major cities in the U.S. are the worst for people with seasonal allergies. The researchers looked at daily pollen counts, availability of allergy specialists and over-the-counter medication use for population's in 100 of the nation's largest cities.


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Source: Health News Florida

TMH Recognized As Number-One Hospital in the Region For Organ Donation

On Tuesday, April 2, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) received the LifeQuest Award of Excellence for its commitment to creating a culture that honors organ donation and for implementing best practices to increase the number of lives saved through organ donation.


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Source: Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare

Track Opioid Settlement Payouts — to the Cent — in Your Community

Want to know how much opioid settlement money your city, county, or state has received so far? Or how much they’re expecting in the future? Use this new searchable database to find out.


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Source: Health News Florida

These Identical Twins Both Grew Up with Autism, but Took Very Different Paths

Sam and John Fetters, 19, are identical twins at opposite ends of the autism spectrum. Sam is a sophomore at Amherst College who plans to double major in history and political science. In his free time, he runs marathons. John attends a special school, struggles to form sentences, and likes to watch Teletubbies and Sesame Street. Two brothers. Same genes. Different flavors of autism.


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Source: Health News Florida

2024 Capital Health Plan Walk with a Doc Tallahassee

Please join Capital Health Plan for Walk with a Doc Tallahassee - an event where the members of our community come together to speak with our physicians as we stroll through our local parks and greenways.

CMS Foundation Physician Wellness Program is Here for Physicians and 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 five 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 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:
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.
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.
Informational Correspondence with the Capital Medical Society

In this digital era, we strive to keep you updated with the latest in information. Please let us know when your emails and contact information change. We want you to be part of this Society and be active in your practice networking. Patients seeking provider referrals and providers seeking provider referrals keep your practice flourishing. If your membership information is old and you would like to contact us about relocating, new staff changes, or if you haven’t heard from us in a while, your information may not be current. Your personal contact information is kept confidential but is our way of reaching out to you about meetings, medical updates, license requirements, legalities in medicine and patient privacy and care, Journals, newsletters and more.

Tom Block, Executive Director, 850-321-1648, tblock@capmed.org

Are You One of our Members on the Move?
If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions, we want to know more!
·    Is your practice expanding? Are you adding staff members?
·    Do you have a new practice administrator/office manager?
·    Have you changed or added locations?
·    Have you changed your email/phone/fax?
·    Have you added a new specialty or passed your Board Certification(s)?
·    Have you retired within the last six months?
 
Send your updates to rcarlin@capmed.org.
Subject line: Member Updates
Updated Physician Headshots
The CMS website is your link to our physician member database. The CMS has been actively working on each provider search. Please take the time to search the listing. If you find there is any inaccurate information or an outdated headshot, please reach out to CMS to update your information. Let us know as soon as possible to make sure your information is current.
CMS | (850) 877-9018 | rcarlin@capmed.org
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Electronic Version of April 2024 Cap Scan

Click here to view the April 2024 Cap Scan.

Save the Date for Upcoming CMS Meetings/Events

April 16, 2024


CMS Membership & CME Meeting


“Periodontal Medicine: Inter-Relationships of Inflammatory Periodontal Diseases and Systemic Health”


Presenter: Brian Mealey, D.D.S.


6:00 pm



Maguire Center for Lifelong Learning at Westminster Oaks

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!
CME Resources

Accredited Education Courses to Meet DEA Training Requirement

The Doctors Company offers 6.75 hrs. that meet the DEA requirement for free. These hours can be combined with previous opioid education the physician may have completed to achieve the 8 hr. requirement. This, and all The Doctors Company CME, is available for free to any physician. They do not have to be a The Doctors Company insured.

https://www.thedoctors.com/patient-safety/education-and-cme/accredited-education-courses-to-meet-dea-training-requirement/


FreeCME.com 

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.


CME - From Brain Disorders to Brain Health

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

Prevention of Diagnostic Error in Primary Care

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

Telemedicine to Telehealth: Trends and Emerging Risks

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

Safe Opioid Prescribing for Physicians and Dentists

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
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 $5,000,000 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 850-942-5215 or email dbixler@capmed.org.

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