Boost now or wait? Many wonder how best to ride out COVID's next wave

| 7/19/2022

Boost now or wait? Many wonder how best to ride out COVID’s next wave

Some Americans seem comfortable with the protection of three shots. But others may wonder what to do: Boost again now with one of the original vaccines, or wait months for promised new formulations tailored to the latest, highly contagious omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5? The rapidly mutating virus has created a conundrum for the public and a communications challenge for health officials. [Source: WUSF]

Why this South Florida health system is among nation’s top workplaces

The excellence of the care delivered to patients by Atlantic Health System and Baptist Health South Florida has been well recognized by publications such as U.S. News and World Report and others. Both are also consistently named among the best places for their employees and staff to work. The two organizations—both members of the AMA Health System Program—made Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list this year. For Baptist Health, based in Coral Gables, it was their 22nd time on the list. [Source: American Medical Association]

Here is how we can reimagine nursing in Florida

As the baby boomer generation continues to age and retire in Florida, more nursing staff is needed to manage the growing number of patients, but with a shortage of nurses, something needs to change. In fact, the Florida Hospital Association and Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida executed a report with IHS Markit that predicted Florida will be 59,100 nurses short of what is needed by 2035. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

With hurricane season here, behavioral health specialists warn of heightened “hurricane anxiety”

“Hurricane anxiety” can overwhelm individuals when a hurricane is in the forecast. “From a mental health perspective, we’re talking about a perfect storm,” says Mark Cardillo, program director of behavioral health for HCA Florida West Tampa Hospital and HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital, both part of HCA Florida Healthcare. “It’s the totality of all the stresses we’re currently experiencing compounded by worries of a pending hurricane.” [Source: South Florida Hospital News]

Florida becomes the latest state to increase oversight on pharmacy benefit managers

The moves target Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), who work as intermediaries between drug companies and insurance companies. Their business agreements have raised questions about pricing transparency in recent years. That’s what led the Florida Legislature to unanimously approve a bill (HB 357) sponsored by Tampa House Republican Jackie Toledo earlier this year that will subject PBMs to regulations under the Office of Insurance Regulation, ensuring they comply with strict requirements to protect independent pharmacies and patients in need. [Source: Bay News 9]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› The road to stable mental health for stay-at-home moms [WUSF]
Making the transition from career professional to full-time mother can be challenging. Women in the Black community say finding support for their decision to stay at home with children can be particularly hard.

› Academics attack Florida plan to limit transgender treatment [AP News]
A plan by Florida health officials that likely would restrict Medicaid insurance coverage for gender dysphoria treatments for transgender people lacks sound medical justification and may be politically motivated, according to a group of academics from Yale University and other schools.

› State works to procure health care for medically complex children [Florida Politics]
This is the third state health care program that the Ron DeSantis administration is putting to bid this year. This could go down as the summer of the health care procurements.

› State of Florida deploys tools to address overdose crisis [Florida Department of Health]
First Lady Casey DeSantis brought together the Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris, State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo and law enforcement to discuss the recent increases in overdoses associated with fentanyl in Gadsden County.

Tags: Health Care eNews

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