Fight over withheld Florida COVID-19 records ends with settlement

| 10/10/2023

Fight over withheld Florida COVID-19 records ends with settlement

Two years after the state health department was sued for not releasing COVID-19 data to its dashboard during a global pandemic, the case is over. While neither the the Florida Department of Health, nor Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo admit any fault, the state has agreed to pay all legal fees. Later this month, the FDOH will once again post daily COVID-19 information. More from WGCU and WESH.

$1 billion Southwest Florida cancer services network begins trading on Nasdaq

American Oncology Network, a network of oncology practices based in Fort Myers, recently became the region’s newest publicly traded company. Representatives for the company — including a patient of one of its network doctors — rang the bell for the Nasdaq stock exchange Sept. 21, the same day its shares began trading publicly. [Source: Business Observer]

Florida doctors team up to combat blood clots, make public aware of dangers

Blood clots kill more than 100,000 people every year and in many cases can be silent and sudden. It's enough of a concern that state legislators and physicians in our area are directing resources into research, treatment and awareness. Doctors in Palm Beach County are leading the charge in the fight against blood clots just ahead of World Thrombosis Day on Oct. 13. [Source: WPTV]

Neuroscience group to relocate 2025 meeting slated for Florida

The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) intends to move its 2025 meeting, originally planned to take place in Orlando, Florida, to a new location to “ensure the safety of our attendees and reflect our values,” according to a statement ACNP released. [Source: Spectrum News]

DeSantis health agency defying judge to block trans care, plaintiffs say

A group of transgender plaintiffs says Florida is violating a federal judge’s order by continuing to prohibit Medicaid coverage of treatments for gender dysphoria. In a motion filed Wednesday in the Northern District of Florida, the plaintiffs say the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration is in “complete defiance” of U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle’s June ruling, which said the state’s Medicaid ban was “invalid” to the extent that it categorically banned Medicaid payment for treatments of gender dysphoria. They are asking Hinkle to enforce or clarify his ruling. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Northwest Florida hospitals maintain adequate staffing despite national nursing shortage [WEAR]
In the last two years, health officials say 100,000 registered nurses have left the workforce, causing a national shortage of nurses. In Alabama, roughly 20% of all registered nursing positions are vacant. HCA Florida West Hospital did not say they're experiencing any shortages.

› St. Petersburg College is training law enforcement to provide mental health support to peers [Health News Florida]
Some law enforcement officers in the greater Tampa Bay region are taking classes to help their peers cope with emotional challenges as part of a new applied mental health certificate program that St. Petersburg College launched this summer. The program came together after the Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association approached the college about a growing need for support services.

› How Orlando Health grew internships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities [Orlando Business Journal]
Those who go through the program — created in partnership with the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida and the UCF Center for Independent Living — are age 18 or older, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and are people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. More than 16 people already have gone through the program, including two who were employees with Orlando Health.

› New simulation lab launches at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital [WWSB]
It’s a new chapter in healthcare advances along the Suncoast. Officials from HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital held a ribbon-cutting and dedication on Thursday for the facility’s new, 3,000 square-foot simulation lab for medical residents. Hospital officials, along with community leaders and representatives from area medical and technical schools were all part of the event to showcase a new simulation lab with what’s called a SimMan simulator.

Tags: Health Care eNews

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