Rain threat from Dorian revives concerns about mosquito-borne illness

| 9/3/2019

Rain threat from Dorian revives concerns about mosquito-borne illness

Heavy rainfall from the hurricane, coming after weeks of wet weather, could create the perfect breeding conditions for mosquitoes that could carry Zika, West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever and other diseases. The Florida Department of Health is urging residents to drain standing water from their property and cover exposed skin with long-sleeve clothing and bug-repellent sprays in the aftermath of the storm. While mosquito-borne illnesses have been relatively low across the region so far this year, the number of cases in other parts of the state are on the rise. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Nursing homes learned their lesson after Irma in 2017. Or did they?

In hurricane-prone Florida, a state mandate requires all nursing homes and assisted living facilities to have backup generators or power sources for air conditioning. But as Hurricane Dorian approaches landfall, nearly 60 percent of the state’s nursing homes have not installed equipment in line with those new regulations, according to data maintained by the Agency for Health Care Administration. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Split court refuses to revisit major medical marijuana case

A split appeals court last week refused to grant the state’s request to revisit a decision that could revolutionize the way medical marijuana operators do business in Florida. Instead, the 1st District Court of Appeal asked the Florida Supreme Court to decide whether the state’s “vertical integration” system of requiring licensed operators to grow, process and distribute cannabis and derivative products runs afoul of a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana in Florida. More from Health News Florida and CBS Miami.

State tries to halt fight over Medicaid money stripped from Florida hospitals

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office wants a judge to toss out a lawsuit challenging a legislative decision that would strip Medicaid money from two South Florida hospitals with ownership ties to a nursing home where residents died after Hurricane Irma. The hospitals are challenging the constitutionality of fine print, known as “proviso” language, that was tucked into this year’s state budget and would prevent the facilities from receiving Medicaid money used for training physicians. More from the Miami Herald and WUSF.

‘Project Opioid’ enlists businesses, faith leaders in fight against epidemic

Overdose is a leading cause of injury related death according to the CDC. In 2017, more than 70,000 people in the US died from an overdose in 2017, the majority of them from prescription or illicit opioid overdose. Funding for the fight against the opioid epidemic may come from federal and state government, but community leaders in Central Florida are tackling the crisis through an initiative called ‘Project Opioid’. [Source: Health News Florida]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› 'Cancer vaccine' human trials underway at Moffitt [WUSF]
The first human clinical trial is underway at Moffitt Cancer Center with what researchers are calling a "cancer vaccine." Health News Florida's Daylina Miller spoke with Patricia Lawman, the co-founder of Tampa-based Morphogenesis. The immunotherapy company developed the vaccine, which is injected into cancer patients to help their immune systems identify and destroy tumors.

› Lawmaker eyes 'phantom' damages reform next session in state where hospital healthcare is 'extremely' high [Florida Record]
Florida state Rep. Thomas Leek (R-Ormond Beach) introduced HB 17 earlier this year to remedy issues pertaining to phantom damages in lawsuits, but the measure failed to advance. Leek said it is difficult to gauge how much of a priority phantom damages will be in the next legislative session but believes it it will be addressed.

› New mental health clinic for veterans planned for Jacksonville’s Southside [Florida Times-Union]
A new mental health clinic for veterans is expected to open in Jacksonville in early 2020, the latest entry in a partnership between a behavioral healthcare company and a nonprofit that serves post-9/11 veterans and their families. “We have seen the positive impact ... and are pleased to broaden services to individuals in northeastern Florida, delivering care that changes people’s lives,” said Bob Vero, Centerstone regional chief executive officer.

› Tampa Bay area health care firm names new clinical director [Business Observer]
Lung Health Institute has hired Sara McLear, a 21-year nursing veteran, as its director of clinical operations. According to a press release, McLear — a certified advanced registered nurse practitioner who earned her master of science in nursing from the University of Tampa — will oversee clinical operations across all five of Lung Health Institute’s clinics, ensuring the highest level of patient care.

Tags: Health Care eNews

Previous Health Care Updates:

Florida hospitals: Building boom

College crime surging back to pre-COVID levels. Here's the crime at Florida colleges, universities

Florida insurance market full of ‘low quality' companies, study finds

Commercial rent tax cut coming sooner than expected