Questions swirl in Florida around children’s illness linked to coronavirus

Florida has a growing number of children with a COVID-19 related illness, but how long it has been attacking children and the number of pediatric patients who have been treated remains a mystery. Florida Department of Health officials won’t say how many suspected or confirmed cases of “multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children,” or MIS-C, have been reported to county health departments. They have not replied to email inquiries since state Surgeon General Scott Rivkees confirmed Monday that Florida was “beginning to see a few cases.” More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Health News Florida.

See also:
» Wolfson Children’s Hospital investigating possible cases of child illness tied to COVID-19
» Two South Florida children hospitalized for illness linked to coronavirus
» Pediatricians sound alarm on coronavirus-related illness affecting kids in South Florida
» Jacksonville pediatrician explains new COVID-related illness

Addiction experts turn to telemedicine to help patients

Addiction experts across the country are turning to telemedicine to offer their services to patients amid the pandemic. Some are saying this method has actually improved the way they’re able to help some patients. The health and medicine publication STAT recently spoke to several addiction experts about telehealth resources and expanding their services during the pandemic. [Source: WUSF]

In the midst of pandemic, Florida healthcare providers prepare for hurricane season

Responding to a natural disaster and a pandemic simultaneously is a scenario that’s top of mind for health officials in U.S. communities entering hurricane season, which begins June 1. In the Florida panhandle, which was devastated by Hurricane Michael in 2018, healthcare providers are gearing up for what has been predicted to be a busier than average hurricane season. [Source: Direct Relief]

As Florida nursing home deaths tick upward, widespread testing stalls

Amid calls for widespread testing in nursing homes, Florida’s governor has hesitated. The White House recommended it. Experts have called for it. Nursing homes have begged for it. Gov. Ron DeSantis, however, has stepped back, saying elder-care facilities can decide on their own whether to test residents and staff for COVID-19 — but the state won’t mandate it. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

1,700 Florida coronavirus tests damaged on way to lab

More than 1,700 Floridians will have to be retested for the coronavirus after their state-administered tests were damaged while being transported to the lab for analysis. The Florida Division of Emergency Management said in a statement Thursday that 1,702 tests were damaged out of about 90,000 that have been administered this month. The state said the individuals are being contacted and will be given priority for retesting at the site they originally visited. [Source: WUSF]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Jacksonville hospitals seeing increase in non-COVID admissions, slight dip in ICU availability [Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville hospitals reported this week a slight decrease in available intensive-care beds, although city officials attributed this to an increase in patients who haven’t contracted COVID-19. As Northeast Florida begins to reopen after nearly two months of restrictions on social activities and commerce, local hospitals have resumed elective procedures. Steve Woodard, the city’s chief of emergency preparedness, said this may explain why more people are in local hospitals.

› Florida's Mount Sinai Medical Center cuts nearly 1,000 jobs [Becker's Hospital Review]
Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Fla., has cut 983 jobs to help offset losses incurred from the COVID-19 pandemic. The medical center told investors May 20 that it reduced its workforce by furloughing 775 employees and permanently laying off 208 employees.

› Humana, Healthmap team up on Florida kidney care coordination program [Fierce Healthcare]
Humana is teaming up with Healthmap Solutions, a specialty population health management company, to offer a new care coordination program for Medicare Advantage and commercial members in Florida with kidney disease. Healthmap's platform fills gaps in kidney care by streamlining communication between providers and coordinating services, Humana said.

› Cleveland Clinic Florida launches two new clinical trials for COVID-19 patients [CBS 12]
Cleveland Clinic Florida is launching two new clinical trials for people who've tested positive for COVID-19. The first outpatient study looks at the use of vitamin c and zinc to see if they shorten the duration and type of symptoms. The second in-patient study is for positive patients who've had a heart attack.