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Florida Department Of Health Issues Suspension And Restriction Orders for July 2017

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Division of Medical Quality Assurance issues 18 ESO/EROs in July 2017

The Florida Department of Health issued 18 Emergency Suspension Orders (ESOs) and Emergency Restriction Orders (EROs) during July for serious violations, which can include the commission of crimes, violations of standards of care, drug use, impairment, drug diversion, sexual misconduct or student loan defaults.

  • Brigitte G. Arnold, Pharmacist, Tampa
  • Lynn Bennett-Gardner, Licensed Practical Nurse, Ormond Beach
  • Quinlan L. Brown, Certified Nursing Assistant, Pensacola
  • Tanya C. Chapman, Registered Nurse, Saint Augustine
  • Heather H. Coss, Certified Nursing Assistant, Fort Walton Beach
  • Deirdre Lorraine Dancy, Licensed Practical Nurse, Kissimmee
  • Guillermo J. Delgado, Licensed Practical Nurse, Miami
  • Lisa Carol Putnal Dortch, Registered Nurse, Lake City
  • Amanda Frens, Certified Nursing Assistant, Largo
  • Renee A. Godby, Licensed Practical Nurse, Winter Park
  • Amanda Elizabeth Ingersoll, Registered Nurse, Port Saint Lucie
  • Angela A. Lee, Certified Nursing Assistant, Lehigh Acres
  • Myeshia L. Leonard, Licensed Practical Nurse, Tallahassee
  • David Nazario, Massage Therapist, Orlando
  • Julie Wynne Nickell, Registered Nurse, Coral Springs
  • Jason E. Sapp, Massage Therapist, Pensacola
  • Wesley B. Searcy, Registered Nurse, Pensacola
  • Edward D. Williams, Certified Nursing Assistant, Ocala

ESO/EROs are not considered final agency action. The individual is entitled to a hearing before final action is taken by a regulatory board or by the department.
To view the most recent ESOs, EROs, Final Orders and Administrative Complaints please visit http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/finalordernet/.
For other information on Medical Quality Assurance, including information about enforcement terms or definitions, boards and councils, or the health care practitioner licensing process, visit http://www.flhealthsource.gov/.
About the Florida Department of Health
The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Florida Department Of Health Celebrates National Breastfeeding Month

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This August, the Florida Department of Health is celebrating National Breastfeeding Month. This year’s theme—Charting the Course Together—focuses on using data and measurement to build and reinforce the connections between breastfeeding and a broad spectrum of other health topics and initiatives.

“A significant body of evidence supports breastfeeding as critical to improve health outcomes of mothers and babies,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary Dr. Celeste Philip. “Supporting mom and baby during the first few days of life are critical for successful breastfeeding.”
How to feed a new baby is one of the first important decisions a family has to make, and most women who choose to breastfeed have a specific goal in mind.
Research shows:

  • Breastfed infants have a reduced risk of infections, asthma, obesity and SIDS compared with formula-fed infants;
  • Mothers who breastfeed have a reduced risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and postpartum depression compared to mothers who don’t breastfeed; and
  • It’s estimated that $13 billion in healthcare costs would be saved per year if 90 percent of U.S. infants were breastfed exclusively for six months.

The department is also working to promote breastfeeding as a vital health activity, and encourages breastfeeding-friendly hospitals, child care facilities, work places and communities.
As a part of the department’s Healthiest Weight Florida and Florida’s Healthy Babies initiatives, the Baby Steps to Baby Friendly project focuses on increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration among Florida women. Thirteen Florida hospitals have been designated as Baby Friendly and the department is currently partnered with 57 hospitals in 31 counties across the state. To learn more about Baby Steps to Baby Friendly, click here.
Local WIC agencies also offer resources and staff to help breastfeeding mothers. WIC agencies may have International Board Certified Lactation Consultants who have a high level of specialized knowledge in breastfeeding to assist clients. WIC agencies also have Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Programs. The trained peer counselors are chosen from the same socio/economic/ethnic groups as WIC clients and have successfully breastfed their own babies.  Breastfeeding peer counselors provide mother-to-mother basic breastfeeding education and support to pregnant and breastfeeding moms. WIC also supports breastfeeding through the breast pump loan program.
For more information about the Florida WIC program call 1-800-342-3556 or visit www.FloridaWIC.org. To learn more about National Breastfeeding Month and the benefits of breastfeeding visit www.usbreastfeeding.org, www.llli.org or www.flbreastfeeding.org.

First sexually transmitted Zika case confirmed in 2017

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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ZIKA UPDATE

The Florida Department of Health today is announcing that the first sexually transmitted Zika case in 2017 has been confirmed in Pinellas County. There is no evidence of transmission through mosquitoes taking place anywhere in Florida.

While the individual had no travel, their partner recently traveled to Cuba and was ill with symptoms consistent with Zika. Both tested positive for Zika. The department notified mosquito control and appropriate mosquito reduction activities are taking place.

There is no evidence of ongoing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes in any area of Florida. It is important to remember Zika can also be transmitted sexually and to take precautions if you or your partner traveled to an area where Zika is active. If the department identifies an area where ongoing transmission of Zika is taking place, we will notify the public immediately.

The total number of Zika cases reported in Florida in 2017 is 118. 

Note, these categories are not mutually exclusive and cannot be added together.

It is critical for people who recently traveled overseas to an area with Zika to prevent mosquito bites for at least three weeks after they return home. It is also important to reduce the chance of sexual transmission by using condoms. CDC has issued additional guidance related to sexual transmission and prevention.

Before you travel, check to see if your destination is on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list of areas with Zika.

If you traveled to an area with Zika, you could have become infected and not know it, and you could spread the virus in your community if you do not take proper precautions to prevent mosquito bites or sexual transmission after you return home. Zika can persist in semen over extended periods of time. Pregnant couples with recent travel to areas with active Zika transmission should consider using condoms for the duration of the pregnancy.

According to CDC guidance, providers should screen all pregnant women in the US for possible Zika exposure and symptoms at each prenatal care visit. Additional CDC guidance on screening and testing can be found here. At Governor Scott’s direction, all county health departments offer free Zika risk assessment and testing to pregnant women.

The department urges Floridians to take action around their home and business to reduce the mosquito population. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one teaspoon of water so it is critical to drain all sources of standing water to keep mosquitoes from multiplying. Residents and visitors should also use mosquito repellent day and night to prevent mosquito bites.

The department updates the full list of travel-related cases by county online each weekday. To view the list of travel-related cases by county and year, click here.

For more information on Zika virus and the status of Zika in Florida, please visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/zika.

DCF, DOH, FDLE to hold workshops on opioid use

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At the direction of Governor Scott, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will host community workshops in Palm Beach, Manatee, Orange, and Duval counties to discuss the ongoing issue of opioid drug use. The goal of the workshops is for agency leadership and staff to hear the specific needs of these communities and provide information regarding existing resources, best practices regarding opioid use disorders, and grant opportunities. Workshops are open to the public.
The community workshops will take place:

Palm Beach County
3:00-4:30, p.m.
Monday, May 1
West Palm Beach Police Department Community Room
600 Banyan Blvd., West Palm Beach

Manatee County
9:00-10:30, a.m.
Tuesday, May 2
The Bradenton Area Convention Center
Longboat Key Room
One Haben Blvd., Palmetto

Orange County
3:00-4:30, p.m.
Tuesday, May 2
Orange County Board of County Commission Chambers
201 South Rosalind Avenue, Orlando

Duval County
9:00-10:30, a.m.
Wednesday, May 3
City Hall, St. James Bldg.
Lynwood Roberts Room
117 West Duval Street, Jacksonville