Vaccination Bills Stall Again

HB 435, which weakens Ohio’s vaccination laws and undermines ongoing pandemic recovery efforts, was pulled from the House of Representatives calendar for a possible floor vote again this week. It is the second time in three weeks that House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) stopped the bill from advancing after his caucus could not reach an agreement.
 
In a statement Cupp said: “This is an important and personal issue for all Ohioans and those who represent them. Just as there are widely differing views among Ohioans on this issue, it’s certainly not a surprise that there are varying perspectives among their legislative representatives as well… After countless hours of hearings and deliberation on this topic, there is still no consensus on how or *whether* to move forward.” (emphasis ours)
 
HB 435 was fast-tracked when it was introduced a few weeks ago as a compromise vaccination bill after months of Health Committee meetings and testimony on HB 248. That bill would have prohibited any mandates for any vaccine.
 
Late yesterday it appeared the parking brake was applied to vaccine legislation when Cupp called on Health Committee Chair Scott Lipps to immediately cancel a hearing set for next week. Cupp issued the directive hours after Lipps included HB 248 on his Committee agenda. Several hours later, there was renewed interest in a discharge petition that Rep. Jennifer Gross, sponsor of HB 248, initiated last month to have her bill bypass the Committee process and go directly to the floor for a vote. At that time, Cupp removed her from the Health Committee.
 
Thank you to the many OOA members who contacted their state representative to oppose HB 435!

COVID Cases Plateau, Hospitals Still Full

Yesterday, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) reported 507.4 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people. This is the third consecutive week of decreasing numbers. Still, the case count and hospitalizations are higher compared to a year ago. In addition, per the CDC, rates above 100 cases per 100,000 people are considered high transmission.

At a press briefing this week ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, continued to urge vaccinations, masking, and social distancing as ways to help overwhelmed hospitals and health care workers. The latest data show:

• One in six hospitalized Ohioans is COVID-19 positive.
• One in four in the ICU is battling COVID.
• In rural hospitals, a third of all patients have COVID-19. About half of those in the ICU have COVID.

Ohio is nearing 1.5 million cases since the start of the pandemic.
 
As of this afternoon, 63.98% of eligible Ohioans (age 12 and up) have started the vaccine process.

‘Tis the Season

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education released its 2020-2021 Data Resource Book this week. It includes data on the size, scope, and distribution of graduate medical education in the US.

The data, which covers July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, show:

• There were 12,420 accredited programs
• 5,486 were specialty programs
• 6,934 were subspecialty programs
• Ohio has 641 programs total
• Nationwide, there are 259 programs with osteopathic recognition (OR) and 60% are Family Medicine residencies.

Ohio ranks second in the country for the number of OR programs. Medical students can find a listing of these residencies on the OOA website, complete with contact information. We encourage OMS-IVs to prioritize programs in Ohio with the OR designation. These training sites demonstrate a commitment to teaching Osteopathic Principles and Practice in the clinical learning environment and faculty is dedicated to training the next generation of DOs.

Seeking Wellness Speakers

Physician stress and burnout was a problem long before the pandemic. But COVID-19 has made being a health care worker much more difficult. In these unprecedented times, it’s even more important for doctors to take care of themselves. As the saying goes, you have to take care to give care.
 
In light of this, the OOA is hosting a half-day CME webinar early next year focused on physician wellness. As preparation begins, we are seeking speakers on the following topics:

• Preventing and recognizing physician burnout
• The role of physical health for the attending physician
• Mindfulness

If you have experience in these or any related topic and are willing to share your knowledge with your peers, let us know by completing the online form.

Presenters receive an honorarium, complete a simple disclosure form, provide objectives, and present their expertise with the help of slides. Since this wellness program is virtual, presentations could be recorded in advance with a live Q&A on the day of the seminar.

Registration is Open

Registration is open for the next Simply CME on Saturday, November 13. The program offers 8 AOA Category 1-A credits, the convenience of attending from your home or office, and a discounted registration fee for OOA members. The day begins at 10 am. (Please note that times are shown in CST on the agenda.)
 
Presentations include:

• Psychopharmacology for the Primary Care Physician
• Common Lower Extremity Injuries
• Tobacco Cessation: Leading the Way
• In Search of the Optimal Diet to Live Long and Live Well
• More than Pills: Contraception 101 for non-OBGYNs
• And more!

Simply CME is a series of one-day virtual conferences sponsored by the OOA and five other state osteopathic associations across the country. Lectures are pre-recorded with the speakers live on the day of the event for a Q&A. OOA members enjoy a 20% discount on the registration rate!