SWISS HAEMATOLOGY Soc. : HAEMATOLOGY NOTES 265 pages

http://ssh.bio-med.ch/media/shared/uploaded/Files/9/9/6.pdf

PROMED: SYPHILIS in FLORIDA

x promed@promedmail.org 11:00 (43 minutes ago) to promed, promed-edr SYPHILIS - USA (05): (FLORIDA), HIGHER INCIDENCE ************************************************ A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases Date: Fri 20 Sep 2013 Source: Fort Mills Times [edited] Since 2000, Broward County has seen a 400 percent increase in reported syphilis cases. Early last week, 22 000 Broward County residents received an informational mailer from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest AIDS organization in the United States, regarding the shocking rates of syphilis within the south Florida county. The postal distribution resulted in a dramatic increase in patients seeking free testing and treatment at AHF's new local STD clinic, as well as a letter issued by the local Health Department to providers about how to help combat the spread of the sexually-transmitted disease. "While Broward County has the highest rate of syphilis in the state of Florida, the good news is that syphilis is a curable disease, one best caught and treated early," said Albert Ruiz, Director, Public Health Division for AHF and who oversees AHF's Wellness Programs. "We encourage any sexually active individual who feels that they may be at risk to come in and get tested, and if necessary, treated." The Florida Department of Health in Broward County's notice to providers highlighted the need for a stepped-up response by declaring 613 new cases of syphilis reported to the department's Broward County office in 2012, 15 of which were congenital syphilis infections passed from mother to child. This information is in line with the concerning statistics presented in the AHF mailer, which include the fact that syphilis cases reported in Broward County have increased by 400 percent since 2000. Within the 1st 10 days of the mailer's receipt, 6 new clients went to the newly opened AHF Broward Wellness Center seeking syphilis screenings and, if needed, treatment. The new Broward Wellness Center opened for free testing and treatment for HIV, syphilis, Chlamydia, and gonorrhea on 3 Sep 2013. -- Communicated by: ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts [Broward County is located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 1 748 066, making it the 2nd most populated county in the state (). Its county seat is Fort Lauderdale. Broward County is located on Florida's east coast between Palm Beach County to the north and Miami-Dade County to the south. In 2000, the number of cases and the incidence rate of primary and secondary syphilis (P&S), the contagious stages of syphilis, was 5979 and 2.1, respectively, the lowest since reporting began in 1941 (Table 1, ). The number of cases and incidence rate of P&S then increased almost yearly to 13 970 and 4.5 per 100 000 in 2011 (Table 1, ). The southern region of the U.S. accounted for 44.1 percent of P&S cases in 2011 (Table 26, ). Florida had the 5th highest incidence rate for P&S of 6.7 per 100 000 among all the states in 2011 (Table 5, ) and accounted for 9.0 percent of P&S in 2011 (table 26, ). Among counties and independent cities of the U.S. ranked by number of cases reported in 2011, Broward County ranked 10th highest with 235 cases of P&S and an incidence rate of 13.4 cases per 100 000; Miami-Dade ranked 6th highest with 330 cases and a rate of 13.2 per 100 000; Palm Beach County ranked 47th with 65 cases and a rate of 4.9 (Table 32 ). In recent years, young men who have sex with men (MSM) have accounted for an increasing number of syphilis cases in the United States; 72 percent of P&S syphilis cases are among MSM (). In Florida in 2011, men accounted for 89 percent of P&S cases, the same percentage as the country as a whole.

COURSERA

About Coursera® We believe in connecting people to a great education so that anyone around the world can learn without limits. Coursera is an education company that partners with the top universities and organizations in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. Our technology enables our partners to teach millions of students rather than hundreds. We envision a future where everyone has access to a world-class education that has so far been available to a select few. We aim to empower people with education that will improve their lives, the lives of their families, and the communities they live in.

NURSE PRACTITIONER CLINIC replaces MDs.

(ONT. GOVT.release)New Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Improving Health Care in Scarborough Hong Fook Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Now Open ( A new nurse practitioner-led clinic is offering family health care services closer to home for (Asian) residents in Scarborough. The new Hong Fook Connecting Health Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic will focus on immigrant health to support Scarborough's Asian community. At full capacity the clinic is expected to provide care to over 3,200 people in Scarborough who currently do not have access to a family health care provider. Ontario's nurse practitioner-led clinics are the first of their kind in North America and offer important health services such as comprehensive primary care, illness prevention and health promotion, diagnosis and treatment of episodic and chronic illness, health assessments and primary mental health care. Supporting nurse practitioner-led clinics is part of the Ontario government's Action Plan for Health Care and its commitment to provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place. QUICK FACTS Nurse practitioners in these clinics work collaboratively with an inter-professional team of health care providers and support staff, which may include registered nurses, registered practical nurses, registered dietitians, pharmacists and social workers. When all 25 nurse practitioner-led clinics are at full capacity, they are expected to serve more than 40,000 patients across Ontario.

TRILLIUM Hospital: Chief of Medical Staff DANTE MORRA MD(Tor.2000) FRCPC MBA

Trillium Hosp Chief of Medical staff Dr.Dante MORRA (approx.38y)has to deal with Radiology diagnosis scandal involving elderly radiologist (approx 70y) IVO SLEZIC MD(Zagreb 1968) FRCPC(1978) OHIP does not have a retirement age. In UK NHS provides a retirement pension after compulsory retirement from NHS at 65y.

CPSO "records expert":Dr.HOWARD WU found to be "incompetent"

Dr. Howard Wu, Markham. On April 29, 2013, the Discipline Committee found that Dr. Wu is incompetent and committed acts of professional misconduct in that, he failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession and he engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct. Dr. Wu is a family physician practising in Markham. As a result of five investigations into his practice, allegations were referred to the Discipline Committee on July 6, 2011 and September 5, 2012. On July 27, 2011, Dr. Wu signed an Undertaking not to prescribe narcotics or other controlled substances, subject to the engagement of a College-approved clinical supervisor. Following an investigation into Dr. Wu's compliance with the Undertaking, an additional allegation of disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct by breaching his Undertaking was referred to the Discipline Committee on April 4, 2013. Dr. Wu admitted that he: failed to maintain the standard of practice and is incompetent in his chronic pain practice in relation to patient charts as detailed in the reports of the medical assessors. failed to maintain the standard of practice in his family practice in relation to patient charts, as detailed in the report of a medical assessor. failed to maintain the standard of practice and engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct with respect to his delegation of controlled acts in relation to patient charts as detailed in the report of a medical assessor. engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct by breaching his Undertaking as follows: a) by issuing a prescription for Testosterone on August 10, 2011, before engaging a clinical supervisor acceptable to the College; b) between June 2012 until October/November 2012, by failing to ensure his clinical supervisor co-signed patient charts to indicate he approved of the prescription for each and every restricted substance prescription issued by Dr. Wu; c) by failing to ensure the charts co-signed by his clinical supervisor for two patients on December 4, 2012, accurately reflected the prescriptions issued to the patients; and d) by failing to include required information in his log pertaining to prescriptions for restricted substances in relation to five patients. The Discipline Committee ordered a public reprimand and a six-month suspension of Dr. Wu's certificate of registration commencing June 1, 2013. The Committee also ordered that the following restrictions be imposed on his certificate of registration: i. Dr. Wu shall not issue new prescriptions or renew existing prescriptions for Narcotic Drugs; Narcotic Preparations; Controlled Drugs; and Benzodiazepines/Other Targeted Substances. ii. Dr. Wu shall post a clearly visible sign in his waiting room that shall state as follows: "Dr. Wu cannot prescribe Narcotic Drugs, Narcotic Preparations, Controlled Drugs, Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances." A sign reflecting this restriction will also be posted in Chinese. iii. Dr. Wu shall not delegate to any other person any controlled act as that term is defined in the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991. iv. Approximately one month after the completion of the suspension of Dr. Wu’s certificate of registration, he shall undergo an assessment of his family practice by College-appointed assessor(s) at his expense. The assessor(s) shall report the results of the assessment to the College. Dr. Wu shall abide by any recommendations of the assessor(s). v. Dr. Wu shall consent to the sharing of information between the assessor(s) and the College as any of them deem necessary or desirable in order to fulfill their respective obligations. vi. Dr. Wu shall cooperate with unannounced inspections of his office practice and patient charts by the College for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing his compliance with the terms of this Order and will make his OHIP billings accessible to the College for this purpose. Dr. Wu was further ordered to pay the College costs in the amount of $3,650.

From MEDICAL POST:: CPSO "records teacher" Toronto GP Howard WU suspended for 6 months on 1 June 2013 for illegal drug prescribing.

See CPSO suspension of licence of CPSO “teacher” Howard WU on 1 June 2013. http://www.cpso.on.ca/publicregister/details.aspx?view=4&id=%2067746