Bulletin
Physician Advocacy Since 1873
JAN./FEB., 2021 VOLUME 51, NO. 1
Editors: Dawn Hannah, M.D. | Erica Huffman, Executive Director www.escambiacms.org
President’s Message
till we can see a Blue Wahoos game again! We have a diverse calendar of events planned. A little something for everyone. Continuing Medical Education events with thoughtful topics, family outings at the Gulf Breeze Zoo and Pensacola Blue Wahoos Stadium, and a few cocktail mixers in there too. We will be careful to evaluate each event as the time comes.
Cancelled! What a start to the new year! The ECMS Inaugural Ball was cancelled due to COVID concerns. My inner introvert was partly glad. Unfortunately, the burden of penning my musings for the newsletter was not cancelled. Every past President has joked they dreaded this part the most. Part of my planned remarks for the Inaugural Ball was to emphasize the benefits of physician fellowship facilitated through ECMS. It is why I choose to be a member. The medical society strives to remain relevant in today's dichotomous environment, of employed versus private practice physicians. While my former comment noted relief that the Ball was cancelled, that sentiment is antithetical to my latter comment of improving physician fellowship. This reflects the tug-o-war between personal and social time that we all face. A physician’s work day can be long, the last patient always seems to be late or an unexpected extra consult or surgery was added. It becomes easy to rationalize the cancellation of our social health, i.e that evening's ECMS function. One of our most successful events last year was Hemingway’s Bar Beach gathering that welcomed families. These events build community. I personally can't wait
The last of my planned remarks were to recognize Erica Huffman, Executive Director of ECMS. As part of the board, I witnessed all the behind the scenes work put into the society for its normal functions. But this past year, Erica has gone above and beyond. All of our lives have been disrupted by COVID. I am not complaining about the personal inconveniences that we endure, those are first world problems. I know several whose practices have decreased volume, revenue lost and several who have been forced to retire. Erica has made efforts to put the Medical Society in the county health conversation. She coordinated vaccine distribution for members and non-members alike through conference calls with local and state health officials. Through her, there was distribution of several thousand masks to medical clinics, and the homeless via church food drives. She spearheaded getting ECMS members, health department officials and school health representatives together to discuss COVID and our schools. She made ECMS a part of the conversation. These efforts help speed us back to normalcy. I appreciate the hell out of those actions. Thank you!
Contents Page 3 - New Members Page 5 - Medical/Legal Page 9 - Foundation Page 15 - Community
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New Members E.C.M.S. Bulletin The Bulletin is a publication for and by the members of the Escambia County Medical Society. The Bulletin publishes six times a year: Jan/Feb, Mar/ Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sept/ Oct, Nov/Dec. We will consider for publication articles relating to medical science, photos, book reviews, memorials, medical/ legal articles, and practice management.
Vision for the Bulletin:
New Members: Leslye Green, M.D. Navy Hospital Pensacola Luke Hyder, M.D. Henghold Dermatology Travis Larson, M.D. - Gulf Coast Physician Partners Christopher Shwan, M.D. - Envision Physician Services Rejoining: Laura Hayes, M.D. Nemours Children's Clinic Laura Barber, M.D. Medical Marijuana Treatment Clinics of Florida Michelle Beasley, M.D. Medical Marijuana Treatment Clinics of Florida
• Appeal to the family of medicine in Escambia and Santa Rosa County and to the world beyond. • A powerful instrument to attract and induct members to organized medicine.
Mission:
Advancing physicians’ practice of medicine in our community.
Editor Dawn Hannah, D.O. Executive Director Erica Huffman 4771 Bayou Blvd. # 157 Pensacola, FL 32503 Ph: 850-478-0706 Fx: 850-474-9783 Email: info@escambiacms.org www.escambiacms.org
Ad placement Contact Erica Huffman at 478-0706 Ad rates 1/2 page: $350 · 1/4 page: $200 · 1/8 page: $150 View and opinions expressed in the Bulletin are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the board of directors, staff or advertisers. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit or reject any submission. www.escambiacms.org | 3
2021 SLATE OF OFFICERS Casey Mickler, M.D. President Kacey Montgomery, M.D. President-Elect Maureen Padden, M.D. Vice President Dawn Hannah, D.O. Secretary/Treasurer Members at Large Meredith Shaddix, D.O. Anthony Pietroniro, M.D. Caroline Wolverton, D.O. Liaison: Paul McLeod, M.D. - FSU College of Medicine Dean Hospital Representation Eric Schuck, M.D. - CMO, West Florida Christina Guerra, M.D. - Ascension Sacred Heart Paul Glisson, D.O. - CMO, Baptist Healthcare Austin Younger, M.D. - Navy Hospital Pensacola 4 | Escambia County Medical Society in conjunction with Santa Rosa County
Medical/Legal
Keep a COVID-19 Diary: Document Now in Case of Future Lawsuits Debbie Kane Hill, MBA, RN, CPHRM, CPPS
Doctor’s Log, March 30, 2020: Another day seeing COVID patients. I had two staff members test positive, and we have begun notifying all patients who were seen while those staff members were working. We ran out of PPE again. Our office manager contacted vendors, and nothing is available; we are resorting to homemade cloth masks and reusing everything. Today our governor issued new mandates after we’d just adapted to mandates issued earlier this month. COVID test results are taking 10 days to come back. For months, physicians and practice managers have been in crisis mode due to COVID-19 and have faced daunting challenges daily. What the future holds relative to the evolution of COVID-19 remains unknown, but it is certain that litigation for COVID-related claims is on the horizon and will impact physicians in all medical specialties and practice models. According to attorney John E. Hall Jr., founding partner of Hall Booth Smith in Atlanta, Georgia, which specializes in defense of high-exposure cases involving hospitals and medical malpractice claims, COVID-19 claims are looming in the next one to three years. “The big-dollar plaintiff firms and the plaintiff conglomerates are already starting to advertise for these cases, and they're starting to file them,” Hall says. “There are over 800 cases filed already. Many of those are in the longterm care scenario but [they] are developing every day and in a variety of other areas.” Are there existing medical liability protections in place? What types of claims are anticipated? What steps can physicians take now to prepare to defend claims in the future? These important questions were recently addressed by Mr. Hall and other expert healthcare executives and attorneys at The Doctors Company’s 2020 Virtual Executive Advisory Board (EAB) meeting. Are there existing medical liability protections in place? The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) provides a significant safeguard for physicians. Congress originally passed the act in 2005 to provide
immunity during the H1N1 epidemic. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar declared a public health emergency in January 2020 pursuant to the act due to COVID-19. The act provides complete preemption, meaning that “any state law or other federal law that contravenes the PREP Act is replaced by the PREP Act. Except in cases of death or severe injury caused by willful misconduct, the PREP Act provides complete immunity, with no liability under those circumstances” if the claim is COVID-19 related and the case is tried in the federal court system, according to Mr. Hall. In addition to the PREP Act, states have established some level of immunity for medical practices through healthcare immunity orders or executive limited liability orders. These orders vary by state and are meant to provide protection to the medical community for COVID-related claims. What types of claims are anticipated? •
It is expected that COVID-driven claims will take a variety of forms. Some claims may allege:
•
Delayed or missed diagnosis caused by failure to follow up on previously ordered tests and consults (while the office was closed or due to lack of a reliable tracking system).
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Failure to triage and assess or testing issues, resulting in missed COVID-19 diagnosis and delayed intervention that contributed to community spread.
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Failure to immunize, resulting in disease, when parents were fearful to bring children into the office.
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Delayed care in office visits, testing, labs, and procedures, including surgical interventions.
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Failure to adhere to infection control protocol and/or lack of PPE, resulting in patient or staff illness.
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Limited resources: Allocation of medications and equipment, meaning access to ventilators/hospital beds, etc.
Most likely the claims that involve loss of life or serious injury will allege failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis due to practices being closed for business after tests were ordered or referrals made prior to COVID-19. Patients whose information has been lost in the system and are not www.escambiacms.org | 5
Header Medical/Legal adequately tracked may miss important medical followup appointments, leading to adverse health outcomes. Also, delays in procedures and surgical interventions are of significant concern, and we are already seeing these types of claims reported to The Doctors Company. What steps can physicians take now to prepare to defend claims in the future? Mr. Hall suggests that one of the best ways to establish defense of these claims is for practices to begin developing a timeline/diary now describing how COVID-19 events unfolded within their specific practice and community. Because COVID-19 has been a moving target, and mandates and guidelines have been very fluid, keeping records of these changes via a timeline/diary is important for documenting how your practice responded to the crisis. Some considerations may include: •
Was your practice ever unable to obtain PPE?
•
What was the infection rate within your community at a given time?
•
Did you follow infection control protocols per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines? If so, what were those guidelines at the time?
Documenting these items now ensures information is captured in its most accurate form, rather than trying to re-establish the facts years later. This information will not appear in patient medical records, yet it paints the landscape as to how the practice adapted to a very volatile crisis. It will form the foundation for your defense. As Mr. Hall notes: “Think of this three years from now . . . and a jury is thinking about this case. Juries have a very short mind span, so they do not remember the crisis and the pandemic and how this was going at the time. It's imperative that we take good notes and [develop] outlines now.” Crucially, he adds, “It is important to note that this information should be gathered at the direction of an attorney, peer, or quality committee so as to protect the information from discovery.” Appoint a practice historian who is responsible for developing and keeping the timeline up to date and well documented. This can be a physician, practice manager, or risk manager, but it should be someone familiar with the overall operations of your COVID-19 response who will reliably maintain the timeline from start to finish. To provide guidance on what 6 | Escambia County Medical Society in conjunction with Santa Rosa County
types of items to document, The Doctors Company provides a sample checklist of important record-keeping elements and recommends keeping this in an administrative diary. You can adapt this checklist to fit your practice; these are merely suggestions of details to include, but it is important to document basic compliance efforts within the environment and timeframe. This checklist should be completed at a defined interval based on your practice, community, and pace of change. Mr. Hall also recommends that you remind future jurors that the care provided to your patients transpired during the COVID-19 pandemic by including the following in every patient chart: •
Please note that this care is given at a time of national public health emergency due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). As a result, It is acknowledged and understood that the spread of COVID-19 within our communities places an incomprehensible strain on our providers and hospital systems, including the resources, equipment, beds, treatment options, and services available in support of patient care.
•
It is further acknowledged and understood that the provider, during the COVID-19 pandemic, endeavors to remain operational and provide care to all patients commensurable with the resources available and existing at this time. Further, it is acknowledged that the transmission risks, treatment process, and diagnosis are novel, and without welldef ined guidelines.
•
It is further acknowledged that, due to the novel and emergency nature of this pandemic, treatment is provided utilizing the provider’s best judgment and best currently known practices, within the limits of resources.
The guidelines suggested here are not rules, do not constitute legal advice, and do not ensure a successful outcome. The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any treatment must be made by each healthcare provider considering the circumstances of the individual situation and in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the care is rendered.
Medical/Legal
COVID-19: A Call for Innovation and Leadership in Healthcare Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Doctors Company, and Leader of the TDC Group of Companies
Across the continuum of care during COVID-19 pandemic, what has changed is not so much the direction of healthcare evolution, but its speed. For the next decade, we will all be carried along on a jet stream of change. Those who innovate and lead—moving their organizations forward as the landscape continues to changewill succeed, while those unable to do so will be left behind. Ask yourself a simple question: will the practice of good medicine in 2030 look the same as good medicine in 2020? Before the pandemic, we saw the confluence of a shortage of primary care physicians, the increasing scope of practice for allied health professionals, the widespread availability of retail healthcare and telemedicine, and a massive generational shift in the demographics of the medical profession. There will be no unringing this bell. For example: The pandemic has forced a growing majority of practices to offer telemedicine services. A study released by the American Medical Association (AMA) in February 2020, just before
the pandemic hit the U.S. hard, revealed that telemedicine visits with physicians had already doubled from 2016 to 2019. With COVID-19, the number of patients reporting virtual healthcare visits leapt from 12 to 27 percent in less than three months, between late March and mid-May. As baby boomer physicians retire and medical students choose other specialties, a shortage of primary care physicians was already looming. Now, some primary care physicians have had to lay off staff or close their practices—We’ve seen nonemergency providers and specialties not related to COVID-19 suffer massive economic losses. Unsurprisingly, some primary care physicians are considering other professional options. The increasing scope of practice for allied health professionals was an established trend—now dramatically accelerated by the crush of events. We can expect this to continue for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and others. They will help to fill gaps in primary care, while primary care physicians can expect to practice at the top of their license more of the time. The good news is we already possess much of the information we need to make adaptive decisions to protect patients, healthcare professionals, and organizations that serve the medical profession. However, www.escambiacms.org | 7
Medical/Legal healthcare professionals must seize this moment to show true innovation and to move forward. True innovation has at least two stages: The first is generating novel and useful ideas and the second is applying those ideas. Unless you apply and scale the idea, it’s just an idea. It’s not an innovation. For example, researchers in California are studying data from massive pools of volunteers who have offered their smart watch and smart ring information. The goal is to spot geographic clusters of people showing small boosts in heart rate, temperature, and so on—in an attempt to predict the next cluster of COVID-19 cases before people even know they’re sick. But it’s one thing to think this is possible, and another to actually do it. That’s the gap between idea and innovation. This pivot from idea to application at scale calls for leaders to reflect on how their style suits the moment. Most leaders have a clear style of leadership, but good leaders also know that one style cannot be expected to cover all situations. Individuals who perform well in one job or one decade may not do well in new leadership roles under different circumstances: Effective leaders must understand what is required at that particular time, not just what is comfortable. TammieDavies_7.5x4.875.pdf
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1/6/21
12:04 PM
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The new normal will evolve in the context of a decade that was already headed for extraordinarily rapid change. With a mindset of openness to opportunity and a willingness to accept new challenges, we can meet the demands for great healthcare. After all, pressed by COVID-19’s cascade of emergencies, many healthcare and healthcare-supporting organizations have assembled people, equipment, and processes that we would not have imagined possible even a few months ago. At the same time, the COVID-19 crisis casts a harsh light on some areas of healthcare that have fallen dramatically short of the nation’s needs. It is our collective responsibility to innovate to advance the practice of good medicine. The guidelines suggested here are not rules, do not constitute legal advice, and do not ensure a successful outcome. The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any treatment must be made by each healthcare provider considering the circumstances of the individual situation and in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the care is rendered.
Foundation
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION The New Year is now upon us and I think we can all agree that the year 2020 was a huge disappointment. What started as hope for the new decade quickly morphed into a desire to see 2020 come to a swift end. It is still too early to render a verdict on 2021, but it too seems to be off to a rocky start. Dealing with new lockdowns and the recent political upheaval can bring about increased symptoms of stress and anxiety. With the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, the ECMS Foundation has had to adjust our timetable of events. For instance, we had to delay the start of the SMART program for our member physicians. The SMART program is a 9 week course for Stress Management And Resiliency Training. Many physicians would benefit from being better able to manage stress and being more resilient when dealing with expected events. I believe a course such as the SMART program can be beneficial to physicians even if they do not view themselves as “burned out.” Physicians can often become “set in their ways” and can lack the flexibility to deal with unexpected life stressors. I would encourage all physicians to consider going through this program. Please watch for announcements regarding the timetable for the SMART program. We will update you as soon as possible. The foundation board congratulates the new president of the Escambia County Medical Society, Dr. Casey Mickler. We look forward to working with him and the entire medical society board. We awarded our 2020 “We care” doctor of the year to Dr. Brian Kirby (Medical) and Dr. Donald Dewey (Surgical). We thank these doctors for their participation in the We Care program. The foundation also awarded a financial scholarship to FSU medical school student, Brian “Nick” Kacheris. We are pleased that he plans to practice in our area following his residency. We had a successful family friendly fundraising event at Halloween. We are trying to have another family focused event around Easter. Please look for announcements concerning this event.
Just a reminder of what we do at the ECMS Foundation… Blood Pressure Cuff Program: dedicated to helping patients monitor their blood pressure at home by providing free blood pressure cuffs. We Care Program: dedicated to helping the indigent and uninsured patients access care. This is only achievable because of our member physicians who generously donate their time and skill. Please consider joining this effort. Go Seniors Program: dedicated to helping the elderly poor see their doctor on a regular basis by covering transportation expenses. Pensacola State College Endowment: dedicated to funding scholarships of students attending Pensacola State College who are interested in health-related fields of study. 1873 Society: dedicated to funding all of the initiatives/programs of the ECMS Foundation. This is made possible through the generous donations of our physician colleagues. Please consider becoming a member of the 1873 society. We need you! Physician Wellness Program: dedicated to helping our physician colleagues who may be suffering personal and professional angst. Member physicians may access three private sessions with a highly skilled psychologist. SMART program: dedicated to Stress Management and Resiliency Training. Our physician instructor is Dr. Rohit Amin who will teach a 90 minute class each week over nine weeks. Ellen W. McKnight, M.D.
Foundation www.escambiacms.org | 9
The
HISTORY: Since 1873, Escambia and Santa Rosa County Medical Society physicians have dedicated themselves to their patients and the people of Escambia/Santa Rosa Counties. MISSION: The ECMS Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing healthcare services to those most in need throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, while also supporting the physicians who serve those populations. WHO ARE WE? The members of the 1873 are physicians who contribute financially to support he programs of the ECMS Foundation demonstrating their commitment to healthcare access in our community. JOIN: To join the1873 Society, physicians donate $3,000 to the Escambia County Medical Society Foundation, Inc. These members will be honored by the ECMS for their generosity. You may also make a donation in honor of a loved one Join the 1873 Society today! Ask us how!
The Escambia County Medical Society Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) organization. EIN # 59-1514947
10 | Escambia County Medical Society in conjunction with Santa Rosa County
SAVE THE DATE
Easter at the Zoo AN ECMS FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER
SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 DINNER. DRINKS. EGG HUNT. PICTURES WITH THE EASTER BUNNY. GAMES
Details to follow
The supports physicians, patients, and our community. Blood Pressure Cuff Program: Dedicated to helping patients monitor their blood pressure at home by providing free blood pressure cuffs. We Care Program: Dedicated to helping the indigent and uninsured patients access care. This is only achievable because of our member physicians who generously donate their time and skill. Please consider joining this effort. Go Seniors Voucher Transportation Program: Dedicated to helping the elderly poor see their doctor on a regular basis by covering transportation expenses. Pensacola State College Endowment: Dedicated to funding scholarships of students attending Pensacola State College who are interested in healthrelated fields of study. Physician Wellness Program: Dedicated to helping our physician colleagues who may be suffering personal and professional angst. Member physicians may access three private sessions with a highly skilled psychologist. SMART program: Dedicated to Stress Management and Resiliency Training. Our physician instructor is Dr. Rohit Amin who will teach a 90 minute class each week over nine weeks. Most physicians would benefit from learning skills which may help them to handle stress more appropriately and be more resilient when meeting life’s challenges. The Escambia County Medical Society Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) organization. EIN # 59-1514947 12 | Escambia County Medical Society in conjunction with Santa Rosa County
2020 WE CARE AWARDS Non-Surgical We Care Doctor of the Year with the Highest number of services provided: Brian Kirby, MD Surgical We Care Doctor of the Year with Highest number of services provided: Donald Dewey, MD Medical Group with highest dollar amount and most number of services: Ascencion Sacred Heart Outpatient Clinic with highest # of services: Vivid Pathology Outpatient Clinic with highest dollar amount of donated care: Pensacola Radiology Consultants Hospital with largest number of treatments and highest dollar amount of donated services: Baptist Hospital
www.escambiacms.org | 13
Community Baptist Medical Group Welcomes William Stephen Willis, M.D.
William Stephen Willis, M.D., has joined the Baptist Medical Group – Pre-Optimization Clinic, where he is dedicated to caring for patients having elective surgery and helping prepare them for a positive procedure and recovery process. Dr. Willis brings more than 35 years of experience in the Pensacola community. He earned his medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, and completed an internship in family medicine at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.
Baptist Hospital Earns National Recognition for Lowering C-section Rates
Baptist Hospital is the only hospital in Pensacola and one of only 15 in the state of Florida to achieve the federal Healthy People 2020 Maternal and Child Health goal of reducing Cesarean section (C-section) rates for first-time mothers with low-risk pregnancies at or below 23.9% in 2019. The announcement was made by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Florida Department of Health. This is the second consecutive year Baptist has earned this national recognition.
Baptist Medical Group Oncologist Earns Third Board Certification
Baptist Medical Group oncologist Sweta Jonnalagadda, M.D., is now triple board certified. She recently earned her certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine – Hematology. She is also board certified in internal medicine and oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Jonnalagadda earned her medical degree at
Ascension Sacred Heart opened its first freestanding Emergency Center in Escambia County at 1501 W. Nine
Mile Rd. in Pensacola. Open 24 hours a day, the center includes 13 treatment rooms and two trauma rooms staffed by emergency medicine physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists. The center also houses a lab, CT scanner, x-ray imaging and a kidfriendly waiting room separate from the adult waiting room.
Dr. Pauline Balkaransingh, a fellowship-trained and board-certified pediatric hematologist/oncologist, has joined the faculty of the University of Florida College of Medicine, which is affiliated with the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. Dr. Balkaransingh sees patients full time in the Children’s Hospital and in her outpatient office in the Pediatric Specialist Tower on the Pensacola campus. OB/GYN Dr. Noelle Turnbow has joined Ascension Medical
Group Sacred Heart. She sees patients in the medical office building at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, Suite 205. She joins the practice of Dr. Shane Medlock, Dr. Jairan Duke, Dr. William Lile, Dr. Brian Sontag, and nurse practitioners Melissa Shaw,
14 | Escambia County Medical Society in conjunction with Santa Rosa County
Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, Karnataka, India. She served as chief resident at Saint Joseph Mercy in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and chief fellow at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.
Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute Brings Innovative Therapy to Northwest Florida
Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute interventional cardiologist Luther Carter, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, and cardiothoracic surgeon Russell Ronson, M.D., FACS, FACC, have successfully performed a heart procedure using a new therapy called AngioVac. Baptist is the first hospital in Northwest Florida to use this innovative technology. AngioVac is a device used in surgeries requiring heart bypass to treat endocarditis, retrieval of blood clots and other complex cardiac diseases.
Baptist Hospital Adopts the SCOUT® Wirefree Radar Localization System
Baptist Hospital is the first hospital in Northwest Florida to adopt the SCOUT® wire-free radar localization system for breast cancer surgeries. This system eliminates the need to place a wire inside the breast to locate a tumor by using non-radioactive, radar technology to provide real-time surgical guidance during breast surgery. A reflector the size of a grain of rice is placed in the target tissue prior to the day of surgery. During surgery, real-time distance measurement guidance accurately detects the location of the reflector and the tumor to within one millimeter of accuracy. The ability to precisely locate tumors may increase the probability of complete cancer removal, reduce the likelihood of the need for follow-up surgery and may result in better cosmetic outcomes.
Lauren Burnham and Emily Stilwell. Dr. Turnbow performs inpatient and outpatient gynecologic surgery at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola and delivers babies in the hospital‘s Maternity and Women’s Center.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Benjamin J. Turnbow
has joined Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart. He performs orthopedic surgeries and sees patients for follow-up appointments at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola. His office is located in the DePaul building on the hospital campus.
Dr. Mark Reeves has joined Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart. He sees patients at 4929 Mobile Hwy. in Pensacola. Dr. Reeves is a board-certified family medicine doctor with experience ranging from the battlefield to intensive care units to outpatient clinics. Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart recently was honored with a 2020 EntreCon award for its service to
the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual awards recognize the achievements and economic impact leaders and businesses have on the Pensacola community.
Community
On January 7th and 8th the Escambia County Medical Society held a joint event in conjunction with the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County vaccinating 400 health care workers in 4 hours. We were thankful for the opportunity to extend this opportunity to health care workers who have direct patient care as well as physicians immediate family 65 years of age and older. Thank you to the National Guard as well as Florida State University College of Medicine Pensacola Regional Campus medical students: Cody Daum, Shalom Chege, and Mohsan Khan. www.escambiacms.org | 15
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