Dr. Sharlene Smith - USF Health

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Transmission COVID-19 is most often spread from person to person among close contacts.

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Telehealth Is Here to Stay: How to Get the Most Out of a Virtual Appointment - USF Nursing News As the nation eases its shelter-in-place orders and health care providers begin to reopen their offices to new safety protocols, it’s likely your health care provider will continue to offer the option of a telehealth appointment. The continuing COVID-19 pandemic has recast health care delivery and...

It's time for all 50 states to be "IN".

Nurse practitioners need to be 'in' Nurse practitioners are currently blocked from fully providing care because of state regulations. It is time for all governors to reconsider restrictive policies as the fight to battle coronavirus continues.

Higher Education Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19)-

Admissions & Enrollment
Bans on large gatherings on campus have forced many colleges to postpone campus tours and admissions events. A survey of enrollment officials from EAB found that 36% of campuses are experiencing a decline in admissions visit requests. Several schools have begun planning and using virtual webinars and tours to support prospective students in the admissions process. The EAB survey found that 62% of campuses are adding video conferences and 46% are adding social media platform live events.

Many colleges typically send acceptance and financial aid notification letters in the spring, and May 1 is National College Decision Day, typically the deadline for students to declare their intent to attend a school and reserve a spot for the fall. Given the uncertainty around admissions and limitations on travel, more than 250 schools have extended this deadline to June 1 according to ACCEPT Group, a non-profit which is tracking admission deadline changes. Some institutions have extended deadlines even further. The University of Hawaii system said it would consider applications until August 1, 2020.

The outbreak has also disrupted the admissions process related to testing. The next scheduled nationwide tests of both the ACT and SAT have been cancelled. The College Board which administers the SAT, cancelled the May 2 test as well as the makeup test for earlier cancellations in March. Students who registered for both tests will receive refunds. The ACT postponed its April 4 test date to June 13. The College Board has also announced plans to allow students to take Advanced Placement (AP) tests from home. Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the GRE, has also announced an at-home version of the exam will be available to students who wish to take the test for graduate and professional schools. International Baccalaureate (IB) exams in May were also cancelled. Because of disruptions in testing, several schools have announced plans to remove ACT/SAT requirements for admissions and become test-optional.

Florida OKs independent practice for Nurse Practitioners-
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Qualified nurse practitioners will be able to independently operate primary care practices without an attending doctor under a bill passed by the Florida Legislature and signed hours later by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Advanced nurse practitioners with at least 3,000 hours of experience under the supervision of a physician could qualify to provide services including family medicine, general pediatrics and general internal medicine.

Nurse practitioners would have to complete minimum graduate level course work in differential diagnosis and pharmacology.
The bill was a priority for House Speaker Jose Oliva, who praised the governor’s quick action.

“Floridians’ access to quality health care is our top priority,” Oliva said in a news release. “Freeing (advanced practice registered nurses) of the red tape that has historically stopped them from working to the full extent of their education and training will immediately improve access to quality care for all.”

DeSantis also signed another Oliva priority bill the Legislature passed Wednesday. It will allow qualified pharmacists who enter into agreements with doctors to treat chronic conditions like asthma, arthritis and obesity, as well as test for and treat ailments like the flu, strep throat, lice and skin conditions like ringworm and athlete’s foot.

Both laws take effect July 1.

The new USF Morsani College of Medicine tower opened today in downtown Tampa.
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Did you know....

Nurse practitioners filling health-care gaps, despite lack of funding Amid doctor shortages across the country, nurse practitioners have been filling in the health-care gap in many communities, helping to diagnose and treat patients who don't have access to a family physician.

Did you know: A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) classified as a mid-level practitioner. A nurse practitioner (NP) is trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose illness and disease, prescribe medication and formulate treatment plans.