Page 10 - Delaware Medical Journal - March/April 2020

PRESIDENT’S PAGE
health, as well as addressing safety issues. These physician-led presentations are associated with increases in knowledge on important public and personal
health issues, such as healthy eating, concussions, the use of social media,
as well as the detriments of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. The School Health Subcommittee is also actively involved in promoting and facilitating the OBVIOUS Campaign for Kids presentations that are open to our Delaware community. The School Health Subcommittee has recently provided education to our professional and public communities on the subjects of nutrition and the social and health aspects of electronic media use by children and teenagers.
The newest of our educational programs, the Apollo Program, began a few years ago through the efforts of Randeep Kahlon, MD in association with a few of our local high schools and students. The program invites high school students who have an interest in a career in medicine to shadow an MSD member physician in his for the students involved, but also for the physicians who volunteer their time. Since the Apollo Program’s inception, there
has been a steady increase in physician involvement, as well as school and student interest.
COMMUNITY MEDICAL SERVICES SUPPORT
MSD has continued to support and expand medical care and services to the underinsured and uninsured patients in our communities. The Voluntary Initiative Program (VIP) operates with the help of volunteer physicians providing medical

patients. VIP was established in 1993 with the original intention of securing medical homes for Medicaid recipients, therefore helping to improve quality of care and reduce the need for emergency department use and hospitalization. With the advent of Medicaid managed care in 1996, VIP adjusted its focus to the uninsured and underinsured population. Patients enrolled through VIP receive preventive care and screenings; acute care; medical specialty care; and allied health, diagnostic lab, and imaging services. MSD has expanded this list of services to include a medication assistance program, which addresses
the growing prescription needs of these patients.
Program evaluation shows that patients enrolled through VIP have an increased rate of completion of preventive screenings, reduced emergency department use, lower length of hospital stays, improvement in the management
of chronic diseases, increased use of ancillary services, such as laboratory, radiology, physical therapy, etc., as well as an increased satisfaction with their health care.
Statistics beginning in 2007 through

9,976 patients served through the VIP Medication Assistance Program, with rates. The cost savings for these prescriptions through the VIP Medication Assistance Program amounts to over $6 million.
DFMS has also provided support to charitable medical clinics and Federally- when they were in need, enabling these
medical organizations in our state to continue to provide care to their patient population.
HEALTH CARE HAS HOPE...YOU!
Were you aware of MSD’s outreach into our communities and the work that is being done? One person can make a difference.
At our Annual Meeting and Inaugural Gala held in November, we launched our Mission Appeal Campaign and established our “1789 Club.” I am proud to say that MSD is well on its way to reaching almost half of our 2020 goal campaign. The contributions provided to this campaign, designated to DMEF and/or DFMS, will continue to support and further enhance these community programs.
I ask for all of us to be actively involved

supportive in the role MSD plays in
our community. If you would like more information on becoming involved in
the School Health Subcommittee, the OBVIOUS Campaign for Kids, the Apollo Program, or VIP, or you would like to contribute to the MSD Mission Appeal, please reach out to our MSD staff.
Thank you,
Joseph J. Straight, MD
President, Medical Society of Delaware
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Del Med J | March/April 2020 | Vol. 92 | No. 2