{"id":10348,"date":"2025-03-01T14:07:42","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dhan372\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:53:24","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:53:24","slug":"dhan372","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan372\/","title":{"rendered":"php\/alerts\/dhan372 ~  Division of Public Health  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\"> \n\n    <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan372.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n      <\/a>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n    \n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n      <h1>Delaware Health Alert Network #<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Number\"]-->372 <!--[END]--> <\/h1>\n\n      <h2> <!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Date\"]-->January 27, 2017 10:16 am <!--[END]--> <\/h2>\n\n    <\/header>\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n \n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; Programs<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ofclocations.html\">Office Locations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/contact.html\">Contact Info<\/a><\/li>\n      \n        <li><a href=\"\/calendars.html\" target=\"_blank\">Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesaz.html\">A-Z Services<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/environmental.html\">Air &#038; Water Quality<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ss\/vitalstats.html\">Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/clinics.html\">Clinics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthdatastats.html\">Health Data &#038; Statistics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/emsps.html\">Emergency Preparedness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthandwellness.html\">Health &#038; Wellness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthyhomes.html\">Healthy Homes<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthywp.html\">Healthy Workplaces<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/labs.html\">Laboratory<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/feir.html\">Restaurant Inspections<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/screen.html\">Screening and Testing<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/chca\/dphwichominf01.html\">WIC<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesadd.html\">Additional Services<\/a><\/li><li>\n      <\/li><\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/factsheetsaz.html\">A-Z Fact Sheets<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/pubreportsaz.html\">A-Z Publications &#038; Reports<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/diseasesandconditions.html\">Diseases &#038; Conditions<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/faq.html\">FAQ&#8217;s<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/alerts.html\">Health Alerts<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthylifestyles.html\">Healthy Lifestyles<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hipaa.html\">HIPAA<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/regs.html\">Regulations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/forms.html\">Request Forms<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/links.html\">Links &#038; Resources<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"http:\/\/delaware.gov\/help\/foia_request.shtml\">FOIA Request Form<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n        <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Delaware_DHSS\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delaware Health and Social Services Twitter Account\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n        <!-- <li class=\"googleplus\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-google-plus-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Google +<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"flickr\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-flickr fa-lg\"><\/i> Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"youtube\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-youtube-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Youtube<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"instagram\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-instagram fa-lg\"><\/i> Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"linkedin\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-linkedin-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Linkedin<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"pinterest\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-pinterest-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Pinterest<\/a><\/li> -->\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n              <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n  \n\n<h2 class=\"center\">Health\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHANType\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAlert<!--[END]-->\n\n<br>\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Heading\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSUSSEX COUNTY PAIN MANAGEMENT PHYSICIAN LICENSE SUSPENDED<!--[END]-->\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is issuing this health advisory to advise health care providers \n\n\n\n\n\nthat Eva C. Dickinson\u2019s medical license was suspended by Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock and the Delaware \n\n\n\n\n\nBoard of Medical Licensure and Discipline due to the suspension of her Maryland medical license last month in \n\n\n\n\n\nconnection with alleged drug-related criminal activity. There may be former patients of Dickinson who wish to \n\n\n\n\n\nobtain opioids for pain management and individuals addicted to opiates who are at a higher risk of drug seeking, \n\n\n\n\n\nusing street drugs, and overdosing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Certain individuals with regular access to opioids \u2014 particularly if they are not well monitored by a \n\n\n\n\n\nmedical practice \u2014 may be at significantly higher risk for addiction and overdose. As many as 1 in 4 people \n\n\n\n\n\nin the U.S. who receive prescription opioids long term for non-cancer pain in primary care settings struggle with \n\n\n\n\n\naddiction. Medical providers prescribing opioids should monitor patients closely, screen for addiction risk, and \n\n\n\n\n\nconsider non-opioid medications for treatment of chronic pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2>Recommendations\/Reporting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>As the addiction epidemic continues to grow in Delaware and throughout the country, DPH is recommending that:\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Medical providers and law enforcement should be especially vigilant about potential patient overdoses or those \n\n\n\n\n\nwith drug-seeking behavior, particularly in and around Harrington where Dickinson\u2019s practice was located.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>For further information on substance abuse disorder for community members and medical providers, visit \u201cHelp is Here\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\nat:\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.helpisherede.com\/\">www.helpisherede.com<\/a>. For a list of current locations that offer \n\n\n\n\n\noutpatient, inpatient, detoxification, recovery support, and recovery living, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.helpisherede.com\/Resource-Guide\/Here-for-me\">\n\n\n\n\n\nwww.helpisherede.com\/Resource-Guide\/Here-for-me<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>To reduce \u201cdoctor-shopping\u201d and to check the patient\u2019s history for controlled substances, \n\n\n\n\n\nquery the Prescription Drug Monitoring program at\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/dpr.delaware.gov\/boards\/controlledsubstances\/pmp\/default.shtml\">\n\n\n\n\n\nhttp:\/\/dpr.delaware.gov\/boards\/controlledsubstances\/pmp\/default.shtml<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Prescribers should evaluate patients for substance use disorder risk as part of any regular clinical visit but \n\n\n\n\n\nespecially if they will be prescribing opioids. A sample opioid risk assessment tool can be found at the link below \n\n\n\n\n\nin the \u201cAdditional Information\u201d section.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>If a patient appears to be at risk for substance abuse disorder, consider alternatives to opioids and\/or monitor \n\n\n\n\n\ntheir use very closely. To the extent possible, use non-opioid therapies such as:\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Rehabilitative services and physical therapy<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Cognitive behavior therapy and relaxation techniques<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Exercise and strength training<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Non-opioid medications: acetaminophen; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); serotonin and norepinephrine \n\n\n\n\n\nreuptake inhibitors (SNRIs); tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/li><li>For those serving pregnant or reproductive-age women, consider also screening for alcohol abuse by using screening \n\n\n\n\n\ntools such as the T-ACE questionnaire, which can be found on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.helpisherede.com\/\">www.helpisherede.com<\/a>\n\n\n\n\n\nand via Google.<\/li><li>Patients should be reminded to avoid taking opioids with alcohol and sedatives or tranquilizers, including \n\n\n\n\n\nbenzodiazepines (i.e. Xanax and Valium); muscle relaxants (i.e. Soma or Flexeril); sleeping pills or hypnotics \n\n\n\n\n\n(i.e. Ambien or Lunesta); and other prescription opioid pain relievers unless prescribed by a health care provider.<\/li><li>Patients should be reminded to lock all medications up or put them out of the way of anyone, including children or pets, \n\n\n\n\n\nwho might try to consume them, whether by accident or on purpose. Patients can safely dispose of any unused medications \n\n\n\n\n\nat Delaware prescription medication drop boxes. There are 14 permanent drop boxes at this time. For a complete list of \n\n\n\n\n\nlocations, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.delawarehealthyhomes.org\/\">www.delawarehealthyhomes.org<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Additional Information<\/h2><ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>U.S. Surgeon General resources on opioids for physicians and patients:<br>\n\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"http:\/\/turnthetiderx.org\/\">http:\/\/turnthetiderx.org\/<\/a>#<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids:<br>\n\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/drugoverdose\/prescribing\/guideline.html\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/drugoverdose\/prescribing\/guideline.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Department of State Press release on license suspension:<br>\n\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"http:\/\/news.delaware.gov\/2017\/01\/19\/secretary-of-state-announces-medical-license-suspension-2\/\">\n\n\n\n\n\nhttp:\/\/news.delaware.gov\/2017\/01\/19\/secretary-of-state-announces-medical-license-suspension-2\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<li>Opioid risk assessment tool:<br>\n\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugabuse.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/files\/OpioidRiskTool.pdf\">\n\n\n\n\n\nhttps:\/\/www.drugabuse.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/files\/OpioidRiskTool.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul><p>************************************<\/p><p>You are receiving this email because you are a registered member of the Delaware Health Alert Network.\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you are not a member and would like to subscribe, please register at <a href=\"https:\/\/healthalertde.org\">https:\/\/healthalertde.org<\/a><\/p><p><!--[END]-->\n\n  \n\n        <\/p><div class=\"panel panel-danger\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel-heading\">    \n\n      <h2>Categories of Health Alert messages:<\/h2>\n\n       <\/div>\n\n       <div class=\"panel-body\">\n\n      <ul>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Alert:<\/strong> Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.<\/li>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Advisory:<\/strong> Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Update:<\/strong> Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n            <\/ul>\n\n         <div><strong>NOTE: This page is for informational purposes only and dated material (e.g. temporary websites) may not be available.<\/strong><\/div>\n\n          <\/div> \n\n        <\/div><p><br>  \n\n\n\n      <\/p><\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Delaware Health Alert Network #372 January 27, 2017 10:16 am Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9294,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10348","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10348"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11524,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10348\/revisions\/11524"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}