The Florida Medical Association (FMA), which represents more than 25,000 doctors across the Sunshine State, offered praise for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ early efforts against coronavirus (COVID-19), including working with the medical community on the matter.
After two Florida residents tested positive for coronavirus, on Sunday, DeSantis issued an executive order directing Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees to declare a public health emrgency. The FMA noted that both DeSantis and the Department of Health (DOH) “reached out to the FMA in an effort to provide Florida’s physicians with the resources they need to prepare and respond.”
“The Florida Medical Association thanks Governor DeSantis for his leadership at this crucial time, and for engaging our 25,000 members as partners in protecting the public health,” said Dr. Ronald Giffler, the president of the FMA.“We are working closely with the Governor, Dr. Rivkees and the department to ensure that Florida physicians have the latest information and protocols as established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We will continue referring physicians to the department’s COVID-19 resource page, which is constantly being updated, and the FMA stands ready to assist in any way that we can.”
Giffler praised the DOH for being “diligent in monitoring presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, mobilizing epidemiology teams statewide, and taking special precautions to safeguard assisted living facilities and nursing homes, as elderly patients are at particularly high risk.”
“The FMA is confident that Governor DeSantis and the Department are doing everything possible to minimize the virus’ impact on Floridians,” Giffler said. “On behalf of the patients our members serve, we are committed to helping achieve that goal.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
