NursesNow Roundup April 2020: Special Edition
May is National Nurses Month! We’d like to extend a big thank you to all of the nurses who took a moment during this intense time to answer our questions. Nurses are working around the clock as they combat the coronavirus pandemic. Hear from a few nurses on the front lines answering some most frequently asked questions in response to this global problem. Additionally, check out these messages, playlists and freebies to celebrate and honor nurses around the globe from HealthcareNOW Radio’s Friday Five.
To Listen
We have compiled a playlist from all our shows and podcasts on our network that discuss the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Products and Technology
Datica Fast Tracks VigiLanz COVID Quick Start Implementations – Free for Six Months
Datica (@daticahealth), a provider in cloud compliance and EHR integration, announced its partnership with VigiLanz to launch VigiLanz’s COVID Quick Start, with EHR integration powered by Datica. COVID Quick Start is a new product that enables hospitals to prepare for, prevent, and respond to the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viral illnesses.
SWORD Health launches remote pulmonary rehabilitation to help 300,000 COVID-19 survivors breathe easy again
SWORD Health (@swordhealth), a digital therapy provider, launched a telehealth service to meet the urgent need for and significant shortage of rehabilitation programs for COVID-19 patients. The program is the first of its kind in the US, pairing physical therapists with medical-grade and wearable technology so patients can make a full recovery from the comfort and safety of their homes.
Capsule’s Ventilated Patient Surveillance Workstation Helping to Meet Hospital Care Demands for Critical COVID-19 Patients
As hospitals confront the COVID-19 pandemic, caregivers need tools to help them manage a large and dispersed population of ventilated patients safely and effectively. To that end, Capsule Technologies (@capsule_tech) offered the Ventilated Patient Surveillance (VPS) workstation providing present users of the company’s Medical Device Information Platform centralized remote observation of patients’ ventilator data and clinically actionable emergent events.
AdhereHealth Launches COVID-19 Adherence Solution
AdhereHealth (@AdhereHealth) announced the immediate availability of its new COVID-19 Adherence Solution, an innovative program that combines comprehensive predictive analytics and tech-enabled consumer outreach with home-delivered pharmacy services to support the Coronavirus crisis response.
News and Noted
NCPDP Issues COVID-19 Guidance For Pharmacy-Led Testing For Immediate Industry Implementation
NCPDP (@NCPDP) announced the availability of urgent industry guidance to aid pharmacists in expanding COVID-19 testing across the country. The NCPDP Emergency Preparedness Information Version 1.7 document has been updated with specific guidance related to pharmacist-led COVID-19 testing as well as other updates that provide standards-based guidance and resources to the pharmacy industry during a declared national emergency such as natural disaster or pandemic.
State by State Breakdown: COVID-19 Testing for Nursing Homes
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living provides a state by state breakdown of COVID-19 testing for nursing homes and notes that nearly 3 million tests (2,931,478) tests would be needed to test every nursing home resident and staff in the U.S.
FCC Approves Seventh Set of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Applications
The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Burea approved an additional 43 funding applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. Health care providers in both urban and rural areas of the country will use this $16.87 million in funding to provide telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic. To date, the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which was authorized by the CARES Act, has approved funding for 132 health care providers in 33 states plus Washington, DC for a total of just over $50 million in funding.
COVID-19 Pandemic Continues to Ravage Hospital Finances, Driving April Operating Margins Down 282%
Steep volume and revenue declines hit U.S. hospitals hard in April, driving Operating Margins down 282% compared to the same period last year and 326% below budget, according to a new Kaufman Hall (@KaufmanHall) report. The damage has been swift, as April was just the first full month for hospitals battling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To Read & Watch
Eight ways 340B covered entities can maximize cash flow and savings during the COVID-19 public health emergency
The impact of COVID-19 on hospital and clinic finances has been fierce and immediate, making the 340B program more important than ever to covered entities struggling to remain in the black while experiencing reduced revenue from elective procedures. Over the last few weeks, PSG (@psgconsults) has assembled a team of financial, operational and pharmacy experts to identify best practices to optimize their 340B program for immediate operational efficiencies, cash flow enhancement and savings.
Understand Contact Tracing & Digital Tools Available Now
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, digital tools to support large-scale contact tracing have emerged globally. While demand is widespread, there is no one-size-fits all solution for healthcare organizations. Pivot Point Consulting (@pivotpc) offers their key findings.
Down the Rabbit Hole with Roberta – Quest for a Vaccine
Who, when, and how are the questions when it comes to the vaccine for COVID-19. Is the vaccine the only answer to really fully open the economy? Who are the companies trying to create the vaccine? When might we see a vaccine? And once their is a viable one, how will we manufacture and inoculate 328 million people? And that is just the US, this is a global pandemic. Find out where the rabbit hole took our own Roberta Mullin this week and in case you missed them check out Roberta’s past rabbit holes.
Insurance in the Time of COVID-19 https://t.co/x3qBV9GiCJ
— Health IT Answers (@healthitanswers) May 15, 2020
Events
Physicians’ Reciprocal Insurers (PRI)
When: Tuesdays & Thursdays (through end of May) 5:30 – 6:30 pm ET
No registration required – Join the Zoom Meeting
Twitter: @PRI_Insurance
COVID-19 Group Support Virtual Meetings for All Medical Professionals and Healthcare Workers – Joseph Weiner MD, PhD will be facilitating complimentary Virtual Peer Support Groups. to all members of the healthcare team in New York and beyond during the COVID-19 Pandemic. They are not limiting this group to physicians and nurses – all healthcare workers are welcome. Dr. Weiner is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Medicine and Science Education in the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He is an expert in crisis management with healthcare professionals.
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The CDC is the front line for our safety and information on the Coronavirus. Keep informed about COVID-19. Sign up to get emails or text alerts from the CDC.
COVID-19 Resources
HealthcareNOW Radio rounded up some health IT resources being offered by companies to help healthcare professionals, American citizens and all of those affected in the fight against the coronavirus.
Canceled/Rescheduled Due to Coronavirus
Patient Experience Symposium
What: Patient Experience Symposium 2020
When: September 30 – October 2, 2020
Where: BOSTON, MA
Rescheduled