NursesNow Roundup April 2020: Special Edition
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.
To Listen
We have compiled a playlist from all our shows and podcasts on our network that discuss the current COVID-19 pandemic.
News and Noted
FCC Approves Third Set of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Applications
The Federal Communications Commission’s (@FCC) Wireline Competition Bureau approved an additional six funding applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. Health care providers in some of the hardest hit areas like California and Maryland will use this $2.56 million in funding to provide telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic. To date, the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program has funded 17 health care providers in 10 states for a total of $9.5 million in funding.
COVID-19 Group Support Virtual Meetings for All Medical Professionals and Healthcare Workers
Joseph Weiner MD, PhD, an expert in crisis management with healthcare professionals, will be facilitating complimentary Virtual Peer Support Groups for all members of the healthcare team in New York and beyond during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Meetings are not limited to physicians and nurses – all healthcare workers are welcome. Join the Zoom meetings every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30-6:30PM EDT through the end of May 2020. Attend one discussion group or attend them all… No registration is required.
Recommendations for Investigational COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma
FDA (@US_FDA) has issued guidance to provide recommendations to health care providers and investigators on the administration and study of investigational convalescent plasma collected from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 (COVID-19 convalescent plasma) during the public health emergency.
With NSF Support, Engineers Look for New Ways to Optimize PPE During Pandemic
With the support of a newly awarded National Science Foundation Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grant, two Rensselaer researchers plan to examine ways to equip N95 respirator masks with antiviral properties and the ability to withstand sterilization. These improvements would better protect health care workers and enable the current supply of masks to last longer.
Audacious Inquiry Launches the SANER Project to Modernize Data-Sharing for COVID-19 Response through HL7® FHIR®
Audacious Inquiry (@a_inq), a provider of connected health information technology solutions, has launched The SANER Project, an open-source effort to streamline and accelerate real-time transmission of de-identified data among health care facilities, critical infrastructure, and governmental response authorities during public health emergencies and disasters.
CirrusMD Announces Expanded Contract To Improve Care Delivery For Over 1.6 Million Veterans
CirrusMD (@CirrusMD), a text-first virtual care solution, announced an expanded contract with Iron Bow Technologies as a subcontractor to the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), to improve care access and delivery for over 1.6 million veterans in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, South Georgia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Central Logic Selected to Help Orchestrate Care for All COVID-19 Patients in Arizona
Central Logic (@CentralLogic), a provider of enterprise visibility and tools to accelerate access to care, has announced its technology is now being leveraged by the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) in a first-in-the-nation statewide agreement to power a new Regional Access Center. The Access Center will ensure all of the state’s patients with known or suspected novel coronavirus (COVID-19) receive the care they need by locating available hospital beds, providers, equipment and other resources—all through a centralized, integrated technology platform updated in real time. As directed by the state, the Regional Access Center will include essentially every public and private hospital and health system in Arizona, including the Indian Health Service hospitals.
Products and Technology
CliniComp Collaborates with Dallas VA Medical Center to Develop COVID-19 Monitoring, Surveillance and Tracking Solutions Deployed at 42 VA Hospitals
CliniComp, Intl. (@CliniCompIntl) announced its collaboration with long-time client Dallas VA Medical Center has resulted in the development of COVID-19 (coronavirus) monitoring, surveillance, and tracking solutions to inform pandemic outbreaks and response management in large VA patient populations. The COVID-19 tools provided to VA hospitals pro bono include early warning dashboards, real-time alerts, reports and summary screens that visually show patients at severe and rising risk along with positive lab results.
HHS Tech Group Launches Robust Analytics Platform to Improve Provider Enrollment and Program Integrity
HHS Technology Group, LLC™ (@hhstechgroup) announced the addition of a robust analytics platform, “Discover your Data (DyD),” that enables healthcare organizations and state health agencies to drive improvements in provider enrollment and program integrity.
4medica and KPI Ninja Launch COVID-19 Alerts and Reporting Solution to Identify At-Risk Patients to Support Treatment and Prevention Efforts
4medica (@4medica) and KPI Ninja announced teaming up to launch a comprehensive lab analytics solution to support rapid treatment, prevention and spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The COVID-19 Alerts and Reporting Solution™ helps healthcare organizations and medical professionals identify and prioritize patients at higher risk of contracting severe forms of the respiratory disease. The solution also finds and tracks healthcare facility and ICU bed utilization across the U.S.
Availity’s COVID-19 Provider Resource Center Consolidates Key Payer Information
Availity (@availity), a real-time health information network, announced that it has launched a COVID-19 Provider Resource Center that consolidates links to updates from more than 50 payers for information about patient eligibility, coding, claims processing, telehealth guidelines and more. The new COVID-19 Provider Resource Center connects providers directly to payer updates, while enabling better collaboration between providers and payers.
HealthEC’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response
HealthEC (@HEALTHEC_LLC) recognizes the unprecedented need for healthcare providers to manage day-to-day COVID-19 care while also mitigating coronavirus risk for fragile patient populations within their communities. Detailed data and analytics needed to identify and proactively manage patients at high-risk for developing COVID-19 aren’t readily available for most organizations. The lack of insight into high-risk patient populations hinders an organization’s ability to take proactive, preventative COVID-19 measures.
To Read
U.S. Hospitals Suffering Financial Damage as a Result of COVID-19 Pandemic
The nation’s hospitals are suffering significant financial damage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Kaufman Hall’s (@KaufmanHall) data from more than 800 U.S. hospitals show that volume and revenue declines, along with flat to rising expenses, resulted in a dramatic fall in margin within a matter of weeks, plunging not-for-profit hospitals, which historically operate on thin margins, deep into the red.
Reducing Funding to WHO May Impact Existing Vaccines Programs
Avalere (@avalerehealth) reports that 0n April 15, President Trump announced his intention to halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), pending an investigation into WHO’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO first declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30 and a global pandemic on March 11. A reduction in funding from the US could limit WHO’s COVID-19 response activities as well as its regular vaccine programming, including product prequalification, global surveillance, and ongoing efforts to strengthen health systems.
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Canceled/Rescheduled Due to Coronavirus
ATA
What: ATA2020 Conference
When: May 3-5, 2020
Going Virtual
InstaMed
What: InstaMed 2020 Healthcare Payments Summit
When: May 5-6, 2020
Where: Philadelphia PA
CANCELED
Patient Experience Symposium
What: Patient Experience Symposium 2020
When: September 30 – October 2, 2020
Where: BOSTON, MA
Rescheduled