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
SMARTCAD | COVID-19: A New System in the Fight Against COVID-19
With the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing, Thirona starts a new collaboration to further improve and accelerate the detection of the virus. SmartCAD | COVID-19 is a software product that combines Thirona’s CAD4COVID-CT algorithm with the popular COVID-19 reporting template developed by digital health company Smart Reporting.
Matrix Medical Network and Berkeley Data Ventures Collaborate to Make Mass COVID-19 Testing More Accessible
Matrix Medical Network (@MatrixMedNtwk) has partnered with Berkeley Data Ventures to improve the availability and ease of COVID-19 testing by combining the power of machine learning and pooled testing. The new solution, driven by machine learning algorithms, will enable more individuals to be tested, more often, through strategic pooled testing.
Employer COVID-19 Testing Platform BRIO Systems Raises $1.9 Million in Seed Funding
BRIO Systems, a technology company offering a complete COVID-19 testing system for the workplace, has raised $1.9 million in seed funding to advance its platform that helps employers navigate the complexities of workplace safety and reopening amid the pandemic. The funding comes from lead investor One Way Ventures, Techstars Ventures, Nimble Ventures, Castor Ventures (AVG), and individual angels such as John Capodilupo (CTO of Whoop).
News and Noted
Experity Announces Record Urgent Care Patient Volumes in July Amid Pandemic
Experity (@experityhealth), a provider of clinical and practice management software in the urgent care space, published a report showing more patient visits in July than any other month this year, according to its client base of more than 5,700 clinics. Additionally, on Monday, July 6 urgent care clinics recorded over 105,000 patient visits, marking the highest single-day visit volume number of 2020. Experity is partnering with Urgent Care Association (UCA) and its database of 2,105 listings to provide data resources for the Department of Health, the National Governors Association and other stakeholders in public health that can use it to aide decision-making or offer resources in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
HHS Invests in Diagnostic Labs to Expand COVID-19 Testing Capacity in the United States
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced combined investments of $6.5 million in two commercial diagnostic laboratories to expand capacity to conduct up to 4 million additional SARS-CoV-2 per month. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. The investments in Aegis Sciences Corporation exit disclaimer icon and in Sonic Healthcare USA exit disclaimer icon will provide critical laboratory equipment supplied by Beckman Coulter Life Sciences exit disclaimer icon and Thermo Fisher exit disclaimer icon Scientific and increase staffing and infrastructure to allow the U.S. to perform an additional 1 million tests each week by early October.
PCG Offers Free Special Education Planning Resource to Aid Schools’ Reopening Preparations Amid Pandemic
Public Consulting Group, Inc. (PCG), a consulting firm supporting state and local education agencies across the country, announced the launch of its Special Education Reentry Checklist: a free resource to help special education departments prepare for schools to reopen for the 2020–2021 school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vaccine News:
McKesson to Distribute Future COVID-19 Vaccines in Support of Operation Warp Speed
McKesson Corporation (@McKesson) will expand its existing partnership with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to support the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed (OWS) team as a centralized distributor of future COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary supplies needed to administer vaccinations. Vaccines and related supplies will be delivered to point-of-care sites across the country at the U.S. government’s direction.
Moderna Announces Supply Agreement with U.S. Government for Initial 100 Million Doses of mRNA Vaccine Against COVID-19 (mRNA-1273)
Moderna, Inc., (@moderna_tx) a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines to create a new generation of transformative medicines for patients, announced that the U.S. government has secured 100 million doses of mRNA-1273 as part of the U.S. government’s goal of securing early access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the American people.
Covid-19 Vaccines Won’t Come With Copays, U.S. Health Official Says
According to The Wall Street Journal, The federal government will shoulder the costs of COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration through Medicare and Medicaid, and a federal fund established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act will provide the vaccine for free to uninsured Americans, said Paul Mango, deputy chief of staff for policy at HHS. Mango said the government is working with health insurers to provide the vaccine to privately insured Americans without cost sharing.
Fauci ‘seriously doubts’ the Russia vaccine is ready for widespread use
According to National Geographic, concocting a vaccine is not the same thing as proving a vaccine is safe and effective. That’s Anthony Fauci’s take on the news out of Moscow that Russia has approved and is ready to market a coronavirus vaccine.
To Read
Health Insurance Providers Respond to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
AHIP (@ahipcoverage) gathers together information about each insurance company’s responce to the pandemic and what they are offering members.
Large study suggests convalescent plasma can help treat Covid-19, but experts have doubts
STAT (@statnews) reports that infusing hospitalized Covid-19 patients with blood plasma from people who recovered from the disease appeared to show a benefit in a nationwide study, but the study’s lack of a placebo group left several experts struggling to interpret the data.
COVID-19 Symptom Tracker Ensures Privacy During Isolation
An online COVID-19 symptom tracking tool developed by researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center ensures a person’s confidentiality while being able to actively monitor their symptoms. The tool is not proprietary and can be used by entities that are not able to develop their own tracking systems.
Events
Physicians’ Reciprocal Insurers (PRI)
What: COVID-19 Physician Peer Support
When: Mondays 8:00 p ET; Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:30 – 6:30 pm ET
Register for Monday Groups
Register for Tuesday & Thursday Groups
Twitter: @PRI_Insurance
COVID-19 Physician Peer Support – PRI has multiple weekly complimentary Virtual Support Groups on Coping with COVID-19 which your fellow physicians have been utilizing and finding great comfort and support from.
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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