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
Rimidi, LifeQ Partner to Add Wearable-Based Monitoring to Rimidi’s Platform Enabling Early Warning of COVID-19 Infection
Rimidi (@Jointherimidi), a cloud-based software platform that enables personalized management of health conditions across populations, announced a new strategic partnership with LifeQ, a provider of biometrics and health information derived from wearable devices. As a result of the partnership, LifeQ’s physiological data from commercial wrist-worn wearable devices will be integrated into Rimidi’s Epidemic Monitoring Platform, powering a more sensitive and specific screening mechanism for identifying individuals needing further assessment for COVID-19 infection as well as flagging clinical deterioration of COVID-19 cases.
Capsule Technologies Expands COVID-19 Relief Efforts
To give hospitals greater flexibility in their ongoing response to COVID-19, Capsule Technologies (@capsule_tech) announced the availability of the cloud deployed and managed version of its Ventilated Patient Surveillance (VPS) workstation powered by Microsoft Azure. The news marks an extension of Capsule’s long-standing collaboration with Microsoft.
Lumeon Launches Virtual Care Solutions in Response to COVID-19
Lumeon (@lumeon_), a digital health company, announced a series of new virtual care solutions to help healthcare providers orchestrate care delivery and engage patients at home amid COVID-19. The solutions enable providers to virtualize care processes at scale, minimizing face-to-face contact to reduce the risk of infection within care settings, while alleviating overburdened clinical teams.
News and Noted
ACHA Releases New Guidelines on Supporting Vulnerable Campus Populations During COVID-19 Pandemic
The American College Health Association (@ACHA_Tweets) announces the release of its new guidelines, Supporting Vulnerable Campus Populations During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Written by the ACHA COVID-19 Task Force, this document provides guidance for student affairs professionals, college health professionals, and campus administrators on supporting vulnerable campus populations who are disproportionately impacted by the effects of the pandemic.
IntelyCare Sees Exceptional Momentum and Growth; Expands Leadership Team and Employee Base to Support Post-Acute Market and Nursing Professionals amid Pandemic
IntelyCare (@intelycare), an intelligent workforce management solution for post-acute facilities, announced it has experienced rapidly escalating demand for staffing support at skilled nursing facilities, which has been further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has also seen record growth and momentum in 2020, securing a ranking of No. 41 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in the U.S.
Many People of Color, Immigrants Among Over 1,000 US Health Workers Lost to COVID
More than 1,000 front-line health care workers reportedly have died of COVID-19, according to Lost on the Frontline, an ongoing investigation by The Guardian and KHN to track and memorialize every U.S. health care worker who dies from the coronavirus. Earlier this month, the organizations published a major interactive database. It is the most comprehensive accounting of U.S. health care workers’ deaths in the country.
PCORI approves $23 million for seven COVID-19 research studies
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (@PCORI) has approved $22.6 million in funding for seven studies assessing various health care approaches to improve outcomes among people infected by the novel coronavirus and lessen the effects of COVID-19 on patients, health care workers and communities.
CORHIO’s COVID-19 Tools Help Skilled Nursing Facility See Patients’ Full Picture
Ericha Loosbrock, ManorCare hospital liaison, helps patients and their families navigate what to expect and how to prepare for a transition from a hospital or home setting into a ManorCare facility. She says CORHIO’s (@corhio) PatientCare 360 patient lookup tool has always been valuable, but the addition of COVID-19 data makes it a true game changer for her. The tools, including COVID-19 Lab Notifications, not only helps with existing patients but also patients referred to her for services at ManorCare’s Denver and Boulder locations.
Vaccine News:
Microsoft’s AI for Health supports COVID-19 vaccine development
Given the global urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft’s (@Health_IT) AI for Health program has stepped in to support the development and potential deployment of Vaxine’s COVAX-19 vaccine with a philanthropic grant.
Exclusive: Fauci says rushing out a vaccine could jeopardize testing of others
The top U.S. infectious diseases expert is warning that distributing a COVID-19 vaccine under special emergency use guidelines before it has been proved safe and effective in large trials is a bad idea that could have a chilling effect on the testing of other vaccines.
To Read
California, Florida, New York, Texas will not follow new U.S. COVID-19 testing plan by Reuters – Several large U.S. states are not heeding new federal health officials’ calls to reduce COVID-19 testing of some exposed to the virus, joining a broad rebuke of the Trump administration by public health leaders.
Price Gouging in a Public Health Crisis: Out-of-Network COVID-19 Test Costs Far Exceed In-Network Charges by AHIP (@ahipcoverage) – According to an AHIP Survey On average, a COVID-19 test in the commercial market costs $130. In contrast, out-of-network test providers charged significantly higher (more than $185) prices for nearly 40% of diagnostic tests and 25% of antibody tests. One in ten out-of-network test claims charged more than $390 (three times the average cost).
National Hospital Report August 2020 by Kaufman Hall – Hospital Operating Margins are down a full 96% or 842 basis points (bps) since the start of 2020 compared to the same seven-month period in 2019, not including Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. Even with the federal relief, Operating Margins still are down 28% or 90 bps year-to-date compared to January-July 2019.
Latest from HHS:
Trump Administration Will Deploy 150 Million Rapid Tests in 2020
Trump Administration Announces the Distribution of $2.5 Billion to Nursing Homes for COVID-19 Relief Funding
HHS Awards $117 Million to Support Health Center Quality Improvement
Trump Administration to Release 1.5 Million N95 Respirators from the Strategic National Stockpile for Distribution to Nursing Homes
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