PSQH: The Podcast Episode 20 – Using Data to Improve COVID-19 Patient Outcomes
On episode 20 of PSQH: The Podcast, Dr. Lissy Hu, founder and CEO of CarePort, talks about how aggregating COVID-19 data has helped improve patient care.
Flu Season? Only 925 Cases of Seasonal Influenza Reported So Far
In a typical year, the seasonal influenza runs through May and can cause about 45 million illnesses, hospitalize more than 810,000 people, and claim more than 60,000 lives, according to the CDC.
Adopt a Crisis Command Culture During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Across the country, health systems and hospitals have established incident command centers to manage the challenges of the pandemic. At Northwell Health last spring, incident command leadership was a key element in the health system’s response to the hottest hot spot in the first coronavirus patient surge.
COVID-wary Patients May Avoid Care
The survey, released Tuesday by Orlando Health Heart & Vascular Institute, also found that 49% of respondents will not reschedule missed in-person medical appointments until COVID-19 concerns are reduced in their area. The same number (49%) fret that their health will suffer because of the appointments.
TJC Seeks Input on New Requirements for Workplace Violence Prevention, Resuscitative Services
Long-discussed and first announced last fall, the new and revised requirements on workplace violence prevention are in the Environment of Care, Human Resources, and Leadership standard chapters.
Coronavirus Vaccination: 4 Best Practices for Communicating With Patients
With the COVID-19 pandemic raging across the country, vaccination is a key implement in the public health toolbox. Vaccination is widely viewed as essential to controlling the coronavirus through herd immunity, which occurs when a large proportion of a population develops resistance to an infection.
Use Screening Protocols to Ensure Civil Unrest Stays Out of Your Hospital
Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) updated its Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) site with a four-page set of lessons learned in Minneapolis during the civil unrest after George Floyd died during a police arrest, an event caught on video and widely shared on social media.
Telehealth Usage Rises With Increase of COVID-19 Cases
Compared to one year ago, October usage of telehealth increased by 3,060%, comprising 5.61% of all “claim lines” processed by the payers the organization tracks, compared to 0.18% the previous October. In September 2020, telehealth comprised 5.07% of all claim lines. FAIR Health defines claim lines as an individual service or procedure listed on an insurance claim.
CMS Home-Based Hospital Care Waiver Called ‘Enormous Step Forward’
In November, CMS announced the creation of the Acute Hospital Care At Home program during the coronavirus public health emergency to help health systems and hospital increase care capacity during the pandemic. Six healthcare organizations were designated as the first participants in the Acute Hospital Care At Home program, including Boston-based Brigham Health.
Mindfulness Program Decreases Burnout in Healthcare Workers, Study Finds
Burnout is one of the top challenges facing clinicians and other healthcare workers nationwide. In a report published in September 2020 by The Physicians Foundation, 30% of more than 2,300 physicians surveyed cited feelings of hopelessness or having no purpose due to changes in their practices related to the coronavirus pandemic. Research published in September 2018 indicates that nearly half of physicians across the country were experiencing burnout symptoms.