Week 16 Newsletter
July 28th 2020 Updates
Surge Capacity Strategies
Primary care providers report challenges responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some experts are offering strategies to avoid future crises in primary care, others are discussing how to respond to the issues at hand.
Staffing shortages are plaguing some areas currently surging in COVID-19 infections.
Surge Capacity Resources
(07/27/20) Village Versus Virus: Rural Ethos Protects Where Public Health Fails
(07/24/20) Primary Care Remains Weakened in Fight Against COVID-19
(07/21/20) Are We Prepared for the Next Health Crisis? Maybe
(07/25/20) Houston, Miami, Other Cities Face Mounting Health Care Worker Shortages as Infections Climb
The Alliance for Health Policy held a summit to provide expert analysis and perspectives on the short and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the US health system.
Health Workforce Policies and Guidelines Resources
Alliance for Health Policy 2020 Signature Series Part I: Summit: Disruptors and Transformers:
(07/23/20) Using Data to Disrupt the Spread of COVID-19 and Prevent Future Pandemics
(07/22/20) Care Delivery Transformation: Integrating Telehealth and Home-based Care
(07/21/20) The Invisible Backbone: Strengthening Supply Chain and Public Health Infrastructure
(07/21/20) Keynote: Perspectives on Health Equity With Dr. Rashawn Ray and Licy Do Canto
A primary care physician provided perspective on treating patients using telehealth in the time of COVID, while federal legislation that encourages increased access to telehealth services receives broad support.
Telehealth Resources
With patients in skilled nursing facilities representing a sizable share of COVID-19 cases, there are calls for better data and reporting requirements for long-term care facilities to support data-driven policy.
Long-term Care Resources
Health Workforce Safety
There are philosophical differences on the issue of health care workers putting themselves at risk to treat patients with COVID-19.
New methods for tracking infections among the health workforce are being put forward.
The well-being of the health workforce continues to be a major issue when considering strategies to assure safety in the workplace.
Health Workforce Safety Resources
Maintaining the Educational Pipeline
The New York Times published an article on race, racial identity, and the importance of racially competent medical education in the time of COVID-19.
As COVID-19 cases rise, the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) continues to require prospective medical students to take the test in-person, prompting concern that some students may delay entrance to medical school.
Maintaining the Educational Pipeline Resources
Some experts see a need for expanded scopes of practice and more licensure flexibility for pharmacists to enhance their ability to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regulatory Flexibility Resources
State Workforce Strategies
New Jersey has announced plans to expand access to mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic by granting temporary licenses to recent graduates and expanding scopes of practice for others.
State Workforce Strategies Resources
