Week 24 Newsletter

(09/17/20) The First Look at the US Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine ‘Playbook’
This article introduces the government’s plan for COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The plan includes multiple phases for who will be eligible to receive the vaccine, with healthcare workers, the elderly and high risk, and essential workers taking top priority. 

(09/14/20) The Key to Efficient Vaccine Distribution: Start Preparing Early
An opinion piece published in STAT suggesting some strategic moves to prepare for the vaccine distribution needed to meet the needs of the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors suggest guidance and coordination from federal, state, and local public health officials and ensuring priority is given to highest risk individuals, including the elderly, frontline health care providers, and first responders.

(09/17/20) Black Women Turn to Midwives to Avoid COVID and ‘Feel Cared For’
Maternal mortality among Black women in the United States is a major cause for concern. As the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these inequalities, the demand for midwives in performing out-of-hospital births has gained traction as an effective and potentially safer alternative.

 (09/16/20) The Human Touch — Addressing Health Care’s Workforce Problem Amid the Pandemic
As the health workforce continues to struggle to meet the needs of the pandemic, projections suggest that the pandemic will continue into 2021. This perspective piece furthers the conversation about the need for organized aid from volunteers, med students, retired physicians, and more to fill the gaps in the workforce.

(09/15/20) COVID Exodus Fills Vacation Towns With New Medical Pressures
An article from Kaiser Health News discussing a unique issue posed on medical centers in what would otherwise be major tourist destinations: major influxes of affluent individuals seeking to escape large cities, leading to high demand for services atypical to the area.

(09/15/20) Some Urban Hospitals Face Closure Or Cutbacks As The Pandemic Adds To Fiscal Woes 
Safety net hospitals are constantly struggling to survive in non-pandemic times and their issues are only magnified in today’s circumstances. This article from NPR dives into what is causing more of these hospitals to shut down and what results from their closure.

(09/16/20) How to Improve the Surgery Backlog During COVID-19
This article from the University of Michigan Health Lab highlights some new research on managing the backlog in surgery caused by the early prohibition on elective procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to maintain quality while working through the increased demand, the authors suggest continuing use of telemedicine as possible, expanding operating room and surgery capacity temporarily, and being open with patients about the costs, as patients may be under increased financial pressure.

(09/14/20) School Closures Cut a Critical Line to Dental Care for Poor Students
An article from The New York Times covering how school closures related to COVID-19 have negatively impacted access to dental care for poor students across the United States. Dental visits in schools are far more important for lower income students, who are disproportionately impacted by school closures.

(09/15/20) Promoting Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines—the Role of Medicaid
A blog post featured in Health Affairs covering the need to ensure medical clinics create dedicated processes, spaces, and staff to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Ensuring Medicaid provides fair reimbursement could also help ensure widespread adoption by providers and increase effectiveness of vaccination promotion.

(09/16/20) Telehealth Task Force Announces Policy Change Recommendations
An article covering highlights from the Taskforce on Telehealth Policy’s latest report on recommendations for the continued use of telehealth once the pandemic is over. This taskforce has been examining the impact of telehealth and preparing recommendations since June.

(09/14/20) A Timeline of Telehealth Support From the Federal Government During the Pandemic
This timeline from Becker’s Hospital Review shows the timeline of support for telehealth from the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning March 6 and progressing to early September.

(09/11/20) Colleges Are Mailing Brains to Students to Dissect at Home
This article discusses a move from Lafayette College to send neuroscience students brains in the mail to enable hands-on dissection practice in a remote setting. While there is no substitute for in-person guidance, professors leading students with hands-on practice remotely may be a valuable adaptation to virtual education.

(09/17/20) Our Sister’s Suicide Shows the Need for Mental Health Care Among Emergency Physicians
This opinion piece from the family of an emergency physician who died by suicide after treating patients with COVID-19. Emergency physicians experienced some of the highest rates of burnout prior to the pandemic, and there are fears that the culture of emergency medicine discourages asking for help and potentially puts the lives of physicians at risk.

(09/16/20) A Brief History of the Future: Healthcare Amid the Pandemic
Regulatory flexibility, reimbursement expansion, and scope of practice changes are just some of the ways COVID-19 has impacted the health care industry in a legal capacity. This brief from McAfee & Taft highlights much of the notable changes experienced from the initial stages of the pandemic to today.