Weekly Newsletter 40
01/05-01/11 Updates
Surge Capacity Issues
Non-COVID-19 emergency capacity is being heavily impacted by COVID-19 patients, with many hospitals unable to find room for patients.
A new research brief highlights the response capacity of health care providers in North Carolina.
Surge Capacity Issues
(01/11/21) One Ambulance Ride Leads to Another When Packed Hospitals Cannot Handle Non-COVID Patients
Patients in need of emergency care not related to COVID-19 are increasingly unable to find care in emergency departments in many parts of the United States, as COVID-19 has put many departments at maximum capacity. Some facilities are reporting as much as an 800% increase in hospitalizations, putting many in their community at risk in case of any emergency.
(01/06/21) Children’s Hospitals Grapple With Wave of Mental Illness
This article from Kaiser Health News highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased utilization of emergency departments by children and adolescents with mental health-related issues. As maintaining surge capacity in hospitals has led to reductions in other areas, psychiatric beds have been unavailable and many of the previous issues in mental health care are being exacerbated.
(01/05/21) ‘Things Are Worse Than People Think’: LA County Official on New Directives for EMS
A new directive from Los Angeles county instructs emergency medical technicians to conserve oxygen in the field and to avoid bringing patients with little chance to survive to hospitals.Los Angeles County’s Emergency Medical Services Agency is struggling to meet the demands of the pandemic, as hospitals are too full to take in patients from ambulances.
Primary Care & COVID-19:
(01/04/21) Round 24 Survey
(11/23/20) Round 23 Survey
A frequent primary care survey about COVID-19 from the Primary Care Collaborative and the Larry A. Green Center. The goal of this project is to assess primary care’s ability to evaluate and manage patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and to consider policy implications going forward.
(01/04/21) Using State Licensure Data to Assess North Carolina’s Health Workforce COVID-19 Response Capacity
A new research brief from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research highlights the response capacity of health care providers North Carolina utilizing state licensure data. This data is invaluable to health care decision makers in the rapid response environment of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Telehealth
The Governors of New York and Massachusetts have each announced proposals to maintain and add upon COVID-19-related expansions to Telehealth in their states.
Increases in telehealth usage are corresponding with rises in COVID-19 cases, and the majority of consumers plan to continue telehealth usage post-pandemic.
Telehealth
(01/10/21) Governor Cuomo Announces Proposal to Expand Access to Telehealth for All as Part of 2021 State of the State
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced a proposal to expand access to telehealth for all New Yorkers by making permanent and further expanding many of the pandemic-related expansions. Telehealth use has increased dramatically following changes to regulation to ensure reimbursement and efforts to keep providers and patients safe from COVID-19 infection.
(01/07/21) Telehealth Usage Rises With Increase of COVID-19 Cases
This article from HealthLeaders discusses new analysis from FAIR Health of insurance claims, noticing an increase in insurance claims for telehealth services matching an increase in cases of COVID-19. Telehealth claims rose substantially in 2020 over 2019, with sustained use from March through October, the most recent month analyzed.
(01/06/21) Poll: Most Americans Plan to Use Telehealth After the Pandemic
This article from MedCity News covers a recent Harris Poll survey finding nearly 65% of Americans reported planning to continue using telehealth even after the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the survey also showed more than half of those aged 35-49 would prefer to have both telehealth and in-person visits, nearly two-thirds of those over age 65 would prefer in-person visits.
Long-term Care
An upcoming webinar will discuss early lessons from the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the long-term care industry.
COVID-19 vaccines are not arriving quickly enough to combat rising cases and deaths of staff and patients in long-term care facilities.
Long-term Care
(01/06/21) January 14 Web Event: A Shot in the Arm for Long-term Care Facilities? Early Lessons From the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout to High Priority Populations
The Kaiser Family Foundation has announced an upcoming interactive web event featuring expert advice and key takeaways of the COVID-19 vaccine administration in the long-term care industry. The webinar will take place at 12pm EST and will include perspectives from patients, nursing home officials, and pharmacy providers performing vaccinations, among others.
(01/05/21) COVID-19 Vaccine May Not Get to Long-term Care Facilities Quickly Enough
This article from NPR covers the current deadly reality of the COVID-19 pandemic in long-term care facilities. Although vaccination has begun in long-term care facilities across the United States, deaths from COVID-19 among staff and residents are on the rise.
Changes to Organizational Policies and Guidelines
The COVID-19 pandemic is renewing interest in health care unions among struggling workers.
Furloughs and layoffs of health care workers appear to have impacted women more than men, with women losing more jobs than men, and men being rehired more quickly.
A new study analyzes hospitals in metro, suburban, and rural settings for the second half of 2020 to track nursing staffing demand and intensive care unit bed capacity.
A chief clinical officer credits rigorous planning and utilization of available technology as the key to widespread vaccination within health care organizations.
Changes to Organizational Policies and Guidelines
(01/11/21) For Health Care Workers, the Pandemic is Fueling Renewed Interest in Unions
This article from NPR details how pressures from the pandemic have pushed many health care workers to form and join unions. Staffing shortages, lack of personal protective equipment, and failures of employers and government to protect workers have increasingly contributed to pro-union sentiment among workers.
(01/06/21) Health Sector Job Recovery Remains Slower Among Women
This research brief from the health care consulting firm Alarum analyzed data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics to track job changes in the health care sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the major findings is that women lost more jobs in the health care sector than men, and men are being rehired at a faster pace than women.
(01/05/21) COVID-19 Impact on Nurse Staffing and ICU Beds
A new study published in the Epic Health Research Network has analyzed more than 800 hospitals in metro, suburban, and rural settings from July 2020 to December 2020 tracking nursing staffing demand and intensive care unit bed capacity.
(01/04/21) ‘Planning Is the Antidote to Panic’: Providence Hospital System Defies America’s Slow Vaccine Rollout Trend
In this article from CNBC, the chief clinical officer for Providence Hospital System details how the organization has managed to vaccinate more than 60,000 employees in 51 hospitals spread across 7 states. The system made rigorous plans and utilized technology to help evaluate risk and prioritize which workers would be vaccinated when.
Health Workforce Safety
Health care workers refusing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 continues to be a problem throughout the US.
More than 3,100 health care workers have died of COVID-19 during the pandemic in the most recent analysis from the Lost on the Frontline database.
Health care workers not affiliated with a hospital, as well as those employed by health care staffing agencies, are reporting difficulty being vaccinated for COVID-19.
Health Workforce Safety
(01/10/21) Despite Having Intimate Knowledge of the Pain and Death Caused by the Coronavirus, a Surprising Number of US Healthcare Workers Are Refusing to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine
An article from Business Insider discussing the issue of health care workers in the United States who are declining to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Recent reporting has found as many as 80% of staff in some facilities are rejecting the vaccine, causing concern about the increased risk of the virus to health care providers and their patients.
(01/06/21) Lost on the Frontline: Explore the Database
The joint investigation from Kaiser Health News and The Guardian has identified at least 3,142 health care workers who have reportedly died of COVID-19 contracted while working. Their interactive database continues to be updated and verified for accuracy.
(01/05/21) Some Health Care Workers Say They Are ‘Forgotten’ in COVID-19 Vaccination Plans
Health care workers who work for staffing agencies are reporting inability to be vaccinated for COVID-19, even as they work across multiple facilities. Private medical practices are also reporting they are unable to secure vaccines for their providers due to lack of hospital affiliation.
(01/04/21) ‘Still Waiting for My Turn’: Primary Care Doctors Are Being Left Behind in The Vaccine Rollout
Primary care providers who are not affiliated with hospital systems are struggling to acquire vaccines, even as they treat patients infected with COVID-19. A recent survey found that more than three-quarters of primary care clinicians are unsure where or when they will be able to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
State Workforce Strategies
Massachusetts becomes the latest state to enable hospitals to ignore state-mandated nursing-to-patient ratios in certain circumstances due to the pandemic.
New regulation from the New York State Department of Health requires health care providers in New York State to utilize their vaccine allocation within 7 days or risk fines and loss of future vaccine allocations.
State Workforce Strategies
(01/10/21) Governor Cuomo Announces Proposal to Expand Access to Telehealth for All as Part of 2021 State of the State
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced a proposal to expand access to telehealth for all New Yorkers by making permanent and further expanding many of the pandemic-related expansions. Telehealth use has increased dramatically following changes to regulation to ensure reimbursement and efforts to keep providers and patients safe from COVID-19 infection.
(01/08/21) Massachusetts Grants Hospitals Flexibility with Nurse Staffing Ratios
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has announced hospitals with less than 20% capacity can apply for exemption to state mandated nurse-to-patient ratios in an effort to meet the demand imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
(01/04/21) Cuomo Threatens Fines for Providers That Don’t Use Vaccines Quickly
New regulation from the New York State Department of Health was announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo regarding the need of health care providers within the state to utilize all their vaccine allocations within 7 days or risk fines and loss of future vaccine allocations. During a press conference, it was announced that less than half of all vaccines distributed thus far have been used.
(01/04/21) Massachusetts Governor Signs Law Safeguarding Telehealth Coverage
Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts has signed a law to make permanent many of the telehealth-related regulations put in place to enable better access to virtual treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This new bill will require permanent rate parity on certain health services and an expanded scope of practice for some providers, among other provisions.
