Understanding the Obstacles to Telehealth
Published April 19, 2022
Reading Time: 3 minutes The COVID-19 pandemic forced clinicians to alter how they deliver healthcare, ushering in a new era of telehealth. The increased adoption of remote medical care revealed its enormous potential to transform healthcare delivery. Policy and regulatory flexibilities that were granted under the public health emergency declaration eased some of the biggest barriers to telehealth; however,[…]
The Vital Role of Community-Centered Care During a Pandemic
Published May 20, 2021
Reading Time: 3 minutes The COVID-19 pandemic tested the limits of healthcare systems worldwide. In May 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a guide to help countries strengthen the resilience of community-based health services throughout the pandemic and beyond. The organization acknowledged that community-based healthcare is “an essential part of primary care at all times; in the context[…]
Understanding and Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy
Published March 1, 2021
Reading Time: 3 minutes The biggest hope to ending the COVID-19 pandemic is through mass-scale vaccinations to achieve herd immunity. This kind of public health initiative requires a majority of the public to be willing to receive a vaccine. However, a significant portion of Americans are “vaccine hesitant.” Vaccine hesitancy is defined as “the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate[…]
6 Ways Healthcare Professionals Can Support Family Caregivers Amid COVID-19
Published November 30, 2020
Reading Time: 3 minutes Every day, some 53 million U.S. adults spend countless hours caring for a family member who requires medical care. These family caregivers make sure their loved ones get their medications, make it to appointments, manage activities of daily living, and stay safe at home. They do this without compensation or formal training, and often while[…]
Health Literacy: A Valuable Tool in the Fight Against COVID-19
Published August 3, 2020
Reading Time: 3 minutes Health literacy – the capacity to access, process and understand basic health information – is fundamental to making good health decisions. Numerous studies over the last several decades have shown that only an estimated 12% of U.S. adults have what is considered proficient health literacy skills. The widespread lack of health literacy is a significant[…]
Help Frontline Healthcare Workers Manage their Mental Well-Being During a Pandemic
Published June 5, 2020
Reading Time: 4 minutes The COVID-19 pandemic is an unsettling and anxiety-inducing time for everyone. Frontline healthcare workers are especially vulnerable to negative mental health effects as they continue to care for sick patients while dealing with worries about contracting the virus themselves and bringing it home to their families. Many are struggling with fears related to a lack[…]
Why Palliative Care Teams are Vital During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Published May 27, 2020
Reading Time: 3 minutes The COVID-19 crisis has shed new light on the critical role of palliative care teams. As hospital-based doctors and nurses deal with new and unanticipated ways of delivering medical care, palliative care clinicians are able to share their unique expertise to support patients, caregivers and providers. In a recent editorial, The Lancet pointed out that[…]
Helping Families Manage an Altered End-of-Life Experience During COVID-19
Published April 21, 2020
Reading Time: 4 minutes As the coronavirus sweeps through the country, healthcare facilities are changing visitation policies in an attempt to control the spread of the infection. Visitors are now prohibited in most hospitals in the U.S. On March 13, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented national restrictions that prevent family members from visiting loved ones[…]
COVID-19 Resources and Information Guide
Published April 4, 2020
Reading Time: 5 minutes As healthcare professionals and communities respond to the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, it is crucial to have access to reliable and timely information. We have compiled a list of trusted COVID-19 resources that provide clinical guidance, helpful tools and news updates, as well as information geared to patients and communities. COVID-19 Resources for[…]
Advance Care Planning During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Call to Action
Published March 26, 2020
Reading Time: 3 minutes The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing considerable uncertainty and fear to people across the globe. As U.S. health systems try to prepare for potentially millions of hospitalizations associated with the novel coronavirus, healthcare professionals are already managing an influx of affected patients. This unpredictable health crisis should be a call to action to initiate advance care[…]