4 Virtual Visit Best Practices for Serious Illness Conversations
IMPLEMENTATION, TECHNOLOGY | 3 MIN READING TIME
4 Virtual Visit Best Practices for Serious Illness Conversations
Published April 27, 2022
Reading Time: 3 minutesAs COVID-19 infections surged in 2020, the U.S. federal government stepped in with policy waivers to help overcome the biggest obstacles to telehealth, and medical associations released practice guidelines. Within weeks, there was as much as a ten-fold increase in virtual doctor visits. The increased adoption of telehealth revealed the enormous potential of telehealth to[…]
Understanding the Obstacles to Telehealth
Published April 19, 2022
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe 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,[…]
Advance Care Planning: A Tool for Healthcare Empowerment
Published March 30, 2022
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe onslaught of COVID-19 cases early in the pandemic derailed the process of shared decision making in healthcare by forcing in-the-moment medical decisions. The pandemic elucidated how health can deteriorate suddenly and unexpectedly, driving a call to action for individuals, families, and providers to initiate advance care planning (ACP) discussions and ensure end-of-life care wishes[…]
Can the COVID-19 Pandemic Improve Advance Care Planning in Primary Care?
Published August 20, 2021
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe COVID-19 pandemic can cause serious illness in anyone, and therefore primary care clinicians must be equipped to address advance care planning (ACP) with their patients. There are numerous barriers that prevent ACP discussions in primary care settings, including physicians’ comfort with the topic, and insufficient time with patients. In order to address some of[…]
The Vital Role of Community-Centered Care During a Pandemic
Published May 20, 2021
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe 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[…]
6 Ways Healthcare Professionals Can Support Family Caregivers Amid COVID-19
Published November 30, 2020
Reading Time: 3 minutesEvery 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 minutesHealth 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 minutesThe 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 minutesThe 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[…]