Articles: pandemics.
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Implementation of Social Isolation Screening and an Integrated Community Resource Referral Platform.
Screening and referral programs for social isolation and loneliness in older patients increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in primary care settings to mitigate associated adverse health outcomes. This study explores community health centers' experiences implementing a social isolation and loneliness screening program involving a community resource referral platform integrated into the electronic health record to support referrals. ⋯ Screening older patients for social isolation could increase care team awareness of social risk; assistance related referral options should be considered carefully.
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Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care adopted telehealth rapidly to preserve access. Although policy flexibilities persist, but with in-person access restored, insight regarding long-term policy reform is needed for equitable access, especially for underserved, low income, and rural populations. ⋯ Findings demonstrate the importance of both phone and video visits in preserving primary care access early in the pandemic. Telehealth use declined in late COVID, but still accounted for ∼20% of primary care visits in the commercially insured setting and less than 10% of visits in the community care clinics. Differences in telehealth use were largely by setting, reflecting income/insurance status, indicating disparities needing to be addressed.
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On July 20, 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), issued a Special Fraud Alert warning healthcare providers of increased fraudulent activity surrounding telemedicine companies. The Alert marks a further escalation of a multi-year effort by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the HHS-OIG to crack down on multi-billion dollar fraud cases involving telehealth companies. It is the objective of this Commentary to place the HHS-OIG Special Fraud Alert in the context of enforcement efforts by the DOJ and HHS to stem the recent growth in telehealth fraud resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Taken together, it is apparent this is a critical moment in the evolution of telehealth and it is crucial to strike a proper balance between effective regulation and enforcement on the one hand, and access to care on the other.
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The pandemic of COVID-19 is a traumatic event with distressing implications for mental health and several aspects of life. This study aimed to assess Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among patients who experienced mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and their household contacts. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between May 2020 and November 2020, in Ismailia and Suez governorates. ⋯ The odds ratio of PTSD and HRQoL was 0.27 (95% CI: 0.2-0.36) and 0.3 (95% CI: 0.23-0.39) in participants who had more than a case of COVID-19 within their families. All the studied COVID-19 participants showed PTSD and impaired HRQoL, compared to 12% and 7% of their contacts, respectively. Past COVID-19 was associated with impairment of all domains of HRQoL and the most affected were the physical, psychological and impairment domains.
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Observational Study
Mobile COVID-19 testing program in Phoenix: A retrospective observational cohort study of results, trends, and positivity rates.
Over 3 years since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the COVID-19 pandemic remains a global health challenge. At the same time, review of the response to the current pandemic is required for planning for future pandemics and global health crises. Approximately 2.5 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Arizona, a state with a 7.2 million population. ⋯ Case counts and positivity rates increased during the fall and winter months, peaking in January (January 2021: 13.96% and January 2022: 24.84%). These cyclical trends cyclical can help with planning and mitigation. Continued public health awareness, including vaccinations and testing, is required in controlling COVID-19 transmission.