Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Alaska Is Stretched Thin By COVID
Anchorage Daily News: Why Officials Are Concerned Health Care Capacity Could Be The Next Pinch Point In Handling Alaska’s Virus Surge
Even before the pandemic, health care was stretched thin in Alaska. It’s a big state, and distance adds a layer of challenge in treating people, the state’s chief medical officer, Dr. Anne Zink, said during a Saturday interview. In winter, some communities can get weathered in. The state also lacks medical specialists, particularly in rural areas, according to Zink. As cases have climbed in recent weeks, Alaska hospitals have not been overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. Throughout the pandemic, Alaska has had one of the lowest COVID-19 mortality rates in the nation. But health officials are still bracing for a rise in hospitalizations and deaths, which are both considered “lagging indicators” that follow the trend in new cases. (Krakow, 11/1)
North Carolina Health News: Coronavirus Impacting Patient Behavior
Coronavirus has invariably changed life as we know it in some big ways. With thousands of cases, deaths and hospitalizations from the novel virus in North Carolina, some of these changes are obvious. Others are now a given in our socially distanced world: medical appointments take place via computer or phone, in-car testing, and even flu vaccinations have also become more commonplace. (Engel-Smith, 11/2)
In other health industry news —
KHN: ‘An Arm And A Leg’: David Vs. Goliath: How To Beat A Big Hospital In Small Claims Court
When Jeffrey Fox and his wife got an outrageous medical bill for a simple test, he said to his wife, “No way am I paying this.” In a classic — and hilarious — David vs. Goliath story, Fox takes on a huge hospital, and wins. He’s a bit of an expert in using small claims court to get satisfaction and shared detailed instructions with the rest of us. (Weissmann, 11/2)
AP: Former Employees Describe Toxic Culture At NAMI Maine
A major mental health nonprofit is hiring a consultant to assess its workplace culture following complaints by former employees of toxic and demeaning treatment by the organization’s CEO. The assessment comes in response to high staff turnover at NAMI Maine, a chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, former employees told the Bangor Daily News. Fifteen former employees told the newspaper that Jenna Mehnert, NAMI Maine’s chief executive officer, demeaned employees in front of their colleagues and escalated interactions she perceived as challenging her authority. At least two employees reported concerns about Mehnert to the organization’s board, the newspaper reported. (10/31)
Maine Public Radio: Retirees Consider Legal Action Over Maine University System’s Health Benefits Changes
Union retirees from the University of Maine System said they’re “exploring various legal avenues” against the University of Maine System as it plans changes to how the health insurance of more than 3,000 retirees is managed. Under union contracts, retirees have been provided with health care within the university’s group health plan, and most pay a portion of the premium. Under the new plan, they will instead be given a stipend to buy a health plan in a private exchange. (Flaherty, 10/30)
CIDRAP: Telemedicine Linked To More Appropriate Antibiotic Prescribing For UTIs
Telemedicine visits for urinary tract infections (UTIs) were associated with more appropriate antibiotic prescribing and decreased use of diagnostic and follow-up resources than virtual visits, according to the results of a primary care network study published yesterday in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. The retrospective cohort study, conducted at Mercy Health Physician Partners, a primary care network in western Michigan with 44 outpatient sites and one virtual visit platform, compared guideline-concordant antibiotic prescribing among adult women diagnosed as having an uncomplicated UTI during an office visit or a virtual visit in 2018. (10/30)
Modern Healthcare: Hospitals, Clinics May Be Ready To Adopt Wearable Tech
Advances in wearable technology are opening the door for a new generation of disease treatments that leverage remote monitoring and therapeutics delivered via devices worn on the body. Wearable devices and sensors, also known as wearables, are a growing area of focus for healthcare organizations and technology companies alike. (Cohen, 10/31)
AP: More US Patients To Have Easy, Free Access To Doctor's Notes
More U.S. patients will soon have free, electronic access to the notes their doctors write about them under a new federal requirement for transparency. Many health systems are opening up records Monday, the original deadline. At the last minute, federal health officials week gave an extension until April because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Johnson, 10/31)
