Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Hospitals Deem Unlikely Any Civil Unrest Attacks
Modern Healthcare: Hospitals Expect Minimal Risks From Potential Election Turmoil
Hospitals are taking few, if any, extra precautions to prepare for any potential election-related civil unrest, deeming the threat unlikely or minimal. Hospitals and physician practices in New York, Illinois, California, Washington, Ohio, Washington D.C. and North Carolina are keeping an eye on their facilities, employees and patients, but haven't significantly bolstered their safety protocols. Most providers don't see the need for any "extraordinary measures" to address potential election-related issues. (Kacik, 11/3)
ABC News: Rhode Island Health System Halts Hospital Visits As COVID Outbreak Worsens
Rhode Island's largest health care system, Lifespan, has suspended visitation in its hospitals as the state's COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and positivity testing rate continue to rise. "Care teams will encourage the use of devices such as smartphones to communicate with patients remotely, and, when available, the use of iPads for virtual visits," Lifespan said on its website. If patients don't have a device to use for virtual visits, according to its website, Lifespan will provide one. (Schumaker, 11/3)
Las Vegas Review-Journal: COVID Vaccination Volunteers Needed In Nevada, Nurses Helping
The state is seeking an unspecified number of medical volunteers to supplement a network of 4,000 vaccine providers who have stated their intent to provide COVID-19 immunizations at hospitals, doctor’s offices, pharmacies and elsewhere across Nevada. More than 600 nurses have volunteered to be part of the medical corps, with more than 100 specifically designating interest in the vaccination effort, said volunteer manager Rachel Marchetti. (Hynes, 11/3)
Billings Gazette: Hi-Line Hospitals See Shortage Of Health Care Workers Amid COVID-19 Surge
A surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations in critical care hospitals across the Hi-Line has corresponded with a statewide shortage in healthcare workers. COVID-19 cases began to creep up in Eastern Montana during the summer, and like most of Montana ballooned in September and October. (Sukut, 11/3)
KHN: ‘Is This Worth My Life?’: Traveling Health Workers Decry COVID Care Conditions
David Joel Perea called from Maine, Vermont, Minnesota and, ultimately, Nevada, always with the same request: “Mom, can you send tamales?” Dominga Perea would ship them overnight. That’s how she knew where her 35-year-old son was. The traveling nurse had “a tremendous work ethic,” routinely putting in 80 hours a week, said his brother, Daniel. But when Perea took a job at Lakeside Health & Wellness Suites — a Reno nursing home that has received dozens of safety citations since 2017 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — Dominga was “scared silly.” (Cahan, 11/4)
In other health industry news —
Stat: Industry Payments To Physicians Have Changed Little Since OpenPayments Launch
Since the 2014 launch of a federal database to disclose industry payments to doctors, the share of physicians who received such funds has decreased, although the total value of those payments remained the same across all specialties, except for primary care, according to a new analysis in JAMA. In 2014, 52.2% of doctors accepted at least one industry payment from a drug or device maker, compared with 45% in 2018. (Silverman, 11/3)
Stat: Omada Reports Encouraging Results On Virtual Diabetes Prevention Program
Digital health company Omada Health presented encouraging research results on Tuesday suggesting its diabetes prevention platform — which virtually connects prediabetic patients with health coaches and clinicians — could help curb the symptoms of the disease as well as an equivalent program delivered in person. (Brodwin, 11/3)
