Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Chosen Family: One Woman’S Fight To Become Her Best Friend’S Next Of Kin, Yessenia M. Moreno

Capstones

Nearly 70,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the state of New York. For the queer community, this time of death and mourning has highlighted how complicated things can get at the end of someone’s life.

This audio documentary, “Chosen Family, ”is the story of one woman’s fight to overcome the legal system and become her best friend’s health care proxy in the final battle of his life .

Link to capstone project: https://medium.com/@yessimoreno/7b3d96691b9f

Toward A More Strategic National Stockpile, Troy Rule

Texas A&M Law Review

The COVID–19 pandemic exposed major deficiencies in the United States’ approach to stockpiling for emergencies. States, cities, and hospitals across the country had meager inventories of critical medical items on hand when the pandemic first reached U.S. soil, and the federal government’s Strategic National Stockpile proved far too small to serve the country’s needs in the first several months of the crisis. As nationwide shortages spread, many state governments were compelled to bid against each other to procure scarce medical supplies—a distribution approach that disadvantaged low-income and minority communities and left countless healthcare professionals and staff ill-equipped to protect themselves …

Managing Covid-19: Legal And Institutional Issues, Yong-Shik Lee

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

How To Address Fear: A Patient’S Perspective Of Seeking Care During Covid-19, Rosie Bartel, Sydney Hoel, Nasia Safdar, Mary Jo Knobloch

Patient Experience Journal

This article is a narrative of one patient’s experience during COVID-19. As a non-COVID patient, she shares her personal fears, the fears of others in her family and the fears of the healthcare professionals. These fears have made navigating the healthcare systems stressful for patients but also caused patients to avoid them completely. In some cases, this avoidance led to delayed diagnosis, missed diagnosis and death. When healthcare providers guide patients through the process of seeking in-person healthcare, the outcomes were more positive for everyone involved but especially for the patients and their care partners. The patient’s voice is needed …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Hospital Admissions For Twelve High-Burden Diseases And Five Common Procedures In The Philippines: A National Health Insurance Database Study 2019-2020, Jhanna Uy, Vanessa T. Siy Van, Valerie Gilbert T. Ulep, Diana Beatriz Bayani, Damian Walker

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

The Philippines has the highest cumulative COVID-19 cases and deaths in the Western-Pacific. To explore the broader health impacts of the pandemic, we assessed the magnitude and duration of changes in hospital admissions for 12 high-burden diseases and the utilization of five common procedures by lockdown stringency, hospital level, and equity in patient access.

Methods

Our analysis used Philippine social health insurance data filed by 1,295 hospitals in 2019 and 2020. We calculated three descriptive statistics of percent change comparing 2020 to the same periods in 2019: (1) year-onyear, (2) same-month-prior-year, and (3) lockdown periods.

Findings

Disease admissions declined …

Responding To The Pandemic: A Multicountry Study On Social-Political Factors And Health Outcomes Of Covid-19, Lan Yao

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Introduction. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a major global threat to human beings, which has caused devastating consequences of population health, political, and economic crises in many countries. This dissertation was composed of three research activities to study the following aims: (1) review the existing literature focusing on political factors and health outcomes of COVID-19; (2) assess the relationship between democracy and case fatality rate of COVID-19 by controlling for the effect of age, comorbidity, health expenditure, healthcare workforce, and population density; and (3) identify the trajectory pattern cases peak days, deaths peak days, and peak periods.

Methods. We accessed …

Hand Hygiene And Hospital-Acquired Infections During Covid-19 Increased Vigilance: One Hospital’S Experience, Alexander Kong, Carlos S. Botero Suarez, Bebe Rahamatalli, Jennifer Shankweiler, Olga Karasik

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Hospital-acquired infections are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, costs and length of stay. Prior studies have linked increased hand hygiene compliance with reduced hospital-acquired infection rate. With the increased vigilance for personal and institutional hygiene practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, we hypothesized increased hand hygiene compliance and, as a result, decrease in hospital-acquired infections in our hospital.

Methods

Hand hygiene compliance data was provided by the hospital’s Quality Department. We queried and empirically analyzed local hospital-acquired infection data obtained from our Quality Department and the National Healthcare Safety Network. We compared local hand hygiene compliance rates before and after …

Impact Of Covid-19 On Screening Rates For Colorectal, Breast, And Cervical Cancer: Practice Feedback From A Quality Improvement Project In Primary Care, Laura A. Schad, Laura A. Brady, Laurene M. Tumiel-Berhalter, Alexandrea Bentham, Karen Vitale, Amanda Norton, Gary Noronha, Carlos Swanger, Christopher P. Morley

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Three New York State practice-based research networks provided quality improvement strategies to improve screening rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal (BCC) cancers in safety-net primary care, over 7 years. In the final year (Y7), the United States experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BCC cancer screening rates was assessed qualitatively.

Methods: A total of 12 primary care practices participated in Y7 of the quality improvement project. BCC cancer screening rates at year beginning and end were assessed. Practice staff were asked about how COVID-19 impacted screening. Average pre/postintervention screening rates and qualitative thematic analysis …

Collegiate Athletic Trainers’ Experiences Planning For Return-To-Sports During Covid-19: A Qualitative Research Study, Eric G. Post, Justin S. Disanti, Christianne M. Eason, Hayley J. Root, Thomas E. Abdenour

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the role of intercollegiate head athletic trainers in the process of planning to resume sport, as well as their experiences across the course of the pandemic to identify key strategies, challenges, and future considerations during the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: This exploratory, descriptive qualitative study was conducted via one-on-one semi structured interviews through the Zoom video conference technology. Twenty-four head athletic trainers across NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions participated in the study. Results: Emerging themes included the development of detailed, institution-specific plans with shared elements such as policies for testing …

September 2021, Swosu Bulldog Wellness Committee

SWOSU BULLDOG WELLNESS

SWOSU is holding COVID19 Vaccination Clinics on Fridays
through the months of September and October
10 am – 2 pm at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center

• This is open to all students and faculty
• Public walk-ins are welcome
**Appointments are not required, but helpful for vaccine management**
• For questions, call the SWOSU COVID phone line 580-774-3025

Telemedicine Visits In An Established Multidisciplinary Central Nervous System Clinic For Radiation Oncology And Neurosurgery (Radians) In A Community Hospital Setting., S C Bowen R, R Gheewala, Wa Paez, B Lucke-Wold, T Mitin, Jn Ciporen

Clinical Research and Leadership Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of telemedicine visits, compared to in-person visits, on patient satisfaction in an established community hospital-based multidisciplinary central nervous system (CNS) clinic.

METHODS: Telemedicine options - virtual visits and teleconferencing - were introduced in July 2020. Both radiation oncologist and neurosurgeon were simultaneously present for the telemedicine visit. Descriptive patient demographics, survey responses, and travel time and distance calculations were analyzed. Satisfaction score was compared to previously published data.

RESULTS: A total of twenty-five telemedicine visits (n=22 video; n=3 phone) were completed since July 2020. Patient demographics are as follows: mean age was 59 years (range=22-81), …

Patient Transport In The Time Of Covid-19: Using Health Care Failure Mode And Effect Analysis With Simulation To Test And Modify A Protocol, John Kwock, Jeffrey Holmes, Shelly Chipman, Erin Siebers, Angela Berry, Sonja Orff, Victoria Boutin, Leah Mallory

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, an interprofessional, interdisciplinary team at Maine Medical Center used Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA) and in situ simulation to rapidly identify and mitigate latent safety threats (LST) in patient transport protocols.

Methods: Following HFMEA steps, stakeholders representing a variety of disciplines assembled to address transport of patients with COVID-19. A process map was created to describe the process. With hazard analysis using table-top simulation followed by in situ simulation, we identified, categorized, and scored LSTs. Mitigation strategies were identified during structured debriefing.

Results: Fourteen LSTs were identified in …

August 2021, Swosu Bulldog Wellness Committee

SWOSU BULLDOG WELLNESS

SWOSU COVID-19 Vaccination Opportunities

• The Delta variant is nearly twice as contagious as previous variants.

• Some data suggest the Delta variant might cause more severe illness than previous strains in unvaccinated persons.
• Unvaccinated people remain the greatest concern.

• The greatest risk of transmission is among unvaccinated people who are much more likely to contract, and therefore transmit the virus.

Impacts Of Covid-19 On Rural Medical Business Models, Kendra L. Stefan

Anthós

This paper is concerned with the question of how COVID-19 impacts the medical delivery system in a rural community. It presents findings from interviews of medical professionals participating in an isolated rural community and public health officials that coordinate preparedness planning. This paper reviews barriers of access to healthcare in an already constricted system. Then looks at the implications of COVID-19 as an additional strain. Interviews of professionals will survey preparedness, regulatory impacts, repercussions to the business model, impact on service capacity, and opportunities for improvement. Interested parties would include patient advocates, patients, healthcare workers, politicians, and employers.

Clinical Presentation Of Covid-19 Disease In Two Rural New York Counties, Richard Terry, Sadaf Mughal, Vidhya Reddy, Tina Burt

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Purpose

To analyze the phenotypic expression of Coronavirus infection (COVID-19) among patients residing in the Chemung and Schuyler counties of New York State.

Method

A retrospective review of medical records was performed between March 16, 2020 to April 16, 2020. Sixty- five patients presenting with symptoms of COVID-19 infection were included in this IRB-exempt study. Presence of infection was confirmed using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) from nasopharyngeal swab samples, as per Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Results

Patients varied in age from 13 to 82 years, with nearly equal proportion of females (51%) vs …

Covid-19 Resources For Speakers Of Other Languages (Covid Resol), Ali Harb, Irvin Santiago-Bautista, Sulleymarie Sanchez

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Objectives

• identify barriers to COVID 19 testing and vaccination in NJ Hispanics with limited English proficiency (LEP)
• develop resources targeted towards vaccination for Hispanic NJ residents and communities in Atlantic, Camden, and Cumberland counties
• share evidence based information regarding the COVID 19 pandemic and disease spread prevention

Conclusions

• Barriers to equitable COVID 19 care for NJ Hispanics with LEP may include but is not limited to resource availability in Spanish, misinformation about COVID 19, a lack of understanding about where and how to get tested and/or vaccinated, and transportation accessibility
• Increased efforts for providing equitable access to vaccination and testing …

Physician Perceptions Of Stress And Telemedicine, Jenna Guma, Katelyn Klimowich, Juming Pan, Danielle Cooley D.O., Philip Collins

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Telemedicine is an emerging field in which physicians are able to interact electronically with patients to improve health. Telemedicine can be performed through virtual platforms such as email, telephone and video, and can provide or augment care to a multitude of patients.

During the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the use of telemedicine has grown exponentially in an effort to continue to see patients and manage their care. The unprecedented era of social distancing and overloaded hospital systems has led many primary care providers and specialists alike to rapidly develop these capabilities in their practices.

Benefits of telemedicine include: increasing access …

Abstracts From The 2021 Health Care Systems Research Network Annual Conference

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The Health Care Systems Research Network (HCSRN) is comprised of 19 not-for-profit health systems with embedded research departments. The network’s annual conference serves as a forum for member institutions to highlight research findings, explore new collaborations, and share insights and opportunities. Abstracts accepted for oral and poster presentation at the 2021 HCSRN Conference are published in this supplement of Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, the official scientific journal of the annual conference.

Administrator Training At The Laurels Of Mount Vernon Skilled Nursing Facility, Lance Stambaugh

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

The job duties of a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator exist in a great multitude, and require those aspiring to obtain the position to complete training in all areas of focus. The focus of this practicum is to gain exposure to the job duties of a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, while also gaining experience in a multitude of departments that function within a skilled nursing facility. This practicum was completed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore emphasis was placed on infection control and procedures that allow for a safe environment for those residing in this nursing facility. This increased emphasis is …

Exploring The Influence Of Self-Efficacy And Autonomy On Outdoor Recreation Behaviors During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Katheryn E. Carpenter

MSU Graduate Theses

Outdoor Recreation (OR) provides the benefits of physical activity and traditional leisure along with the addition of the benefits associated with an outdoor environment. Self Determination Theory (SDT) and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) state that self-efficacy (SE) and autonomy can increase depending on the physical and social environment. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between self-efficacy and autonomy on OR behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hypothesized there would be a correlation between individuals who participate in OR activities and self-efficacy as well as autonomy. The research also explored barriers and facilitators to OR via …

Surveying Pediatric Caregivers’ Readiness For Dyad Isolation In The Hospital During Covid-19, Shanqing Yin, Mei Zi Quek, Celestine Mun Ting Yeo, Sylvia Mun, Ronghui Li, Derrick Chan

Patient Experience Journal

The onset of any emerging outbreak is stressful for everyone. Singapore was one of many countries affected early by COVID-19. In response, many precautionary measures were quickly initiated, including the isolation of suspected COVID-19 pediatric cases, and their caregivers were isolated together with their hospitalized children as a result. Caregivers play an important role in facilitating their child’s health in the hospital. Rooming in with their children during hospitalization promotes the benefits of parental presence and reduces separation effects. However, sudden admission with strict movement restrictions poses stress to these caregivers too. This study ran a 3-part paper-based survey to …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of A Unique Patient Experience Response Program That Provided Virtual, Visual And Emotional Connectivity To Patients And Families During The Covid-19 Crisis, Diane Burshtein, Donna Powers

Patient Experience Journal

In April 2020, the New York State Department of Health issued guidelines regarding suspension of hospital visitation due to coronavirus disease 2019 to protect staff and patients and prevent spread of the virus. Recognizing that patients would need extraordinary emotional support as they faced this frightening journey, two hospitals from a health system in the national epicenter provided avenues to bridge gaps in connectedness and communication. Our program provided virtual, visual and emotional connectivity by utilizing repurposed staff to serve as patient experience ambassadors. This program reduced the burden on clinical staff while preventing furlough. A descriptive correlational study …

The Influence Of Covid-19 Visitation Restrictions On Patient Experience And Safety Outcomes: A Critical Role For Subjective Advocates, Geoffrey A. Silvera, Jason A. Wolf Phd, Anthony Stanowski, Quint Studer

Patient Experience Journal

With the emergence of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States in early 2020, hospitals across the country made the difficult decision to alter visitation policies, by either limiting visitations or restricting visitations altogether by closing access to family, friends and care partners in an effort to reduce further spread of the virus. While there is foundational research on the impact of family and care partner presence on the experience of patients and patient safety outcomes, the actions driven by the pandemic allowed for a real-time comparison of the impact of family or care partner presence or lack thereof. …

No Visitors Allowed: How Health Systems Can Better Engage Patients’ Families During A Pandemic, Jennifer Schlimgen, Amy Frye

Patient Experience Journal

The ravages of COVID -19 and the no visitor policies that accompany it have forged a tectonic shift in the patient and family experience. This hit home for me with a recent family member health event and hospitalization, leading me to think “we HAVE to do better!” Why should hospitals and health systems care about family involvement during COVID-19?

Experience Framework

This article is associated with the Patient, Family & Community Engagement lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework (https://www.theberylinstitute.org/ExperienceFramework).

• Access other PXJ articles related to this lens.
• Access other resources related to this lens.

Neurosurgical Praxis Guidelines During The Covid-19 Outbreak. Consensus-Based On Currently Available Literature., José Antonio Soriano Sánchez, Bárbara Nettel Rueda, José Alberto Israel Romero Rangel, Armando Alpizar Aguirre, Miguel Ángel Andrade-Ramos, Ulises García Dr., Diego Mendez Rosito, Jorge A. Santos, Sara Patricia Pérez Reyes, Julian Eduardo Soto Abraham, Jose E. Valerio Pascua, Marco Antonio Barajas Romero, Eduardo Díaz Juárez, Alma Griselda Ramírez Reyes, Maria Elena Gonzalez, Claudia Katiutska González Valdez, Félix Domínguez Cortinas, Noé Santiago Ramírez, Tenoch Herrada Pineda, Manuel Eduardo Soto García, Edgar Nathal Vera, Gustavo Melo Guzmán

Archives of Neurosurgery

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization recommended several strategies to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, including optimization of care for all patients, especially the seriously ill. Given the strain, the pandemic has posed on healthcare systems around the world, many neurosurgical associations have provided triage recommendations for patients to save resources for the pandemic. We aimed to provide practical recommendations based on specific illnesses requiring surgical procedures commonly performed by neurosurgeons on a life-threatening basis of patient illness. We consider this guideline will help neurosurgeons for the appropriate triage of patients on a daily-situation basis during this pandemic.

METHODS: The Mexican Society …

Preprocedure Covid-19 Testing In Early Phase Of Pandemic, Renuka Jain, Bradley Kruger, Robert Citronberg, Stacie Kroboth, Ana Cristina Perez Moreno, Bijoy K. Khandheria

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a nationwide shutdown of elective medical procedures. Upon resumption of services, preprocedure nasopharyngeal swab testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was introduced for all patients requiring surgical or other aerosol-generating procedures. We investigated preprocedure COVID-19 testing in one of the largest U.S. health systems. Patients included in this retrospective, observational study were asymptomatic and scheduled for a procedure or surgery. All patients underwent a nasopharyngeal swab test for SARS-CoV-2 performed 24–72 hours prior to a planned procedure. Clinical demographics, type of procedure, test results, and subsequent procedure status were evaluated. Of 38,608 …

Promising Flex Program Initiatives To Support Critical Access Hospitals During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Celia Jewell Rn, Mph, Sara Kahn-Troster Mph, John Gale Ms

Rural Hospitals (Flex Program)

This brief reports on promising State Flex Program (SFP) strategies to support Critical Access Hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. SFPs adapted existing initiatives and implemented new activities to address the emerging needs of CAHs during the pandemic. With approval from the Federal Office of Rural Health, the SFPs redirected funds and activities to address the evolving COVID-19 needs of CAHs while maintaining fidelity to Flex Program goals. Based on qualitative interviews with seven SFPs, the authors, members of the Flex Monitoring Team, discuss initiatives such as resiliency training for frontline staff; packaging and dissemination of COVID-19 information; public health messaging; …

Successful Distancing: Telemedicine In Gastroenterology And Hepatology During The Covid-19 Pandemic., Abhilash Perisetti M.B.B.S, M.D., Hemant Goyal

Other Specialties

Telemedicine involves delivering healthcare and preventative care services to patients without the need for in-person encounters. Traditionally, telemedicine has been used for acute events (e.g., stroke, used to relay essential information to the emergency department) and chronic disease management (e.g., diabetes and chronic kidney disease management). Though the utilization of telemedicine in gastroenterology and hepatology has been modest at best, especially for inflammatory bowel diseases and chronic liver disease management, since the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, utilization of telemedicine in gastroenterology increased by 4000% in the first two weeks, equivalent to the last six years of growth …

The Utilization And Effectiveness Of Telemedicine In The Wake Of Covid-19, Maxwell Sharawy

Senior Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic devastated the world, in every industry. Almost none were hit as hard as the healthcare system. Through the use of telemedicine, healthcare providers were able to care for their patients without rise of infection. Through a review of published literature and interviews conducted with three practicing physicians of various specialties, a diagnosis was developed to determine if the care provided through telemedicine was as effective as in-person care. It was hypothesized that when used properly, telemedicine can be used as an effective replacement for in-person care across a wide range of specialties. After review of the literature …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Disability Services And Systems: Perspectives From The Field, Ronda Jenson, John Tschida

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

No abstract provided.