Dr. Laurel Braitman speaks from the TED stage. Ryan Lash/TED hide caption

Dr. Laurel Braitman speaks from the TED stage.

About The Episode

Healthcare jobs are already stressful. Add a pandemic... and ongoing police brutality? And it's a lot. We hear from physicians of color and TED Fellow Laurel Braitman about taking care of ourselves.

About Laurel Braitman

Senior TED fellow Laurel Braitman is a writer, grief counselor, and anthropologist. She is a professor and the director of writing and storytelling at the Stanford School of Medicine, where she teaches free writing workshops to medical students and physicians.

Braitman's writing about science, nature, beauty, and loss has appeared in the New York Times, Guardian, National Geographic and more. Her forthcoming book, House of the Heart, is about "growing up, mortality and how we might live with the perspective of a terminal disease without the dire prognosis."

She has a PhD from MIT in History, Anthropology, Science, Technology and Society, and a BA from Cornell University.

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Vulnerability is a key part of being human. Social worker and researcher Bren Brown explores the role of vulnerabilityand connectionin processing difficult moments and managing our mental health.

Hailey Hardcastle: Why Students Should Have Mental Health Days

Teen activist Hailey Hardcastle fought for Oregon students to have mental health days in schools, just like sick days. She talks about how we all need to look after our mental health.

Andrew Solomon: Depression, The Secret We Share

Depression, grief, and sadness are each emotions that can take us by surprise. As a writer and psychology professor, Andrew Solomon knows how important it is to understand their differences.

Resources

If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Referral Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. And the National Suicide Prevention Hotline number is 1-800-273-8255.

This month the FCC approved 988 to be the national three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, similar to 911 for emergency services. As of this date of publish, the 988 is not currently active nationally but will be soon. In the meantime, please use 1-800-273-8255.

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Laurel Braitman: From Healthcare Workers To The Rest Of Us How Can We Better Cope? - NPR

Bill Frist, M.D. and Andre L. Churchwell, M.D., Guest Columnists Published 10:00 a.m. CT July 31, 2020

While to some, Confederate monuments are memorials to the dead, to many others they are glorifications of slavery, racism and oppression. Nashville Tennessean

No one should feel discriminated against when seeking care, and quality healthcare should be available to everyone.

As city and community leaders across the country wrestle with their own roles and responsibilities in addressing racial inequality, we believe specific attention to health equity and health disparities will lead to dismantling structural racism and a roadmap for a healthier future for all.

An example of how we are beginning that focus and journey can be found inNashville, Tennessee. But it could just as well be any town or city in the nation.

Weve known for years that minorities face health disparities nationally, and in our own experiences as physicians, weve seen first-hand how health inequities unfairly persist in communities of color when it comes to access and quality.

In Nashville, the simple zip code of your residence could lead to a six-year decrement to life expectancy, twice the rate of unemployment and five times difference in poverty.

The challenges of unconscious bias and racism that enable health inequities must be addressed to improve health outcomes.

Thanks to the recent Nashville Community Health and Well-Being Survey, we have a clearer picture of the challenges facing vulnerable populations, especially African Americans here in Davidson County, for the first time in 20 years.

Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist(Photo: Submitted)

The personal, pervasive stories of discrimination that have captured our nations attention are keenly present in our survey data.African American respondents were nearly five times more likely (14.6%) to report feeling discrimination when seeking healthcare in Metro Nashville compared to white respondents (3.1%). And nearly one in three (31.5%) African Americans felt discriminated against at work in the past year, compared to only 6% of white respondents.

Moreover, one third of African American respondents reported feeling emotionally upsetangry, sad, or frustratedin response to treatment based on race. Only 7% of white survey-takers reported similar emotions. For African Americans, such treatment was more likely to have physical manifestations: nearly 18% experienced headache or stomach ache, a pounding heart or muscle tension. Those symptoms were only felt by 3% of white respondents.

The chronic stress of being an African American has a clear, compounding effect on the chronic medical conditions they face and are part of the answer for the life-expectancy discrepancies seen between people of different races.

For example, white American males live on average 77 years while African Americans live on average 72 years. White females live on average 81 years compared to 78 years for African American women.

Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

Tennessean Opinion Editor David Plazas spoke to Dr. Bill Frist, former U.S. Senate majority leader Nashville Tennessean

Our region is a national leader in health care services, with Middle Tennessee often referred to as the Silicon Valley of Health Services. We now need to do the hard work of figuring out how to lead the nation in health equity. And it starts by gathering data and understanding where inequities exist.

The Nashville Community Health and Well-being Survey was developed and implemented by NashvilleHealth and the Metro Public Health Department. It explored specific health conditions, access to care, and health behaviors across Davidson County residents between October 2018 and April 2019.

More than 1,800 responses were gathered online and by mail. The assessment was extensive, and while findings were not limited to comparisons between Black and white populations, we highlight thedata to emphasize the work we have ahead of us to ensure health equity for African American Nashvillians.

The survey found chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, respiratory conditions, and obesity were all much more common in African American than white residents. Of survey takers who self-identified as African American, 22.1% have diabetes. Only 8.3% of survey takers who self-identified as white, non-Hispanic have the condition.

Whereas 47.8% of the African American respondents are obese, 24% of white respondents are obese. 47.6% of African Americans reported hypertension; only 27% of white respondents reported hypertension. And 24.7% of African American registered respiratory conditions; 17.4% of white respondents reported the same.

Dr. Andre L. Churchwell, (Photo: Mary Donaldson)

No physician or nurse wakes up each day with the intention to treat patients differently the overwhelming majority of us called to healthcare genuinely want to help all people.

But unintentional, unconscious implicit bias in delivering clinical care has been demonstrated in numerous studies, with minorities more likely to receive lower quality care, regardless of income or insurance.

And when it comes to social supports, our Nashville communities of color disproportionately feel unsupported. In responding to the survey, 15% of African Americans reported that they rarely or never get needed social support, and a startling 23.1% of Hispanic respondents shared the same sentiment. Only 7.8% of white respondents said the same.

As physicians we know that to achieve true health equity we must also address systemic racism in our criminal justice system and create paths to improve public education, transportation, and many non-medical society challenges.

The change needs to start with us.In Nashville, but indeed in every community in America.

We want to add our voices to the collective call-to-action to city leaders across America and those of us in medicine and healthcare, to fully engage, and honestly and openly address the issues that continually lead to disparate health outcomes for so many.

Accountability in these matters, like free speech, is to be shared amongst allof us.

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Senator Bill Frist, M.D. is a heart transplant surgeon, founder of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center, and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader.

Andre L. Churchwell, M.D. is the Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Vanderbilt University. He also serves as a Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and the Chief Diversity Officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2020/07/31/examination-racial-inequality-nashvilles-healthcare/5540680002/

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Discrimination and Disparities in Health: Examination of racial inequality in Nashville | Opinion - Tennessean

In a speech on the future of healthcare and lessons for the NHS from the coronavirus pandemic, health secretary, Matt Hancock, said all GP appointments should be done remotely by default unless a patient needs to be seen in person.

Hancock admitted that while some mistakes were made, so many things went right in the response to the pandemic, and remote consultations should continue.

However, the Royal College of GPs have expressed concern, with some arguing remote consultations increased stress levels for patients and doctors and that removing face-to-face appointments could take the human touch out of general practice.

WHY IT MATTERS

Seventy-one per cent of routine GP consultations in the four weeks leading up to 12 April were delivered remotely. This represents a significant increase from just 25% for the same period a year ago.

AGPonlinepoll revealed thatmost GPs think more than half of consultations should continue to be delivered remotely after the pandemicsubsides.

Despite this, the research also showed that there are still concerns around the harm to relationships with patients and the risk of missing serious conditions, with many patients needing physical examinations and vaccines.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

According to the Digital health: the changing landscape of how we access GP services report, online GPs could save employers 1.5 billion in lost working time.

In this report, researchers estimated that if virtual GP appointments had been offered as a first point of call across all public GP practices in 2019, face-to-face consultations could have been reduced by 50 million.

Thestate of telehealth in Europe before COVID-19was also analysed by HIMSS,parent company of Healthcare IT News,and the findings were presented in an eBook.

Meanwhile, Medicspot has announced a partnership with British supermarket chain, Asda to offer in-store GP video-consultations in the latest expansion of digital primary care services.

ON THE RECORD

Hancock said: Before coronavirus there was a view advanced by some people which held that anyone over the age of 25 simply could not cope with anything other than a face-to face-appointment.

This process has shown that patients and clinicians alike, not just the young who want to use technology. [People] don't want to sit around in a waiting room, if that service can come to them at home.

So from now on, all consultations should be teleconsultations, unless there's a compelling clinical reason not to.

He added: Of course, if there's an emergency the NHS will be ready and waiting to see you in person. But if they are able to patients should get in contact first by the web, or by calling in advance.

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UK health secretary says GP consultations should be remote by default - Healthcare IT News

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone, but the disease has been especially harmful to people of color and other vulnerable populations such as older black and Latino adults, especially those who live in dense urban areas. People of color are more likely to be exposed to the coronavirus, and when they become infected, they are more likely to die than their white counterparts. Previously existing social and cultural inequities, rather than any biological differences between these populations, appear to be responsible.

ChenMeds CEO Dr. Christopher Chen reflected on our ChenMed patients across eight states, a majority of whom are African American from challenging socio-economic circumstances. He issued a call to action entitled Solving for the Racial Disparities Crisis in Coronavirus Deaths.

To accelerate progress on these efforts, the American Health Association (AHA) launched the #123forEquity pledge campaign. This campaign builds on the efforts of the National Call to Action to Eliminate Health Care Disparitiesa joint effort of the AHA, AAMA, American College of Healthcare Executives, Catholic Health Association of the United States, and Americas Essential Hospitalsand asks hospital and health system leaders to act to accelerate progress in these areas:

The same year, I wrote a blog post for ATD that shared insights on confronting unconscious bias in healthcare. Bias awareness and action are some of the first steps toward an inclusive and culturally competent healthcare culture.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion diversity have always been important topics and are combined into one of the 23 capabilities (Cultural Awareness and Inclusion) in the ATD Talent Development Capability Model. In these times of heightened awareness, it's critical for TD professionals to foster an inclusive work environment; convey respect for different perspectives, races, religions, backgrounds, customs, abilities, behaviors, and norms; and integrate D&I principles into their talent management, organization development, and learning strategies and initiatives.

In 2017, CEO Dr. Toby Cosgrove signed the CEO Pledge to ensure a diverse and inclusive Cleveland Clinic.

Health provider learning professionals will enjoy LeJoyce Naylors case description for the clinics unconscious bias training.

An inclusive culture is one that accepts, values, and views as strength the difference we all bring to the table, according to Harvard University. Through these discussions, employees can learn from experts in the field about such areas as unintended bias, cultural competency, bystander awareness, and avoiding stereotyping.

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The Rationale for Inclusive Healthcare Cultures Is Intensifying - ATD

SPRINGFIELD The Springfield Museums will present Heroes in Healthcare: Celebrating Springfields Medical Community at the Wood Museum of Springfield History from Aug. 3 through Jan. 24, 2021.

As a complementary exhibit to Hall of Heroes, located on the first floor of the Wood Museum of Springfield History, Heroes in Healthcare pinpoints the deep appreciation we all feel for those who put themselves in harms way in order to help others.

From the Civil War through present day, doctors and nurses, public-health employees, social workers, and philanthropists have contributed significantly to improving the health of this community with their skills, compassion, and vision. This exhibit examines that history in Springfield.

As stewards of the Baystate Medical Center archives, including materials from its Training School for Nurses, museum staff were able to gather a rich history of healthcare in Springfield, said Maggie Humberston, curator of Library and Archives for the Springfield Museums. We drew on that collection with its assortment of photographs and institutional history to recount a story of outreach and care, and a long history of striving to meet the public need.

The Visiting Nurses Assoc. archives are also held at the Wood Museum. Humberston delved into that collection to share remarkable stories of how visiting nurses traveled to the homes of people of all economic backgrounds to not only treat disease, but also to offer wellness training, childcare advice, and, often, a sympathetic ear.

As she researched the local response to the Spanish influenza of 1918, Humberston discovered similar efforts to our own today as we work together to stem the spread of COVID-19 by wearing masks and maintaining social distance. Gauze masks and open air were deemed very important in combating the Spanish influenza, she said. Social distancing was practiced, and people were encouraged to walk to reduce crowding in railroad and streetcars, while streetcars were disinfected every night. The clergy decided to close the churches, and the Board of Health closed just about everything else.

With the World Health Organizations declaration of 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, the museums dedicate a part of this exhibit to specifically celebrating the citys nurses. The museums will also present a Wall of Healthcare Heroes to honor the courageous and dedicated work of area hospitals frontline responders.

When we brought the Hall of Heroes to the Museums, we knew how important it would be to celebrate real-life heroes with a complementary exhibit, said Kay Simpson, president and CEO of the Springfield Museums. Our healthcare heroes are helping us all face these unprecedented times with endless examples of heroic service and compassionate care. Thank you to our Healthcare Heroes!

The Springfield Museums are also grateful for the assistance of Mercy Medical Center and the archives of the Sisters of Providence in documenting the history of their organization.

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Springfield Museums to Present 'Heroes in Healthcare' Exhibit - Business West

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Northwell Health will host its third annual Constellation Forum virtually on Thursday, August 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This years Forum will focus on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as it has highlighted the increased demands on health care innovation and on those who bring it to life. All are welcome to register for the free event at http://www.ConstellationForum.com

The Constellation Forum will explore what can be learned from efforts today in order to prepare whatever comes next. Northwells President and CEO, Michael Dowling, and an influential group of leaders, including Eric Schmidt, Former CEO & Chairman of Google and Co-Founder of Schmidt Futures; Joaquin Duato, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee from Johnson & Johnson; Kevin Lobo, Chief Executive Officer of Stryker; Ann Lamont, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Oak HC/FT; Cori Bargmann, Head of Science at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative; Stanley Bergman, Chairman of the Board & CEO of Henry Schein; Geoffrey Ling, Founding Director of DARPA Biological Technologies Office and Chief Executive Officer of On Demand Pharmaceuticals and, Kevin Tracey, President and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research will come together to share insights, best practices and the challenges facing health care amid this unprecedented time in order to collectively advance health care innovation.

To recognize Governor Andrew Cuomo for his leadership during this crisis, he will be presented with an honorary degree and provide remarks.

Northwell Health has been at the center of the COVID-19 pandemic, treating more patients than any other health system globally and is working vigorously to overcome its challenges, said Mr. Dowling. This Forum gives us the chance to further enhance collaboration and accelerate changes within health care to benefit not only our patients but also patients around the world.

For more information about the program, speakers, and to register your virtual attendance, please visit http://www.constellationforum.com.

About Northwell Health

Northwell Health is New York States largest health care provider and private employer, with 23 hospitals, nearly 800 outpatient facilities and more than 14,200 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 72,000 employees 17,000-plus nurses and 4,500 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners are working to change health care for the better. Were making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Northwell Health to Advance Health Care Innovation Amid COVID-19 Pandemic at Constellation Forum - Business Wire

With millions of Americans losing their jobs due to lockdowns, and their health insurance as a result, many are reconsidering who should pay the bill if they get sick. The answer might give momentum to Democrats pushing "Medicare for All."

The coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world is changing attitudes about adopting a socialist model for health care coverage in America.A recent survey by "One Poll" shows more than 75 percent of Americans say now is the time to experiment with universal healthcare and 76 percent think those who catch COVID-19 should get free treatment.

It's not just Democratic socialists who "feel the Bern" on this issue 74 percent of Republicans, and 84 percent of Democrats polled agree universal healthcare is needed in response to the pandemic.Michael Cannon with the Cato Institute says while this growing support of universal healthcare isn't surprising, the question remains how do you do it."Even though a lot of people associate government funding or government control with universal healthcare, government doesn't make healthcare more universal. It makes healthcare less universal," he argues.

He adds, just look at the handling of the pandemic:

Insurance professional Den Bishop wrote The Voter's Guide to Healthcare: A Non-partisan, Candid, and Relevant Look at Politics and Healthcare in America.He says Sen. Bernie Sanders was smart to brand his program "Medicare for All.""If you as a politician want to get yourself kicked out of office, you just talk about cutting Medicare. It is a very popular program," Bishop said.

But if every American had Medicare it would crash the system. Hospital capacity would nosedive. That's because hospitals lose 10 percent on Medicare coverage. Private insurance pays 241 percent of what Medicare pays for the exact same services, making it possible for hospitals to stay afloat and make money.

Bishop also points to Obamacare as an example. More people have healthcare because of the program, but it costs taxpayers $10,000 per person, per year for a total $737 billion in 2019.Bishop says, "It did provide some additional protections, it did provide additional coverage those are good things but it did it in a very financially inefficient way."The "One Poll" also found 65 percent of Americans fear the financial burden they'll face if they get infected likely a symptom of healthcare costs growing faster than wages."Americans don't have the savings cushion to fall back on because government has been taxing them to fund all sorts of things including healthcare programs that drive up the cost of healthcare," Cannon says.

And Bishop says studies show nearly 100 million Americans are underinsured."If we lose sensitivity to that, then I believe the government will take over all of healthcare and we'll have to deal with the ramifications of that system," he says.There's no question healthcare will be a top issue as voters elect a president this fall.

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Pandemic Pushes Americans Toward 'Medicare for All', but Would It Destroy Healthcare? - CBN News

Joel C. Cantor and Margaret Koller

New Jersey has successfully flattened the curve in the growth of coronavirus cases, but the prospect of a second wave cant be ignored, and cautious consumers may not return to dining out or shopping locally anytime soon.

Small employers are at the cross-currents of pandemic-driven forces. Many small businesses rely on face-to-face interactions, and few have deep pockets to weather shutdowns and stalled demand. The revenue freefall that businesses have experienced over the last five months makes sustaining payments for health insurance coverage challenging if not impossible. Yet, at a time when we are all vulnerable to a dangerous virus with no vaccine and limited treatment options, the idea of going without health coverage can be terrifying.

To address growing challenges in small group health insurance, the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy convened a virtual expert panel on July 16. Drawing on perspectives from the insurance industry, small business, and public affairs, the forum shed light on the causes of our troubled market and possible solutions. The discussion was informed by analysis and policy recommendations provided in the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institutes recently released white paper on options for the small group market. You can view the entire forum here. What follows is our take on the upshot of this discussion.

The small group health insurance market has inherent challenges. Coverage for small businesses has high administrative costs and the small group market is vulnerable to adverse risk selection. Groups with older and sicker workers have much greater demand for coverage than those with young and healthy workforces. These forces contribute to keeping small group premiums high. High premiums, in turn, encourage firms with lower-risk workers to drop out of the market, leading to an unvirtuous cycle of declining enrollment and rising premiums. Without policy measures to stabilize the market, it has a propensity toward adverse selection death spirals, insurance jargon that is self-explanatory.

To understand the current state of New Jersey small group health insurance, and to think about policies to rescue our market, we need to provide a bit of history. The chart below shows trends in the number of people covered in New Jerseys individual (sometimes also called non-group) and small-group markets. The trends are clear. The two lines crossed in the first quarter of 2020, for the first time, with more people covered individually than in small groups. At its peak, in 2005, nearly 1 million people were covered by small group health insurance in the Garden State. Today enrollment is less than a third of that level.

In the period before 2014, New Jerseys small group insurance market was declining by about 10,000 covered lives per quarter, largely because of fast-rising premiums compounded by lingering effects of the 2007-2009 Great Recession. There was an inflection point in 2014 when the Affordable Care Act created the subsidized individual market and expanded Medicaid eligibility, establishing more affordable options for some workers in small firms. The ACA also changed regulations to protect consumers and help ensure stable and affordable individual market coverage, but some of these regulations contributed to the decline in small group coverage.

The continuing downward trend in small group coverage cannot be explained by the ACA alone. A proliferation of alternatives to standard, state-regulated plans (shown in the chart) has emerged, causing a complex dynamic that may be undermining prices and enrollment in state-regulated small group plans. The alternative plans vary greatly in design and structure, and some have weaker consumer protections than our standard market. The Trump administration has promoted some alternatives, arguably to destabilize the ACA. While New Jersey regulators have curbed some of the most questionable types of plans, others continue to attract enrollment in our state.

Alternative plan types available here are governed by different state and federal laws, regulated by different agencies, have different rules for what must be covered, are taxed differently, and have different reporting and disclosure requirements. The market for small business health coverage in New Jersey is rife with complexity and opacity. No market could function well under these conditions, even for employers who are committed to offering coverage.

Achieving stable and affordable small group coverage is a difficult challenge in need of greater attention. Risk pooling is key to affordability. Ensuring that insurance pools include a significant share of young and healthy members keeps premiums down. However, when the market is as fragmented as it is today in New Jersey, public policies to broaden risk pools can create losers (and political opposition) from employers who have benefited from defection to less regulated or less taxed plans.

Because some kinds of alternative plans are not required to publish enrollment or cost data, we do not have a good sense of how much these plans lead to market fragmentation, contribute to rising costs, or erode enrollment in standard plans. An essential first step to improve the market is to require that all entities authorized to sell coverage to small businesses, including the providers of alternative plans, report their enrollment, premiums, and other data to state health insurance regulators. After that, working toward leveling the playing field among options available to small businesses is essential.

Aside from leveling the playing field to ensure broad risk pools and fair competition among plans, another way to tackle affordability is to directly subsidize premiums for those with incomes too low to afford coverage. The ACA does this in the individual market for people without access to employer-paid coverage. Still, small businesses with mainly low-wage workers can face daunting affordability barriers. While the ACA had a narrowly fashioned tax credit for small groups, it was insufficient. At a time of ballooning federal budget deficits and starkly declining state revenues, thinking about a robust, long-term subsidy strategy for small business coverage will likely be off the table for the time being.

Under some circumstances, however, it may be possible to tap federally funded individual insurance subsidies for the benefit of low-wage employees of small businesses. New federal regulations permit Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs), allowing small employers to help pay individual coverage premiums for employees. ICHRA rules are complex and make it difficult for workers with employer contributions for coverage to access federal tax credits. However, if the goal is maximizing access to affordable coverage, through whatever mechanisms feasible, then breaking down the barrier between individual and small group coverage may be a worthy experiment.

New Jersey lawmakers are looking to bolster subsidies for coverage, but these would be likely directed to people who buy their own plans, not through an employer. Currently, there is hotly debated legislation pending, that would impose a 2.75% premium tax on insurers, raising an estimated $300 million. If the bill passes, some of the resulting revenue would be used to draw down federal matching dollars to buy reinsurance which, in turn, will lower premiums in the individual coverage market. Some of the new revenue could also be used to expand direct subsidies for people buying their own coverage.

The state takeover of responsibility from the federal government for the ACA health insurance exchange may present other opportunities to leverage more affordable small group coverage. For one, federal law permits merging the individual and small group risk pools, tying small-group premiums to those for individual coverage. In an analysis we did in 2011, such a merger did not appear wise for New Jersey. But times have changed, and this option should be revisited.

One could be forgiven for thinking that the policy options for rescuing the small group health insurance market seem extraordinarily complex or would operate mainly at the margins. True enough. Private employer-sponsored health insurance has worked reasonably well in this country for larger employers with broad risk pools (although large-group coverage is proving difficult to sustain during the pandemic and many have argued that it has not done a good job of cost containment). But clearly, the private insurance model is much more difficult to sustain for small businesses.

The nation has debated broader, government-sponsored coverage, which would obviate the need to address the questions raised in this commentary. We may be approaching a turning point in the national dialogue on how to address coverage gaps. If so, the conversation must include ways to address the serious problems in the market for private coverage for workers of small firms.

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Opinion: We Must Rescue Health Insurance for Small Businesses and Their Workers - NJ Spotlight

(KCCR) Avera health is expanding a pilot program that will bring virtual mental health crisis care to law enforcement agencies in rural areas of South Dakota. A one million dollar gift from the Leona and Harry Helmsley Charitable Trust will help outfit law enforcement and court service officers in 23 counties with tablets to access the Avera eCARE system. Helmsley Trustee Walter Panzirer says the program will be another tool for law enforcement

Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson says the program could be a model for other states

Butte County is one of the original four pilot counties and Sheriff Fred Lamphere says they have seen the benefits of fast access to mental health professionals

The pilot program will run through June of 2021. Lyman County is one of 18 counties to take part in the program for law enforcement with counties in the Fourth Judicial Circuit using the pilot program for court services and probation purposes.

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Avera Health To Expand Pilot Program To Bring Virtual Mental Health Care To Rural Law Enforcement Today's KCCR 1240-AM Pierre, South Dakota -...

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been urged to protect themselves, their neighbors, and their loved ones amidst the worst global health crisis in generations. After months of physical distancing and staying at home, infections and deaths began to decline across our country.

But in the weeks since states began reopening, some steps that were critical to the progress made were abandoned too quickly. We are now watching in real-time as a dramatic uptick in COVID-19 cases is erasing hard-won gains. In some states, hospitals are at or nearing their ICU capacity and shortages of personal protective equipment and testing supplies continue to pose a threat to health care workers and patients alike.

While North Dakota is not a high spread state, we want to do everything possible to keep it that way. This is why as physicians, nurses, long term care administrators, hospital and health system leaders, we urge North Dakotans to take the simple steps we know will help stop the spread of the virus: wearing a face mask, maintaining physical distancing, and washing hands. We are not powerless in this public health crisis, and we can defeat it in the same way we defeated previous threats to public healthby allowing science and evidence to shape our decisions and inform our actions.

There is a growing body of evidence that face masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19. One study shows the infection rate among employees at Mass General Brigham hospitals dropped significantly once all workers were required to wear face masks. Another study in Missouri shows that wearing a face mask prevented the spread of infection from two hair stylists to their customers.

Despite claims otherwise, the prolonged use of face masks when properly worn does not cause CO2 intoxication, oxygen deficiency, or any other harm to the wearer. Surgeons operate for hours wearing them. They don't have problems. For those who have been waiting for more data before accepting the practice, these findings make it clear: Masks work.

The toll of this pandemic is staggering, and it will take months, perhaps years, to truly understand its impact on our country and our way of life. But what is certain and what the science and evidence tell us - is that COVID-19 is not behind us. Your actions are critical to stop the spread of COVID-19. We must remain vigilant and continue to take steps to mitigate the spread of the virus to protect each other and our loved ones.

To those of you who are doing your part in helping turn the tide of this pandemic thank you. There is only one way we will get through this together.

Blasl is president of the North Dakota Hospital Association, Koebele is executive director of the North Dakota Medical Association, Johnson is president of the North Dakota Nurses Association, and Peterson is president of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association.

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Letter: Take it from health care professionals, masks work | INFORUM - INFORUM

PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) 3:30 p.m. Thursday, July 30, 2020: Princeton Health Care Center (PHCC) added new details concerning the outbreak of COVID-19 at their facility. There are 38 active cases according to Administrator Stefanie Compton. Additionally there are seven people who are displaying symptoms but had negative results on recent tests.

All confirmed and suspected residents are being isolated in designated COVID-19 areas. There are 46 people who have tested positive at PHCC since March.

Testing is being done at the facility with the help of Princeton Rescue Squad. This is the fourth round of mass testing. They are now expecting to complete testing on Friday, July 31. Results are expected to be back in three to five days. Another round of testing is planned for the first week of August.

4:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, 2020: During Gov. Jim Justices COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) Secretary Bill Crouch attributed the outbreak at Princeton Health Care Center to travel to Myrtle Beach. This was identified through contact tracing, according to Sec. Crouch.

Gov. Justice reiterated Sec. Crouchs statement during the question and answer segment of the briefing.

Leaders at the facility responded to those allegations. Administrator Stephanie Compton stated the facility was not informed about that by health officials.

We understand per a media release that it has been determined that our COVID outbreak is related to travel to the Myrtle Beach area. That information has not been given to PHCC by any health officials. After an employee tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in July, our team requested assistance and mass testing from local and state health officials on and before July 7, 2020. We were denied such testing per local and state health officials. We were also told in writing, by a Regional Epidemiologist At this time our outbreak guideline does not recommend to do the repeat testing of staff and residents and the state lab would not be able to handle those specimens. Our team called other labs to try to secure mass testing as well. We were unable to do the testing on our own because the labs in our area/state were back logged and they at that time did not have the supplies that were needed.

Compton also addressed a death at the nursing home being COVID-19 related. She said they were not officially informed of that by any health agency. Compton did say in a release on Tuesday afternoon that a person who died at the home did test positive for the illness.

In our efforts to be open and transparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are very saddened to report that a resident of Princeton Health Care Center who tested positive for COVID-19 has passed away. However, it was not just a loss of a resident, it was the loss of a member of our PHCC family.

2:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, 2020: Princeton Health Care Center is conducting mass testing of staff and residents following a surge of cases reported at the facility. This is the fourth round of testing being done there. Officials said it is expected to be done by Thursday, July 30.

Administrators said 42 individuals tested positive for COVID-19 since March. There are five people who are displaying symptoms but have tested negative. All those who are symptomatic and those with confirmed cases are being isolated to designated care areas.

Visitation for residents at the facility is suspended. The staff encourages family members to stay in touch with their loved one through window visits, Skype video conferencing, phone calls and written communication.

ORIGINAL STORY 3:22 p.m. July 27, 2020: The West Virginia National Guard has been called in to help with an outbreak of COVID-19 at a nursing home in Mercer County.

There is a total of 31 active cases at the Princeton Health Care Center. According to the Mercer County Health Department, 12 patients and 19 employees tested positive. Those individuals were identified and isolated, and contact tracing is being done.

WV Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Bill Crouch confirmed a total of 279 people at the nursing home were tested last week. They are still waiting for the results of 54 tests.

Governor Jim Justice said the WV National Guard was called in to help the nursing home with testing and cleaning. The DHHR was also called in to provide additional resources to the nursing home. Right now, admissions and re-admissions are on hold.

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Princeton Health Care Center confirms 38 active cases - WBOY.com

(Washington, D.C.) -- A bill from Iowa Third District Congresswoman Cindy Axne would eliminate taxes on federal aid received by health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Axne -- along with Florida Republican Representative and retired Army Surgeon Neal Dunn -- introduced the Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act of 2020 Wednesday. Axne says aid distributed to health care providers through the Provider Relief Fund earlier this year were subject to taxes for some hospitals.

"Some of the people who are receiving these funds -- and this applies to some hospitals in Iowa -- through the CARES Act will see that funding being taxed," said Axne. "The American Medical Association estimates that could mean 20% or more of the aid they received wouldn't be available to help put a nursing shift or a bed, it would go to taxes. We've got to put this toward health care and not towards taxes."

Axne says the PRF was designed to provide critical resources to health care providers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and that those funds should not be taxed, as well.

"We appropriated $175 billion in Congress that was meant to help our health care providers stay fully staffed and equipped so we could make sure that we're fighting this pandemic," said Axne. "It's critical that every single dollar goes to assistance with our health care providers and goes as far as possible."

Calling it common sense legislation, Axne says the loophole was created by the PRF rules not lining up with how grants are taxed for health care providers.

"I spent a decade in state government actually dealing with these kinds of things where policy on top of policy can create unintended outcomes," said Axne. "It's good policy to make sure that we make sure we get the hospitals this money and make sure that our health care providers in Iowa can help the people in our state. At the same time, these underlying rules and policies within these departments sometimes contradict what we're trying to do on a legal level."

The bill has the backing of a number of health care groups, incluing the American College of Physicians, the Federation of American Hospitals and the American Medical Association.

"When you have that kind of support from the people who are actually on the ground utilizing the funds and implementing the services, there's a tendency for lawmakers to realize that this is something that's necessary because the subject-matter experts are agreeing with it," said Axne. "This isn't a political move. This is common sense. I think we're going to get a lot of traction."

In addition to eliminating taxes on funds received from the PRF, the bill would guarantee that expenses attributable to the PRF were also tax deductible. Axne made her comments on KMA's Morning Line program Wednesday. You can hear the full interview below.

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Axne introduces bill eliminating taxes on federal aid for health care providers - KMAland

Children have specific and unique medical needs and software supporting their care should be tailored to help address those needs.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has published a new informational resource aimed at shaping the specifications of technology products intended for pediatric use.

"There are critical functionalities, data elements, and other requirements that should be present in health IT products to address healthcare needs specific to the care of children," according to ONC.

The agency focuses on 10 recommendations that align to "clinical priorities that were identified by the American Academy of Pediatrics in partnership with relevant stakeholders across the country," wrote Senior Policy Advisor Samantha Meklir and Medical Informatics Fellow Al Taylor in a blog post Wednesday.

They noted that "significant contributions were also made by healthcare organizations and federal partners to provide detailed review and feedback" on the resource, which describes ONC-developed certification criteria specific to certain pediatric clinical prioritiesand offers additional technical specs to help developers working with childcare providers.

WHY IT MATTERS

The recommendations outlined in the informational resource included the use of biometric-specific norms for growth curves and support for growth charts for children; the computation of weight-based drug dosage; the synchronization of immunization histories with registries; and age- and weight-specific single-dose range checking.

Other recommendations acknowledged the potential complications and privacy concerns around providing children care, for example: the abilityto document all guardians and caregivers; transferrable access authority (as in the case of foster care, adoption, divorce or patient emancipation); and segmenting access to information.

"Adolescents may be allowed by law or practice to sequester access to information, such as sexual and behavioral health history in their health record," according to ONC's recommendations. "Some jurisdictions require sequestering a childs record of sexual history or abuse."

"Sequestering patient-selected information from parental, billing, or insurance communications may be required to protect an adolescent or pediatric patients privacy," the resource continued.

As for the care of newborn patients, the ONC recommends associating maternal health information and demographics such as infections, immunizations, blood type and heritable genetic conditions with the infant, given the data's potential importance in follow-up care.

It also recommended the ability to track incomplete preventative care opportunities, since doing so is "key to maintaining a pediatric patient's health," and flagging special healthcare needs.

"All pediatric practices provide care for individuals or groups of patients whose needs cannot always be accurately captured by using standard code systems," according to ONC.

THE LARGER TREND

In January 2019, Pew Charitable Trusts told ONC (and not for the first time) that it should do better prioritizing safety in its pediatric EHR usability efforts.

Poor usability, said Ben Moscovitch, Pew's project director of health information technology, can lead to dangerous medical errors, such as a patient receiving the wrong dose of a drug.

"Forthcoming regulations from ONC on EHRs used in the care of children and the development of a new reporting program offer opportunities to enhance usability which would simultaneously reduce burden and improve safety," said Moscovitch.

ON THE RECORD

"This [resource] may continue to evolve in the future as gaps are filled and more work is done to expand the tools, functionalities, and standards available for use by healthcare providers who care for children," said Meklir and Taylor about the new recommendations.

"We look forward to collaborating with clinicians, hospitals, standards developers, health IT developers and others to continue this work."

Kat Jercich is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.Twitter: @kjercichHealthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.

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ONC releases updated recommendations for pediatric health IT - Healthcare IT News

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, today announced that it is working with the State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management, to send additional clinicians to Florida to provide lifesaving care and support patients impacted by COVID-19. Teams consisting of registered nurses, certified registered nurse anesthetists and emergency physicians will deploy to a large South Florida health system and to hospitals in the Orange, Pinellas and Duval counties.

Clinicians heroic and relentless efforts during these unprecedented times are inspiring, said Jim Rechtin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Envision Healthcare. Envisions partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management will provide much needed relief to clinicians working tirelessly to care for patients when they need it most.

As COVID-19 cases spike throughout the country, our clinicians and support teams continue to answer the call to care for patients, said Mansoor Khan, MD, MHA, Senior Vice President of Envisions Envoy Program. Our ENVOY team is often the first to deploy to provide care when and where its needed most. Our multispecialty team is experienced in responding to and helping communities recover after emergencies. We draw from our collective experience as more than 27,000 physicians and advanced practice providers to provide quality care and save lives.

This team will join Envisions approximately 6,000 clinicians based in Florida who have been working around the clock to care for patients. Hundreds of Envision clinicians have deployed through the ENVOY travel team to hard-hit areas across the nation, including New York, New Jersey and Arizona. The medical group will remain on the front lines of the COVID-19 response in Florida and across the nation while continuing to treat all patients in communities large and small.

About Envision Healthcare Corporation

Envision Healthcare Corporation is a leading national medical group that delivers physician and advanced practice provider services, primarily in the areas of emergency and hospitalist medicine, anesthesiology, radiology/teleradiology, and neonatology to more than 1,800 clinical departments in healthcare facilities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Post-acute care is delivered through an array of clinical professionals and integrated technologies which, when combined, contribute to efficient and effective population health management strategies. As a market leader in ambulatory surgical care, the medical group owns and operates 257 surgery centers and one surgical hospital in 34 states and the District of Columbia, with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopedics. In total, the medical group offers a differentiated suite of clinical solutions on a national scale with a local understanding of our communities, creating value for health systems, payers, providers, and patients. For additional information, visit http://www.envisionhealth.com.

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Envision Healthcare Prepares to Deploy More Than 300 Clinicians to Florida as Part of National COVID-19 Response - Business Wire

By Mae Basiratmand, MS, RN

The need to institute incisive and resonating social media content in the healthcare sphere is past-due. The last decade has been a dynamic time social media became a vital source of information and news, often rivaling traditional mediums. Due to regulations and barriers in the healthcare industry, a synergistic relationship between healthcare and social media ceased to exist. Unlike social medias ease of usability in retail, media, and e-commerce, healthcares regulations create a difficult environment to traverse especially considering healthcare is highly regulatory with a history of lengthy approval time for publicizing any medically-related information. As consumer behaviors shift alongside the increasing autonomy and accessible knowledge made available by smart phones, consumers now regard social media as a more trustworthy source of information over traditional marketing communications where implementing and maintaining a social media strategy is considered a central business initiative.

With countless avenues to explore and discuss the purpose, benefits, and navigating the red tape of social media use (like leveraging user-generated content for celebrated stories, selling products, and even auditing channels for hiring new talent), social media can assist in mitigating timely concerns emerging in todays health climate. According to PwCs report on social media and healthcare, information shared on social media can directly influence a patients decision to choose a specific provider or seek a second opinion. A Pew Research article also noted that the most engaged audiences on social media are individuals who are coping with a chronic condition or disability, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or people who have recently experienced a medical emergency. Healthcare leaders need to ask key questions that address many healthcare mission statements and reach the core of this industry: how are patients looking to social media for health information and what can my organization do to inform the public?

The consistent news cycle revolving around the COVID-19 pandemic has altered consumer behavior with more heavy reliance on digital channels as a consistent source of information reinforcing the need for businesses to act quickly and share information rapidly. Organizations can benefit from using social media in enhancing brand awareness as well as achieving fundamental business goals of patient satisfaction, engagement, referrals, and knowledge. Social media enables organizations to also provide instant feedback that can be given 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can cover content areas such as changing policies, changes in leadership, information on how organizations are adapting, a need for resources, or even victories. Since social media has shifted the power from businesses to consumers (where they can share positive or negative experiences with products or brands with a world-wide audience) organizations need to gracefully contribute to this narrative and use its powers to combat misinformation, announce crisis communications, nurture engagement between the practice/organization and patients, and show humility.

However, including social media as a business tactic presents challenges, especially in relation to HIPAA compliance and the ongoing responsibility of online reputation management. These regulated areas need to have established guardrails and protocols for different scenarios, similar to how crises plans are set in place for an array of scenarios. Social medias only guarantee is the ever-changing nature of the channels where plans need to be both flexible and comprehensive. Many healthcare organizations are ill-equipped to manage the real-time feedback loop or even tap into the potential of social media to impact patient choices, care, and satisfaction. Post-pandemic, when more research is readily-available, organizations will be forced to acclimatize to new trends and the new remote lifestyle thats emerged as the new norm.

As a marketing manager and guest lecturer in numerous marketing and strategy courses in FAU Executive Educations healthcare-specialized courses, I have been able to share my experiences from nursing and leading global pharmaceutical marketing and social media campaigns centered on lead generation and brand and disease-state awareness. In Florida Atlantic Universitys (FAU) Executive Master of Health Administration and MBA in Healthcare Administration program, students are immersed with well-timed examples and real-world scenarios including social media case studies used for various businesses. In the coursework, students explore diverse topics from how the shifting digital marketing landscape can shape brand allegiance to how mass implementation of technology has paved the path for telehealth. In the classroom, students learn from industry practitioners and network with fellow students who hail from backgrounds including medicine, nursing, social work, business, administration, and many others. As part of the educational journey, these conversations lead to rewarding collaborations and an exchange of ideas that help professionals finesse their team dynamics, reinforce strategic acumen, and drive organizational growth. Ultimately, there is a need for adept and forward-thinking healthcare leaders who understand the value of social media as a communication channel and a tactic to strengthen trustworthiness among patients and organizations.

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What Is Social Media's True Role in the Healthcare Realm and How Can It be Adapted Effectively in the Current Climate?: Current Articles - South...

WISCONSINToday, following Governor Tony Evers announcement that he would pass a statewide ordinance to require masks in public, healthcare workers applauded the move as a critical step to slowing down the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives.

Healthcare workers and members of SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin issued the following statements:

Since this pandemic began, healthcare workers have been organizing and pushing for elected leaders to do their part to stand with us on the front lines. We thank Governor Evers for hearing the call of healthcare workers and joining with us to pass common sense solutions. This mask ordinance shows that the Governor honors the sacrifices that nurses, hospital workers, nursing home workers, and first responders have made, risking our own health and that of our families. We will continue to do all we can to protect our patients and the public during this pandemic. It helps knowing that Governor Evers is on our side to do whatever it takes. Ramon Argandona, Madison hospital worker and President of SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin

As a nurse who cares deeply about the safety of my patients and community, I feel so relieved to hear about Gov. Evers order. I feel safer going into my job knowing that we have a consistent statewide approach. Without a doubt, this will help protect our patients and keep our hospitals from being overwhelmed. We know that wearing masks in public will reduce the spread of the virus. With cases and hospitalizations increasing, this is a big step forward to protect public safety and combat COVID-19. Allison Sorg, registered nurse at a Madison hospital and SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin member

This is absolutely necessary. Weve seen how COVID-19 has devastated the Black community in Milwaukee and across the country. By requiring that everyone in our state wears a mask in public, Gov. Evers lets us know he is committed to curbing inequities laid bare by the virus and protecting public health for all Wisconsinites. Gertrude Murray, CNA in Milwaukee and SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin member

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SEIU Healthcare: Statements from healthcare workers in support of Gov. Evers mask mandate - Wisbusiness.com

Yesterday, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Todd Young (R-IN), and Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, legislation that aims to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals.

Health care professionals have long experienced high levels of stress and burnout, and COVID-19 has only exacerbated the problem. While helping their patients fight for their lives, many health care professionals are coping with their own trauma of losing patients and colleagues and fear for their own health and safety. The issue captured national attention when Dr. Lorna Breen, a physician from Charlottesville, Virginia working on the frontlines of the pandemic in New York, died by suicide. This bill helps promote mental and behavioral health among those working on the frontlines of the pandemic. It also supports suicide and burnout prevention training in health professional training programs and increases awareness and education about suicide and mental health concerns among health care professionals.

Doctors, nurses and health care workers shoulder the responsibility of saving lives. The COVID-19 pandemic adds to that stress and increases their own risk of becoming infected. This bill is an important lifeline for medical professionals so that they, too, can get the help they need even as they care for others, said Dr. Cassidy.

The pandemic is taking an enormous toll on the mental health of health care professionals who, on top of their own anxieties, are supporting many Americans in their time of need. Additionally, the stigma surrounding treatment for mental health conditions and substance use disorders can discourage health care professionals from seeking help.

Specifically, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act:

Establishes grants for training health profession students, residents, or health care professionals in evidence-informed strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders. The grants would also help improve health care professionals well-being and job satisfaction.

Seeks to identify and disseminate evidence-informed best practices for reducing and preventing suicide and burnout among health care professionals, training health care professionals in appropriate strategies, and promoting their mental and behavioral health and job satisfaction.

Establishes a national evidence-based education and awareness campaign targeting health care professionals to encourage them to seek support and treatment for mental and behavioral health concerns.

Establishes grants for employee education, peer-support programming, and mental and behavioral health treatment; health care providers in current or former COVID-19 hotspots will be prioritized.

Establishes a comprehensive study on health care professional mental and behavioral health and burnout, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on such professionals health.

We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the health care professionals who put their lives on the line every day to treat patients especially during this pandemic, said Kaine. No one can witness that much suffering firsthand without it affecting them, and we must help provide the necessary resources and support now. At the same time, we must also take steps to promote a culture of mental health among students, residents, and health care professionals so those who are struggling feel comfortable reaching out for the treatment and support they need. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle can back this legislation to help the health care professionals who are helping us during this crisis and in the years to come.

Our frontline health care professionals face high levels of stress daily as they work to keep Hoosiers healthy, especially during this difficult time, said Young. "The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act will help these critical workers get the support they need to prevent suicide and promote mental and behavioral health.

Our doctors, nurses, and frontline health workers are under considerable strain and stress as they work overtime to help combat COVID and save lives. While they are looking out for patient health, we must look out for their well-being. And that means ensuring they have the PPE they need, and also ensuring they have the mental and emotional health support and interventions they need, said Reed.

"Wed like to thank Senators Kaine, Reed, Young, and Cassidy for advancing this important legislation at a time when our healthcare workforce is perhaps at its most fragile as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know that physician and provider burnout was at an all-time high before the beginning of this pandemic and it is critical that we educate current and future caregivers about the importance of self-care. The danger of physician mental health stress is not a partisan issue- it is an issue that affects all of our loved ones as givers and receivers of healthcare. Dr. Lorna Breen was a dedicated physician who devoted her life to improving the lives of her patients and her colleagues. This legislation is a continuation of that work. We would also like to recognize and thank the physicians and healthcare providers at Columbia/New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York and our frontline workers and medical community throughout the country," said Jennifer Breen Feist and Corey Feist, Co-Founders of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation.

The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act is supported by the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Osteopathic Association.

ACEP is grateful for the introduction of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. This bill helps carry on Dr. Breens legacy and will ensure emergency physicians and other health care providers get the mental health treatment they need as they continue to serve on the front lines of the most serious public health crisis of our lifetime, said William Jaquis, MD, FACEP, President of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the nations largest non-profit dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, proudly endorses the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, said AFSP Chief Executive Officer Robert Gebbia. This vital piece of legislation will help prevent suicide and positively impact programs that increase resources for health care professionals who are working to save lives daily amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank Senators Reed, Kaine, Young, and Cassidy for their work to increase awareness and target resources to those at a higher risk of suicide at this time.

Protecting and supporting the mental health of physicians, nurses, and other medical and hospital professionals is essential, especially as we weather the unprecedented public health crisis that COVID-19 presents, said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.H. Sens. Kaine, Young, Reed, and Cassidys bill offers tangible steps toward supporting the health care workforce as they continue to deal with the challenging, long-term mental health repercussions of treating patients during the crisis.

You can view the full text of the bill here.

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Cassidy, Kaine, Young, Reed Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Health Care Professionals' Mental Health Amid COVID-19 - The Livingston Parish...

NEW YORK, July 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As concerns over the spread of coronavirus continue to grip the nation, a new debate has ensued over whether or not it's time for teachers and students to head back to the classroom. As plans are put in place, states should consider health insurance coverage across the education profession. Specifically, health insurance coverage for educators.

ValuePenguinanalyzed the teacher population across the U.S. to understand where teachers are at risk and how many teachers are uninsured across the country.

Key findings:

To view the full report, visit: Teacher Health Benefits Study

About ValuePenguin.com:ValuePenguin.com, part of LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE), is a personal finance website that conducts in-depth research and provides objective analysis to help guide consumers to the best financial decisions. ValuePenguin focuses on value, assessing whether the return of a particular decision is worth the cost or risk of that option, and how this stacks up with the other possible choices they may have. For more information, please visit http://www.valuepenguin.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter @ValuePenguin.

Media Contact:Nadia Gonzalez (Mrs.)[emailprotected]

SOURCE ValuePenguin.com

http://www.valuepenguin.com

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Nearly Half a Million Teachers Do Not Have Health Insurance, Leaving Some Financially Exposed to Potential COVID-19 Healthcare Costs - PRNewswire

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Uber is providing free meals and rides to the brave healthcare workers keeping us healthy during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

On Thursday, Uber and the Mayors Fund to Advance New York City announced that they had partnered to provide $750,000 worth of free meals and rides to nearly 6,000 residents and fellows across the NYC Health + Hospitals system.

On behalf of our amazing, brave workforce, we would like to thank Uber and the Mayors Fund to Advance NYC for coming together to deliver much needed free rides to our essential employees providing lifesaving care at the peak of the pandemic, said NYC Health + Hospital CEO and President Dr. Mitchell Katz.

Through the partnership, the NYC Health + Hospitals, in conjunction with the Mayors Fund, committed nearly $600,000 in meal credits, while Uber will supply $175,000 in free rides, with all meal credits and free rides provided directly to the healthcare workers.

As part of the program, all residents and fellows at the citys 11 public hospitals receive an Uber Eats for Business profile where they can expense up to $100 worth of meals to NYC Health + Hospitals.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

Uber has also donated $30 worth of free rides to all residents and fellows which can be used anywhere throughout the five boroughs.

New York Citys healthcare heroes have guided this city through some of its most difficult moments in recent memory, and they are still doing the tireless work of protecting New Yorkers day in and day out, said Toya Williford, executive director of the Mayors Fund to Advance New York City. It is an honor to partner with Uber and NYC H+H to show our appreciation for the ongoing sacrifices of our healthcare workers across the city with meals and rides.

This isnt Ubers first time donating meals and rides to New York Citys frontline workers. The company previously donated $750,000 in ride credits and nearly 15,000 meals to local healthcare workers and first responders.

In late April, Uber partnered with state Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore) to donate 5,000 free rides to Staten Island healthcare workers, providing $25 round-trip ride codes to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton and other organizations that represent doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals.

Our healthcare workers are heroes, and we are honored to partner with the Mayors Fund, and NYC Health + Hospitals, to help support their incredible efforts. We know there is more we can do, and we stand ready to support New York City, and New Yorkers, however we can, said Danielle Sheriden, head of U.S. operations for Uber.

Excerpt from:

Uber to provide NYC healthcare workers with $750K in free meals, rides - SILive.com

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NextGen Healthcare, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXGN), the leading provider of ambulatory-focused healthcare technology solutions, announced today its fiscal 2021 first quarter ended June 30, 2020 operating results.

Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Highlights

Revenue for the fiscal 2021 first quarter was $130.9 million compared to $131.9 million a year-ago. On a GAAP basis, net loss for the fiscal 2021 first quarter was $0.8 million compared with net income of $1.2 million in the fiscal 2020 first quarter. On a GAAP basis, fully diluted net loss per share was $0.01 in the fiscal 2021 first quarter compared to net income per share of $0.02 per share for the same period a year ago. On a non-GAAP basis, fully diluted earnings per share for the fiscal 2021 first quarter was $0.21 versus $0.16 reported in the first quarter a year ago.

Cash flow from operations was $17.7 million in the fiscal 2021 first quarter compared to $17.0 million for the same period a year ago. Free cash flow was $11.4 million compared to $8.6 million in the same period a year ago. Ending cash balance was $192 million with $179 million outstanding against revolving credit facility.

In the face of unprecedented conditions, NextGen delivered an exceptional performance by minimizing revenue impact, preserving earnings, and generating free cash when patient visit volume was significantly reduced, said Rusty Frantz, president and chief executive officer of NextGen Healthcare. As we move through the quarter, our attention has turned back to innovation, commercial execution, and growth based on our differentiated, future-facing ambulatory platform that is purpose built to engage patients in their wellness journey.

Fiscal 2021 Financial Outlook

Given the continued uncertainty in the market, the Company is not providing annual guidance. As the market stabilizes and there is more confidence in the macro environment, the Company will evaluate returning to guidance.

Conference Call Information

NextGen Healthcare will host a conference call to discuss its fiscal 2021 first quarter operating results on Thursday, July 30, 2019 at 5:00 PM ET (2:00 PM PT). Shareholders and interested participants may listen to a live broadcast of the conference call by dialing 866-750-8947 or 720-405-1352 for international callers and referencing participant code 4192842 approximately 15 minutes prior to the call. A recording of the live webcast will be available on investor.nextgen.com after the call. It will be archived for 90 days until October 28, 2020.

About NextGen Healthcare, Inc.

We empower the transformation of ambulatory carepartnering with medical, behavioral and oral health providers in their journey to value-based care to make healthcare better for everyone. We go beyond EHR and PM. Our integrated solutions help increase clinical productivity, enrich the patient experience, and ensure healthy financial outcomes. We believe in better. Learn more at nextgen.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including but not limited to, statements regarding future events including but not limited to the COVID-19 pandemic, developments in the healthcare sector and regulatory framework, the Company's future performance, as well as management's expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, estimates or projections relating to the future (including, without limitation, statements concerning revenue, net income, and earnings per share). Risks and uncertainties exist that may cause the results to differ materially from those set forth in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the anticipated results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements and additional risks and uncertainties are set forth in Part I, Item A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including but not limited to: volatility and uncertainty in the global economy and financial markets in light of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic; the volume and timing of systems sales and installations; length of sales cycles and the installation process; the possibility that products will not achieve or sustain market acceptance; seasonal patterns of sales and customer buying behavior; impact of incentive payments under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on sales and the ability of the Company to meet continued certification requirements; uncertainties related to the future impact of U.S. tax reform; the impact of governmental and regulatory agency investigations; the development by competitors of new or superior technologies; the timing, cost and success or failure of new product and service introductions, development and product upgrade releases; undetected errors or bugs in software; product liability; changing economic, political or regulatory influences in the health-care industry; changes in product-pricing policies; availability of third-party products and components; competitive pressures including product offerings, pricing and promotional activities; the Company's ability or inability to attract and retain qualified personnel; possible regulation of the Company's software by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; changes of accounting estimates and assumptions used to prepare the prior periods' financial statements; disruptions caused by acquisitions of companies, products, or technologies; the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken in response thereto could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations; and general economic conditions. A significant portion of the Company's quarterly sales of software product licenses and computer hardware is concluded in the last month of a fiscal quarter, generally with a concentration of such revenues earned in the final ten business days of that month. Due to these and other factors, the Company's revenues and operating results are very difficult to forecast. A major portion of the Company's costs and expenses, such as personnel and facilities, are of a fixed nature and, accordingly, a shortfall or decline in quarterly and/or annual revenues typically results in lower profitability or losses. As a result, comparison of the Company's period-to-period financial performance is not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as an indicator of future performance. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This news release contains certain non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures, which are provided only as supplemental information. Investors should consider these non-GAAP financial measures only in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with or a substitute for U.S. GAAP. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, the Company has provided a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure in the accompanying financial tables. Other companies may calculate non-GAAP measures differently than NextGen Healthcare, Inc., which limits comparability between companies. The Company believes that its presentation of non-GAAP diluted earnings per share provides useful supplemental information to investors and management regarding the Company's financial condition and results. The presentation of non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company calculates free cash flow by as total net cash provided by operating activities, net of cash used for the additions of capitalized software costs and equipment and improvements. The Company calculates non-GAAP diluted earnings per share by excluding net acquisition costs, amortization of acquired intangible assets, amortization of deferred debt issuance costs, impairment of assets, restructuring costs, net securities litigation defense costs and settlement, share-based compensation, impairment of assets, and other non-run-rate expenses from GAAP income before provision for income taxes.

The Company utilizes a normalized non-GAAP tax rate to provide better consistency across the interim reporting periods within a given fiscal year by eliminating the effects of non-recurring and period-specific items, which can vary in size and frequency, and which are not necessarily reflective of the Companys longer-term operations. The normalized non-GAAP tax rate applied to each quarter of fiscal year 2020 was 22.0%. The normalized non-GAAP tax rate expected to be applied to each quarter of fiscal year 2021 is 20.0%. The determination of this rate is based on the consideration of both historic and projected financial results. The Company may adjust its non-GAAP tax rate as additional information becomes available and in conjunction with any other significant events occur that may materially affect this rate, such as merger and acquisition activity, changes in business outlook, or other changes in expectations regarding tax regulations.

The Companys future period guidance in this release includes adjustments for items not indicative of the Companys core operations. Such adjustments are generally expected to be of a nature similar to those adjustments applied to the Companys historic GAAP financial results in the determination of the Companys non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. Such adjustments, however, may be affected by changes in ongoing assumptions and judgments as to the items that are excluded in the calculation of non-GAAP adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share, as described in this release. The exact amount and probable significance of these adjustments, including net acquisition costs, impairment of assets, restructuring costs, net securities litigation defense costs, and other non-run-rate expenses, are not currently determinable without unreasonable efforts, but may be significant. These items cannot be reliably quantified or forecasted due to the combination of their historic and expected variability. It is therefore not practicable to reconcile this non-GAAP guidance to the most comparable GAAP measures.

NEXTGEN HEALTHCARE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30,

2020

2019

Revenues:

Recurring

$

119,522

$

119,447

Software, hardware, and other non-recurring

11,357

12,414

Total revenues

130,879

131,861

Cost of revenue:

Recurring

50,429

50,540

Software, hardware, and other non-recurring

6,041

6,278

Amortization of capitalized software costs and acquired intangible assets

9,899

8,413

Total cost of revenue

66,369

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NextGen Healthcare, Inc. Reports Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Results - Business Wire