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Updated: May 1, 2020 @ 9:00 pm

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Health care workers test patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Erica Ebert, left, drops a used COVID-19 test kit into a secure bag held by Christina Bodily on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Certified Medical Assistant Carissa Cieloha test patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Kile Kearns, left, puts on a mask and face shield while Christina Bodily assists on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru COVID-19 testing site.

Certified Medical Assistant Carissa Cieloha wears a face shield respirator while testing patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Erica Ebert, left, drops a used COVID-19 test kit into a secure bag held by Christina Bodily on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Christina Bodily, right, sanitizes Carissa Cieloha's personal protective equipment after testing a patient for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Health care workers test patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Kass LaPorte takes a trash bag of used gloves, gowns and other contaminants to the dumpster on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic COVID-19 drive-thru testing site.

Christina Bodily, left, holds a small bag while Carissa Cieloha drops a used COVID-19 test kit in to be sent to a lab on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

A line on the pavement inside the COVID-19 drive-thru testing area reminds health care workers not administering a test to a patient to keep their distance on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Carissa Cieloha puts on a clean medical gown between testing patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Christina Bodily, left, assists Erica Ebert with securing personal protective equipment between testing patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Health care workers pose for a group picture after their shift testing patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site. From left: Kass LaPorte, Christina Bodily, Carissa Cieloha and Erica Ebert.

Health care worker Kile Kearns poses for a portrait on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru COVID-19 testing site.

Health care worker Kile Kearns poses for a portrait on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru COVID-19 testing site.

Erica Ebert, left, drops a used COVID-19 test kit into a secure bag held by Christina Bodily on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Certified Medical Assistant Carissa Cieloha test patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Kile Kearns, left, puts on a mask and face shield while Christina Bodily assists on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru COVID-19 testing site.

Certified Medical Assistant Carissa Cieloha wears a face shield respirator while testing patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Erica Ebert, left, drops a used COVID-19 test kit into a secure bag held by Christina Bodily on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Christina Bodily, right, sanitizes Carissa Cieloha's personal protective equipment after testing a patient for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Health care workers test patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Kass LaPorte takes a trash bag of used gloves, gowns and other contaminants to the dumpster on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic COVID-19 drive-thru testing site.

Christina Bodily, left, holds a small bag while Carissa Cieloha drops a used COVID-19 test kit in to be sent to a lab on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

A line on the pavement inside the COVID-19 drive-thru testing area reminds health care workers not administering a test to a patient to keep their distance on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Carissa Cieloha puts on a clean medical gown between testing patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Christina Bodily, left, assists Erica Ebert with securing personal protective equipment between testing patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site.

Health care workers pose for a group picture after their shift testing patients for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru testing site. From left: Kass LaPorte, Christina Bodily, Carissa Cieloha and Erica Ebert.

Health care worker Kile Kearns poses for a portrait on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru COVID-19 testing site.

Health care worker Kile Kearns poses for a portrait on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at the North Ogden Clinic drive-thru COVID-19 testing site.

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Health care workers just doing their job | Multimedia - Standard-Examiner

Much has been written about the process of transitioning pediatric patients to adult care clinicians.17 Although the theoretical process for transitioning these patients may be well understood, the reality of transitioning patients with complex health care needs is in fact a much more difficult process than transitioning otherwise healthy patients. Not only is finding a new primary care clinician extremely difficult,8 coordinating transition for all other specialists, therapies, and routine procedures is as well. Expecting families to tackle all of this on their own is neither realistic nor patient centered. At the same time, the amount of time and energy it takes for a clinician to do this, even with the assistance of care coordinators, can be daunting. This article and case discussion present the realities of an extremely complex pediatric patient and the lessons learned through the process of transitioning her to an adult clinician from the perspectives of her primary care pediatrician (Dr Sheldon Berkowitz) and her mother (Pat Lang).

Maddie is a patient with complex health care needs, all of which resulted from a history of pediatric- and infantile-onset metachromatic leukodystrophy, for which she underwent 2 bone marrow transplants in 2001 and 2002. Dr Berkowitz assumed her care when she was 15.5 years old and served as her primary care physician until transition occurred to an adult clinician when she was 21 years old. At the time of transition, her medical history included 30 past and current medical problems,

Address correspondence to Sheldon Berkowitz, MD, FAAP, Childrens Minnesota, 2540 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404. E-mail: sheldon.berkowitz{at}childrensmn.org

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Transitioning Patients With Complex Health Care Needs to Adult Practices: Theory Versus Reality - AAP News

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) -- Many people are finding ways to show their appreciation and gratitude for health care professionals.

Friday, a group of about 20 members from Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox and St. Thomas Orthodox Church did just that with chalk in hand.

MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center overlooks the two churches and many workers worship there.

So to say thank you for everything they do, church members have been sending them written signs of gratitude.

"It really hits close to home because we have a lot of people that work there," said Leah Brockway, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church member. "We have a lot of family members that are being affected by this in and out of the church. We want to say thank you to everybody that is working and helping us, but there's not enough thank you's. So we thought if we wrote it big, I mean there's no words to say, except a big thank you."

Brockway said while it all started with this message in the parking lot, they plan to continue doing what they can to show how much they appreciate those workers.

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Siouxland church members show appreciation to health care workers through chalking - KTIV

MADISON (WKOW) Bouquets of well-deserved thanks were delivered Friday afternoon to the health care workers at UW Health in appreciation of their dedication and sacrifice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Almost 2,000 colorful flowers daffodils, hyacinths, snapdragons and more courtesy of Hilldale and its landscaping firm, David J. Frank, were given to health care workers to take home as they ended their shifts.

Earlier in the day, the flowers were arranged in three large heart displays for employees and patients to see.

Healthcare workers are the true heroes, every single day, said Nanci Horn, General Manager of Hilldale in a news release. We wanted to show our appreciation to these dedicated professionals who are working so hard to care for all of us during these difficult times and flowers always put a smile on someones face.

Landscape company CEO David R. Frank echoed Horns appreciation.

Our health care workers do so much for so many and we wanted to thank them for their selflessness and commitment to serving their communities. We know firsthand the benefits of flowers and we hope they bring a little joy and happiness into the lives of these hardworking professionals," he said.

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Health care workers receive bouquets of thanks - WKOW

Fifth-generation, or 5G, wireless technology is expected to have a significant and positive impact on the health care industry in the near future.

Technology likevideo conferencing appsarebeing used to connect hospital patients with friends and family during the coronavirus crisis using 4G wireless, and those capabilities will continue to develop with 5G, which is a faster and more reliable form of wireless service that countries around the world are rapidly adopting.

WHAT IS 5G?

One way 5G will change health care technology is by offering a better connection to the internet throughout hospitals and health clinics. Large buildings and campuses connected to one wireless network can experience service issues in different areas, causingcommunication errors. Since 5G uses higher radiofrequency and antennas that are built closer to buildings than cell towers, this technology will meet demand for rapid service throughout buildings or campuses.

On a more advanced level, 5G will enhance data-collecting capabilities because it will be easier for health care workers to download and share larger files, workers will be able to store more data on cloud services, and remote and virtual patient care will be more reliable with faster connections, especially in rural areas.

Google Meet telehealth call / Google blog

"5G has the potential to unlock new connections between patients and health services,"Evan Kohn, chief business officer of artificial intelligence (AI) customer service solutionPypestream, told FOX Business."Implementing 5G in rural areas, some of which are still relying on dial-up, will allow patients better access to telemedicine."

HOW WILL 5G IMPACT US AGRICULTURE?

5G will also support AI tools that will make it easier for health care workers to communicate with patients and speed uppatient trajectories and diagnoses.

He added that using 5G telehealth services could offer "[high-resolution]face-to-face video interviews with doctors" or "automated and AI-driven messaging experiences that may have originally required an in-person visit or a phone call."

"Previously, patients would have gone through the process of scheduling an appointment in advance, waiting for the visit and hoping the doctor has the right answers. Now, 5G paves the way for instant healthcare coverage, providing a clear connection and accessibility for more people than ever before," Kohn said.

ANTI-5G GROUP PLANS GLOBAL PROTEST

Battery life, general accessibility and visual graphics, including those used for augmented reality used for staff education and training, will also improve with 5G wireless.

This Feb. 25, 2019 file photo shows a banner of the 5G network is displayed during the Mobile World Congress wireless show, in Barcelona, Spain. The U.S.(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

"Ultimately, 5G will improve accessibility, quality of coverage and convenience. Much of that has to do with enhanced patient experiences," Kohn said. "Service providers will connect more easily with remote patients, allowing for immediate access augmented by reliable automation."

5G will also make it easier for patients and doctors to optimize the insurance processes, "avoiding additional unnecessary steps and accelerating workflows," Koh added."For example, e-signature capabilities can be provided within conversational AI experiences and 5G-powered automation can answer health questions securely, quickly and accurately, easing the strain on providers while patients gain access to instant service."

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The Trump administration and Federal Communications Commission have dedicatedbillions of dollars toward building up the United States' 5G infrastructure.

"It will makeAmerican farms more productive, American manufacturing more competitive and American health care better and more accessible," the president said in April of last year.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie announced in February that a VA hospital inPalo Alto, California, became the United States' first-ever 5G-capable hospital, according to health news website Healthcare Dive.

"What 5G will deliver is richer, more detailed three-dimensional images of patients' anatomy. The resolution is so clear and consistent that it will give us reliable means of delivering telesurgery services to veterans across the nation," Wilkie said at the time, according to Healthcare Dive. "That means we will have the capacity to allow VA's best physicians to consult during surgery even if they are not in the same room, or are halfway across the country."

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Will 5G benefit the health care industry? - Fox Business

Dan Cunninghams right hip has been worsening for months, and he doesnt know yet when he will be able to have the hip replacement surgery that was postponed in March when the coronavirus pandemic hit Maine.

But the Brunswick resident might be able to reschedule his surgery soon, as health services unrelated to the pandemic start to return Friday in the first phase of Gov. Janet Mills reopening plan. That means delayed services such as elective surgeries, colonoscopies, mammograms, physicals, cataract surgeries, cancer biopsies, rehabilitation and others will resume.

The pent-up demand will be enormous. For example, Maine doctors perform more than 4,000 hip and knee replacement surgeries per year just for Medicare patients age 65 or older, according to federal data.

The reopening will be gradual, state and hospital officials have cautioned, so patients should not expect that everything will be up and running immediately. Priorities will be given to patients with the most acute needs.

We need to first take care of people who have more urgent needs that affect their day-to-day health, said Dr. James Jarvis, medical specialist for Northern Light Healths incident command. Northern Light is the parent company of Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor and Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland, as well as other hospitals in Maine. There wont be an announcement we are just doing (certain health services) today and anybody who needs them can come in today.

For instance, some joint replacements, among the most common elective surgeries across the country and in Maine, could still be postponed. Age and health of patient, how much pain the patient is in, and how well the patient can move will be considered.

Cunningham, 68, of Brunswick, said he will be calling his MaineHealth doctors office on Friday, but his case could fall into a gray area. Cunningham said his condition has deteriorated over the past month to where he now has to use a cane to move around. He also wakes up frequently during the night because of pain. He will find out soon whether his case is severe enough, compared to other patients, to put him at the front of the line.

Its frustrating, but I dont blame anyone. Everyone is sacrificing, and Im willing to do my part, said Cunningham, a retired finance director who has hiked all the 4,000-foot mountains in New England.

Dr. Herb Cushing, chief medical officer at South Portlands Spectrum Healthcare Partners, which does many joint replacement surgeries in southern Maine, said resuming surgeries wont be like flipping a switch. Some patients are almost bedridden, and in elderly people such reduced movement could cause death, so those patients will be rushed to the front of the line, Cushing said.

What was maybe an elective surgery in February probably isnt anymore, Cushing said.

John Porter, spokesman for MaineHealth, parent company of Maine Medical Center in Portland and eight other Maine hospitals, said the system expects to resume operations in a phased approach.

In the coming days, MaineHealth will evaluate which doctor visits, procedures and surgeries are most urgent and can safely be undertaken even as we maintain readiness in the event of a surge in new COVID-19 patients, Porter said in a statement.

Hospitals and health care systems across Maine postponed nonessential health care services starting in March to save capacity for a surge in COVID-19 cases. Now that cases have flattened, and current hospitalizations have declined from 87 on April 7 to 32 on Wednesday, health care services can start to re-open.

In Maine, because COVID-19 hasnt spiked to a crisis point and now appears to be on a slow downward slope, hospitals have the capacity to care for COVID-19 patients and can start returning to doing other services. Other restrictions will remain, though, such as strict limits on visitation and keeping COVID-19 patients separated from other patients.

Steven Michaud, president of the Maine Hospital Association, said patients will benefit from the gradual reopening. But for hospitals, especially rural, independent facilities, it will be a needed financial lifeline.

Two hospitals, Calais Regional Hospital and Penobscot Valley Hospital in Maine, are now in bankruptcy. Several hospitals in Maine including Central Maine Healthcare in Lewiston and St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor have announced furloughs or layoffs as many services were sidelined and revenue fell. Michaud said hospital rescue packages approved by Congress totaling $175 billion nationally helped but were not sufficient.

It was nowhere near enough, Michaud said The only answer is to get up and running.

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Health care services to resume, but some patients will need patience - Press Herald

Health care providers say now that businesses are reopening, it might be appealing to relax your precautions against COVID-19.

However, they say it's especially important for the elderly and immunocompromised people that you continue.

Those groups are more susceptible to the virus because their immune systems are compromised and are more likely to develop serious infections after contracting COVID-19.

Doctors say most coronavirus cases in North Dakota are younger individuals, but the mortality rate is highest among people over 60.

They say this is because they typically have obesity, hypertension and diabetes, which are three known risk factors.

"It's very important to maintain your guard and be cautious out there because the virus is still out there. The pandemic is not over," says Sanford Health Infectious Disease Consultant Dr. Noe Mateo.

Mateo says you can help protect the elderly, immunocompromised and yourself while out by continuing to social distance, wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, and adhering to the health requirements in place at businesses.

He says immunocompromised and elderly people should avoid crowds and indoor group settings, get groceries delivered, use video conferencing and telemedicine technology and try to have people run errands for you.

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Health care workers urge people to remain cautious as businesses reopen - KFYR-TV

"Not only would health insurance corporations make massive profits off the planprofits that come at the cost of the American taxpayersbut it would still leave tens of millions uninsured or underinsured," the former Democratic presidential candidate wrote. "And during this pandemic, a lack of insurance means more Covid-19 transmissions and more deaths."

Americas health care system since World War II has relied on the increasingly costly employer insurance market. But with 26 million people rapidly losing their jobs amid a massive health crisis, the idea of tying coverage to the workplace is facing its biggest stress test yet.

Employers, health care groups and unions badly want the employer system to emerge from the health crisis unscathed, believing it would ward off any new expansion of government health care. Joe Bidens rise to becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee was a relief to the health care industry, which has spent the past two years attacking Medicare for All. Health care groups also oppose other more incremental government expansions, like a public option Biden and other moderate Democrats support.

This crisis will be over not soon enough, but it will be over and we need to fundamentally keep that highway back to jobs and job-provided health care open, said Ilyse Schuman, senior vice president of health policy for the American Benefits Council, which represents major employers. Thats what Congress needs to do now, and employer-sponsored insurance plays a big role in that.

Experts estimate the job-based insurance market has likely already lost millions of customers as unemployment skyrockets, and a growing number of insurers hoping to retain business are offering grace periods on premium payments. Few people losing their jobs sign up for temporary workplace insurance, known as COBRA plans, unless they desperately need the coverage. And it's both complicated and extremely costly, since it comes without employer subsidies that typically cover the lions share of monthly premiums.

Newly unemployed people losing health insurance can often find cheaper or even free coverage through the Obamacare insurance markets or Medicaid. However, President Donald Trumps refusal to broadly reopen the Obamacare markets or make enrollment easier for those eligible may limit the safety nets reach. Many of the poor won't be eligible for Medicaid in the remaining 14 states that have not expanded the programs under Obamacare.

While the health industry and Democrats still want to bolster Obamacare, an unusual bloc is pressuring Congress to fully subsidize workplace premiums for the uninsured. Corporations would benefit because the employer-based system supplies a big tax break for benefits they can use as a recruiting tool. Unions would keep the generous coverage they have negotiated with corporations. And hospitals and doctors could maintain the big payouts from private insurance, which are far higher than the Medicare and Medicaid rates paid by government.

Such an idea could hit the political sweet spot on Capitol Hill. Workplace plans, which covered an estimated 160 million Americans before the pandemic, remain popular. Democratic leaders in Congress know Republicans have little appetite for broadly expanding government coverage, and Biden has endorsed temporarily subsidizing workplace plans. Republicans, despite railing against insurer bailouts in Obamacare for years, are friendlier to employer-based insurance and may be more receptive to a deal that could prevent millions of people joining the Medicaid rolls.

The health care industry is spooked by a widely circulated projection that between 12 million and 35 million people could lose their employer health plan in the economic fallout from coronavirus. The same analysis from consulting group Health Management Associates predicts the uninsured ranks could swell from 28 million to 40 million people, while Medicaid rolls in expansion states would also grow. That prospect worries the hospital industry, which endorsed COBRA aid on Tuesday, since the safety net program typically pays much less than Medicare.

Meanwhile, the health care industry is also trying to win back Americans trust about the affordability of the system, just months after hospitals and physician groups helped derail an effort to ban exorbitant surprise medical bills. Big insurance companies are waiving deductibles and copays for their commercial plans and the Trump administration is offering Medicare payments to hospitals so they dont charge uninsured coronavirus patients.

Industry experts downplay the idea the pandemic poses an existential threat to employer insurance, noting that once the economy rebounds the same dynamics that have made the market attractive will remain unchanged.

Still, the market has already taken a hit. Additionally the yearslong trend of small businesses dropping employee coverage will likely accelerate, either because they will have shuttered or need to cut costs.

Ultimately, the future of employer-based insurance will be steered by large corporations that are the backbone of the market, said Linda Blumberg of the Urban Institute. The uncertain prospects for recovery from this crisis, however, remain a wild card.

I think a lot remains to be seen with regard to how strongly the labor market bounces back and how long it takes, she said.

Unions, major insurers, hospitals and the consumer advocacy group Families USA have banded together through a group called the Alliance to Fight for Health Care, and are lobbying Congress to subsidize COBRA through the next stimulus package.

Supporters said COBRA aid would provide a backstop to hospitals and physicians, whose finances have been hurt by the cancellation of elective procedures during the crisis. Congress has already approved $175 billion to health care providers with few strings attached.

Hospitals and providers are seeing tremendous expense and increase in uncompensated care and uninsured individuals coming in, while also seeing drops in elective procedures, so I think its money well spent in protecting employees in a time of crisis, said Katie Mahoney, vice president of health policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi first pitched COBRA subsidies a month ago in a proposed alternative to the $2.2 trillion CARES Act that was ultimately approved by Congress. House Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) earlier this month unveiled standalone legislation fully subsidizing employer premiums for laid-off or furloughed workers.

Support from unions puts pressure on progressive Democrats, the driving force behind Medicare for All, to back the policy.

Unite Here, representing mostly service workers, said Congress must subsidize workplace plans. The unions international president, D. Taylor, estimates 95 percent of its members are unemployed during the crisis.

The health care crisis of a lifetime requires full emergency health care coverage for those millions of hardworking Americans who, through no fault of their own, have become unemployed," Taylor said.

But the effort has raised eyebrows among some liberal policy experts, who say Democrats are overlooking the health care law theyve spent the past 10 years defending. They said Democrats should be trying to expand that safety net at a time when health coverage independent from a workplace is more important than ever.

The laws individual market plans are expensive but are still ultimately cheaper for the government to subsidize than employer coverage. Medicaid plans, which offer full coverage for lower-income adults in expansion states, are cheaper still. And analysts question whether the subsidies would be money well spent when they only buy temporary certainty for workers and their families, who may ultimately have to turn to the Affordable Care Act if the economy is slow to recover.

At a time when you dont know if people are going back to work, or where theyll go back to work, getting them better ACA coverage would be more expedient, said Arielle Kane, director of health policy at the Progressive Policy Institute.

Moreover, experts note, COBRA subsidies come with a huge price tag and ultimately help the middle- and higher-income people, rather than lower-income people more likely to work retail and service jobs affected by shutdowns.

Almost no matter the employment outlook or time horizon, COBRA subsidies are unlikely to be the most cost-effective way of expanding coverage or relieving financial hardship, said Matt Fiedler, former chief economist of the Council of Economic Advisers under the Obama administration. Theyre just not targeted on the right people.

Congress subsidized COBRA in the last recession, before Obamacare was passed. The aid had limited reach only about one-third of those eligible for subsidies signed up for coverage, according to a 2015 Labor Department review. Congress at the time agreed to a 65 percent premium subsidy. This time, groups are pushing to cover the entire amount.

Tom Leibfried, a health care lobbyist for AFL-CIO, acknowledged some progressives would rather expand government coverage through the crisis, but he stressed that it would be easier to work within the existing system to deliver faster relief.

So as happened in 2009, during the Great Recession, its just more practical to turn to existing institutions and use those to make sure people get the care they need and dont face financial hardship, he said.

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The unlikely alliance trying to rescue workplace health insurance - POLITICO

Gov. Ned Lamont, left, U.S. Sen Richard Blumenthal, center, and Mayor Joe Ganim speak together during a thankyou rally in front of Northbridge Health Care Center in Bridgeport, Conn. May 1, 2020. Several elected officials stopped at Northbridge Friday to thank the staff, where dozens of COVID-19 patients have been sent for recovery.

Gov. Ned Lamont, left, U.S. Sen Richard Blumenthal, center, and Mayor Joe Ganim speak together during a thankyou rally in front of Northbridge Health Care Center in Bridgeport, Conn. May 1, 2020. Several

Photo: Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

Gov. Ned Lamont, left, U.S. Sen Richard Blumenthal, center, and Mayor Joe Ganim speak together during a thankyou rally in front of Northbridge Health Care Center in Bridgeport, Conn. May 1, 2020. Several elected officials stopped at Northbridge Friday to thank the staff, where dozens of COVID-19 patients have been sent for recovery.

Gov. Ned Lamont, left, U.S. Sen Richard Blumenthal, center, and Mayor Joe Ganim speak together during a thankyou rally in front of Northbridge Health Care Center in Bridgeport, Conn. May 1, 2020. Several

See the governor and elected officials thank health care workers in Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT Several elected officials including Gov. Ned Lamont, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim stopped at Northbridge Health Care Center in Bridgeport on Friday to thank the staff, where dozens of COVID-19 patients have been sent for recovery.

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See the governor and elected officials thank health care workers in Bridgeport - CTPost

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11-year-old CEO switches gears to help health care workers with ear savers - KMOV.com

SALT LAKE CITY Many Utahns all over the state stood outside to watch as four jets from Hill Air Force Bases 388th Fighter Wing zipped by in the sky above Thursday afternoon.

The Air Force F-35A Lightning II demonstration team jets flew all over the state, saluting medical workers for their service and Utah residents for staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Capt. Kip Sumner, spokesman for the F-35 demo team, explained on Wednesday that the jets would try to reach as many hospitals and health care facilities as possible along the Wasatch Front.

The team of four jets made their way from Hill Air Force base through the Wasatch Front down to St. George before they turned back north, flying past Park City up to Logan and then back to Hill Air Force base. The entire trek lasted a couple of hours.

While the flyover lasted just moments for most Utahns, the thought meant a lot. Young children cheered as the jets raced past the Utah Capitol toward the University of Utah Hospital.

#UtahStrong indeed! Thanks @F35demoteam for todays flyover #SLC to honor our first responders, healthcare heroes and all those on the frontlines of #COVID19 working to help #FlattenTheCurve. We see you! We appreciate you!THANK YOU!@slcmayor@slcCouncil#utpol@UtahGov@SLCoGovpic.twitter.com/x6bODVqGGC

Did you see the @HAFB@388fw@F35demoteam flyover? This was our view from @KSLChopper5 for @KSL5TV as Beo and the team flew over @UofUHealth as part of their salute to frontline healthcare workers. Keep an eye on the sky as they head south! #avgeekpic.twitter.com/1bkgypyEiz

"I love it," one health worker said, standing on Primary Children's Hospital's rooftop as the jets thundered by. That moment was recorded in a video sent to KSL.com by Caitlin Nash, an advanced EMT who works for Life Flight at the hospital.

Another image sent to KSL.com by Briana Terry showed LDS Hospital workers standing on the rooftop of the hospital to watch the fighter jets, as well.

A similar scene played out at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. Several doctors and nurses stepped outside and cheered as the brief show roared above.

"I think it's an incredible show of support," Gary Brunson, assistant nurse manager at Intermountain Health Center, told KSL TV. "I have staff that's working in the respiratory surge area every single day and this is a nice way to acknowledge what they're doing day in and day out."

Share your photos of the flyover by sending them to web@ksl.com and well pick some to feature in this story. You can view more of the photos sent to us in the attached gallery.

Contributing: Alex Cabrero, KSL TV

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F-35 team from Hill AFB salutes Utah health care workers, residents with flyover - KSL.com

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A 65-year-old woman who was a nurse at Signature HealthCARE in Newburgh from COVID-19 complications Friday, Warrick County Coroner Sarah Seaton said.

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. A 65-year-old woman who was a nurse at Signature HealthCARE in Newburgh died from COVID-19 complications Friday, Warrick County Coroner Sarah Seaton said.

The deathwill be the first attributed to Spencer County because the woman was a resident there, Spencer County Coroner Rachel Gentry said.

Gentry said the Indiana Department of Health said the woman was one of thefive confirmed positive cases of the coronavirus that had been reported in Spencer County so far.

She also said that there was no indication where the woman contracted the coronavirus,. Twelve residents at Signature HealthCARE, where the nurse worked, have died of COVID-19 complications.

A statementfrom Signature HealthCARE about the death had not been received by deadline Friday afternoon.

According to the Warrick County Health Department, 12 residents and one nurse at Signature Healthcare of Newburgh at 5233 Rosebud Lane in Newburgh, Ind., have died from complications of the COVID-19 virus. This picture was made April 7, 2020.(Photo: DENNY SIMMONS / COURIER & PRESS)

The death is the 13th COVID-19-related death from Signature'slong-term care facility since the coronavirus pandemic began. The other COVID-19 deaths there have all been residents.

Gentrysaid the woman actually died at aVanderburgh County hospital, although she worked in Warrick County and was a Spencer County resident.

More: Number of Vanderburgh County coronavirus cases jumps to 143, state shows 55 new deaths

As of Friday, there was only one COVID-related death recorded in Vanderburgh County and 16 total in Warrick.

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Nurse who worked at Signature HealthCARE in Newburgh dies from COVID-19 complications - Courier & Press

Health care heroes treated to ice cream

Hudsonville Ice Cream is thanking essential workers who are on the front lines with a tasty treat.

Updated: 10:57 AM EDT Apr 25, 2020

Hudsonville Ice Cream is recognizing essential workers who are on the front lines fighting COVID-19, by shipping them ice cream. The company has a program called Random Acts of Ice Cream, where they send pints to workers who are nominated each week through the summer. The ice cream will be delivered directly to their homes. The company is also working with hospitals throughout the midwest to give staff members a goal of 100,000 pints of ice cream.If you would like to nominate an essential worker on the front lines visit this website and explain why they're the healthcare hero: http://www.hudsonvilleicecream.com/random-acts

Hudsonville Ice Cream is recognizing essential workers who are on the front lines fighting COVID-19, by shipping them ice cream.

The company has a program called Random Acts of Ice Cream, where they send pints to workers who are nominated each week through the summer. The ice cream will be delivered directly to their homes.

The company is also working with hospitals throughout the midwest to give staff members a goal of 100,000 pints of ice cream.

If you would like to nominate an essential worker on the front lines visit this website and explain why they're the healthcare hero: http://www.hudsonvilleicecream.com/random-acts

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Health care heroes treated to ice cream - WLWT Cincinnati

CLEVELAND (WJW) Doctors and nurses watched as a long line of police, firefighters and other community members stopped by their hospital on Saturday.

They werent there for an emergency but to rather thank the staff as they work tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The appreciation parade visited Fairview Hospital, MetroHealth Medical Center and Lutheran Hospital on Saturday.

The coronavirus has put a strain on everyone, but this moment was created to recognize their efforts to treat patients battling a mysterious, contagious, and often deadly disease.

The parade included Cleveland police officers, Cleveland firefighters, Ohio Highway Patrol troopers, tow truck drivers, police dispatchers and more.

Sirens wailed, lights flashed, and firefighters even extended a ladder and unfurled a flag with a special connection to first responders nationwide.

Meantime, hospital staff stood outside smiling, clapping and cheering. Thanking the people whod come to thank them.

*Read more stories on the coronavirus pandemic here.*

The event was organized by Chris Haire, who runs North Coast Emergency Services, which is a company that provides traffic control at emergency scenes often along dangerous, busy highways.

We couldnt do it out here without supporting all of our partners, health care workers, police departments, fire departments, EMS, dispatchers. We are thanking everyone, said Haire.

Charlie McGeever, a member of the Cleveland Police Patrolmans Association, said it was an amazing experience.

It was so great going by the hospital and seeing all of the workers and even some patients. Everyone was so happy, it was awesome, he said.

Earlier this week, Parma first responders also put on a display to show thanks to hospitals workers there.

Continued here:

Emergency crews and hospital staff take moment to thank each other during COVID-19 crisis - WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights racial disparities in health and health care, according to the president of the Seacoast chapter of the NAACP.

Rogers Johnson said disparities have been noted for 40 years, but not until now, when the nation has seen minorities more affected by COVID-19, has the issue become an action priority.

People are talking about it now due to the coronavirus. This population has always been adversely impacted, Johnson said last week.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, current data suggest blacks are over-represented among those hospitalized for COVID-19.

In New York City, identified death rates of blacks are more than double that of whites, with 92.3 deaths per 100,000, compared to 45.2 deaths per 100,000.

In New York City, Hispanics and Latinos had 74.3 deaths per 100,000, and Asians had 34.5 deaths per 100,000, according to the CDC.

Johnson said blacks are more likely than whites to have diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, often for reasons related to lack of access to jobs with health insurance, lack of access to housing in suburbs and poorer diets.

Johnson said minorities are struggling to get masks as federal and state officials tell people to cover their faces in public when social distancing is not possible.

Think about a person of color who has to get on the internet to get a mask. ... Think about that person of color who doesnt have the internet, Johnson said.

Johnson praised state officials for breaking down COVID-19 statistics by race. He hopes they will start revealing where those people live.

In the last weekly summary from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, race was identifiable in 80% of the states confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Although according to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, 1.4% of the states population is black or African American, blacks account for 5.4% of COVID-19 cases in which race could be identified.

People who identify as Hispanic or Latino make up 3.9% of the states population and accounted for 6.1% of the cases. Asians, who are 3% of the population, made up 3.2% of the cases.

By contrast, whites are 90% of the population and 81% of the cases, according to the summary.

On Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson at the states Joint Information Center said he did not know how the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the minority population were specifically collected, saying some people have been tested at hospitals while others are being tested at clinics.

The state used data collected by Kenneth Johnson, a senior demographer at the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire for their overall population data.

Johnson said on Thursday that these numbers are very informed estimates.

Theyre the best estimates we have on what the population of New Hampshire looks like, Johnson said.

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COVID-19 raising awareness of racial disparities in health care - The Union Leader

LEE COUNTY

Starting July 1, a new class of health care workers will be able to take on more and relieve overworked medical providers.

Some people are asking why wait?

From burnout to self-quarantine mandates to catching COVID-19, Floridas health care workers are being stretched thin.

But Erica Smith, a senior attorney with the Institute for Justice, said theres an easy fix.

Nurse practitioners want to help now, they want to volunteer now and theyre getting caught in red tape, she said.

A new law that goes into effect on July 1 will no longer require nurse practitioners to work under the supervision of a physician.

Until then, You have to go and find a new supervisor, physicians are busy right now they cant be supervising new people.These agreements are sometimes tens of thousands of dollars to get, Smith said.

The Institute of Justice is asking Gov. Ron DeSantis office to immediately allow nurse practitioners to work without that supervision. That way, nurse practitioners with acute care specializations could help with COVID-19 patients now.

Why not let the law go into effect now? The governor has that power. Other states are doing it, lets get moving.

Local experts say nurse practitioners have the skills to meet the need.

I think one of their biggest things would be to triage, just like typically physicians do now, and deciding the next step for the patient, said Dr. Paula Tropello, dean of the School of Health Professions at Florida SouthWestern State College.

Nurse practitioners have been educated to assess, diagnose, interpret lab results, and treat patients, said Dr. Loureen Downes, associate professor at the School of Nursing at Florida Gulf Coast University.

While a few more months doesnt seem like a long time to wait, the extra help would be appreciated.

I think to have help is essential because the docs are burned out they have to be. In the ERs, the ICUs as is the rest of the staff, Tropello said.

WINK News reached out to the governors office for his response to the Institute for Justices letter. We have not heard back.

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Relief for health care workers on the way - but how soon? - Wink News

PARK RIDGE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) A New Jersey community is showing love and support for its first responders.

Some were up all night preparing a barbecue for charity.

It was a day of giving in Park Ridge.

Fresh wood was placed into a hot fire pit, where fresh food was prepared for COVID-19 front line workers.

Maintaining a safe distance, dozens of volunteers went to work, cooking and cutting hundreds of pizzas and barbecuing close to 1,000 pounds of pulled pork and grilled chicken.

They then put all the meals into boxes to feed 1,500 health care employees and first responders.

Steven Rich organized the event to support those fighting to save others.

Its our way of saying thank you, Rich told CBS2s Cory James. Theyre a lot braver than me.

It all started Friday night with volunteers preparing the fire pits.

Volunteers, like Elyssa Lovett, came together for one cause.

This mission hit home for Lovett because her brother was on a ventilator and nearly died from the virus.

Hes my big brother. Hes a 400-pound man whos always been stronger than everybody. Its five weeks later and hes still laying in a bed and eating applesauce, she said.

As she ran pizzas from the oven, local heroes started lining up in cars to get food.

Some were even loaded into volunteer vehicles and delivered to nearby hospitals.

CORONAVIRUS:NY Health Dept.| NY Call 1-(888)-364-3065 |NYC Health Dept. | NYC Call 311, Text COVID to 692692 | NJ Health Dept. | NJ Call 1-(800)-222-1222 or 211, Text NJCOVID to 898211 |CT Health Dept.| CT Call 211

It makes me feel good. I think people take for granted sometimes what they have right around the corner from them, firefighter Robert Paller said.

An outpouring of support that shows no matter where you are in the country, people from all over are uniting as one to help.

Its been a trying time but Im very proud of our community, Park Ridge Mayor Keith Misciagna said.

A message that did not go missed.

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NJ Community Feeds Hundreds Of Health Care Workers, First Responders Through Charity Barbecue - CBS New York

ALTOONA, Pa. Today Sheetz, a major Mid-Atlantic restaurant and convenience chain, announced it will offer free coffee to first responders and health care workers in appreciation of their commitment to our health and safety as they fight on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis.

This offer is available to hospital workers, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics - all who are involved in helping their communities fight COVID-19. It is effective immediately and will run through June 1, 2020.

"The first responders and medical personnel on the frontlines of this pandemic continue to truly inspire us, as they work tirelessly and relentlessly to care for others in our communities and throughout the nation," said Travis Sheetz, President, and COO of Sheetz. "It's important for us to show our appreciation to every single one of them during this difficult time. We're hoping this gesture will help fuel the first responders and medical personnel in the communities we reside in as they work around the clock to deliver life-saving care."

As an essential business, Sheetz is committed to staying open to serve the needs of the communities it calls home. Sheetz is grateful for the dedication and commitment of its employees, who work 24/7/365, providing total customer focus, especially during these challenging times.

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Sheetz to thank first responders, healthcare workers with free coffee - FOX43.com

How much of a burden? U.S. health care costs were $3.5 trillion in 2017, about 18% of the total gross domestic product, or $10,739 per person. That is, as the authors point out, about four times what the country spends on defense and about three times what it spends on education (and) needlessly eating away at workers wages.

Despite those out-of-control costs, Case and Deaton argue the health care industry has fended off reform by exercising extraordinary influence over government. It represents the single-biggest special interest in Washington, spending more than half a billion a year on lobbying and employing nearly 3,000 operatives. The clearest example of the power of this lobby could well be the Affordable Care Act an unwieldy, jury-rigged effort to expand health insurance coverage that managed to squeak through Congress only after, they write, hospitals, doctors, and pharma companies were effectively paid off.

Couple the staggering cost of health care in the U.S. with the erosion of other key pillars of the traditional safety net traditional old-age pensions and meager unemployment insurance and you may despair, as well.

Deaths of Despair was released last month as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Its analysis seems both timely and dated, as millions of people suddenly find themselves out of work, facing a dreaded disease and struggling to navigate a broken health care system.

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Dying of despair: Is U.S. health care to blame? - STLtoday.com

State investigators must inspect hospitals before resolving workplace safety complaints during the coronavirus pandemic, Nevadas largest health care union formally demanded Friday.

In a two-page letter sent to the states Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Nevada chapter of Service Employees International Union outlined hazards it alleges are still ongoing at a swath of large hospitals across the state.

Among the unions allegations:

Front-line health care workers are being forced to reuse protective equipment meant for a single use. Additionally, some hospital staff were not being provided proper safety equipment.

Hospital workers who are at risk for coronavirus complications, or have at-risk family members, are being required to treat and work near coronavirus patients.

Hospital workers are being exposed to patients with coronavirus symptoms but are never informed if the patients tested positive for the virus. Those same workers were later diagnosed with the disease themselves.

Since Nevadas coronavirus outbreak began in early March, OSHA has received at least 26 complaints against the states hospitals, more than the agency typically receives in an entire year.

Earlier this week, SEIU Local 1107 criticized the state agency for not conducting on-site inspections to determine the validity of complaints. Instead, OSHA reports it is resolving them through written inquiries to protect the health and safety of its 14 investigators.

Their unwillingness to even step foot in the building that they know that we are being asked to do things that arent safe, said union board member Jody Domineck, a registered nurse at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas. I believe that is absolutely them turning their backs on us.

Local 1107 believes this manner of investigating complaints is inadequate to ensure the health and safety of our front-line health care workers as well as the community at large, labor attorney Paul Cotsonis wrote in the unions letter to OSHA.

OSHA spokeswoman Teri Williams wrote in an email that the agency had received SEIU Local 1107s letter and was reviewing the unions concerns.

Contact Michael Scott Davidson at sdavidson@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861. Follow @DavidsonLVRJ on Twitter.

SEIU-OSHA demand letter by Las Vegas Review-Journal on Scribd

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Nevada health care workers demand on-site OSHA hospital inspections - Las Vegas Review-Journal