AHA Center for Health Innovation’s Market Scan

In the spirit of helping front-line virus fighting organizations during these uncertain times, KII Consulting Inc., in partnership with Allstate Identity Protection (InfoArmor), is offering free identity protection coverage for employees of all health care organizations for the remainder of 2020.

Shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) — much of it sourced from Asia — has taught supply chain leaders some hard lessons during the pandemic. And now, some hospitals and health systems and their supply chain partners are banding together to source more PPE domestically.

The pandemic’s impact on how consumers access health care is being measured on a daily basis, and early data show dramatic increases in virtual care visits. Now, researchers and provider organizations are assessing how consumers’ experiences during the pandemic may affect how they access care in the future.

The U.S. economy has started to reopen as the impact of COVID-19 gradually subsides, but four of five senior health care leaders surveyed recently expect a significant spike in cases in their regions by fall and more than 74% do not believe an effective vaccine will be widely available until after July 1, 2021.

The AHA recently shared with members an updated resource, COVID-19 Pathways to Recovery, which includes considerations, questions and checklists for hospitals and health systems to consider as they work toward a safe, orderly return to providing comprehensive health care services to their communities. This updated resource focuses on financial management and governance, support and ancillary services, and plant operations/environment of care.

As the focus of health care providers and consumers shifts to the next chapter of the COVID-19 pandemic — a phased approach to reopening society — hospitals and health systems face new realities. As time moves on, the need for safe medical care not related to COVID-19 becomes more important than ever for the communities that hospitals and health systems serve. Hospitals and health systems will need to communicate both internally and externally about how plans and procedures have changed, while underscoring that the field is able to protect the healthy and at the same time care for the sick and injured.

The AHA recently released an updated version of its “COVID-19 Models: Forecasting the Pandemic’s Spread” report that analyzes five new COVID-19 models, including two free AHA MetricVu™ data visualization tools.

The novel coronavirus is reshaping health care through technology. Recent advances, such as artificial intelligence, telehealth, virtual collaboration and data tracking are instrumental in addressing the virus and flattening the curve.

A new public-private effort is aimed at distributing ventilators to critical areas with the greatest need. Leaders from the American Hospital Association and several hospitals and health systems participated in the White House announcement of the Dynamic Ventilator Reserve.

The AHA has developed a new resource, “COVID-19 Models: Forecasting the Pandemic’s Spread,” in response to members’ interest in tools that can help them make decisions that are consistent with their organizations’ values and community needs. The report provides an overview of and links to 11 models that can help organizations address case projections and capacity planning, community vulnerability mapping and case mapping.