Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources and Special Communications

As COVID-19 cases surge again, four major health care organizations release updated guidance on maintaining essential surgery during the ongoing pandemic.

Headlines The COVID Tracking Project announced that 85,836 people are currently hospitalized in the US with COVID-19 Monday - the 14th consecutive day of record-setting hosp

Hospitals and health systems have demonstrated innovative leadership in acute care response throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenge going forward will be to continue the energy and enthusiasm of distributed, team-based, rapid problem-solving and use it to address other problems that organizations now face.

Headlines

According to data collected by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), 40% of parents and legal guardians report their children missed vaccinations because they avoided routine medical care during the pandemic.

New evidence suggests breast milk is not a likely source of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, according to a recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

This week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization for the first rapid home-based test for SARS-CoV-2.

Providing oxygen using high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) rather than mechanical ventilation is emerging as a safe and effective alternative for treating COVID-19 patients with severe disease.

In an open letter to the American people, three organizations representing health professionals on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, this week called on Americans to celebrate holidays responsibly.

A Vanderbilt University study of waivers to ease practice restrictions on advanced practice registered nurses

A nationwide survey of nurse leaders identified staffing, well-being and communication as top challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN, who served as the acting deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration

Nineteen organizations representing physicians and hospitals, including the AHA, urge congressional leaders to support legislation to freeze the thresholds for clinicians to qualify for advanced alternative payment model incentive payments for the 2021 and 2022 performance years.

Please join AHA Board Chair Melinda Estes, M.D., for the ninth in a series of Leadership Rounds — short conversations on a range of key issues Dr. Estes will have with hospital and health system leaders from across the country. Dr. Estes is joined by Sarah Krevans, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sutter Health, to discuss how hospitals can move from relief, recovery, and rebuilding to reimagining and innovation. This Leadership Rounds was recorded on Thursday, November 19, 2020.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Like many other rural hospitals, Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, Minnesota, has increased virtual health visits with patients, improving access and transforming health care delivery.

As part of the Healthy St. Landry Alliance, Opelousas General Health System in Louisiana helped develop a coordinated communications pipeline to address residents’ needs during the pandemic.

In this episode, Rebecca Chickey, MPH, senior director of behavioral health and field engagement at the American Hospital Association is joined by Brian Kay, vice president of continuous improvement at Rogers Behavioral Health, as well as Dr. Patrick O’Malley, medical director of primary care services at Rogers Behavioral Health.