The United States, along with the rest of the world, has been pushing forward with full force on developing an effective COVID-19 vaccine. With 7 COVID-19 vaccine prospects in phase-three trials, and 17 in or having completed phase-two trials, [I] the idea of having a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year calls attention … Continue reading
Category Archives: Healthcare
How COVID-19 is Affecting Mental Health
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated several known risk factors for mental health issues, unsurprisingly causing a spike in symptoms of depression and anxiety and exacerbating existing mental health conditions. Such risk factors for mental health issues include, but are not limited to, uncertainty and fear of the future, economic instability, social isolation, physical inactivity, … Continue reading
Bringing Out the Worst in Each Other: COVID-19 and Opioid Use Disorder
The COVID-19 pandemic is raising concerns about the medical and psychological implications for those with Substance Use Disorders (SUD), in particular, Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). A White House drug policy office analysis indicates an 11.4% increase in overdose fatalities in the first four months of 2020, compared to the same time last year. Non-fatal overdoses have increased by 18.6% in the same time frame. [I] Individual states have … Continue reading
Who is Excluded from the Stimulus Package?
College students across the nation are angered by the stimulus package presented in the CARES act, specifically their exclusion from the $1,200 stimulus checks. As outlined in the bill, adults with incomes under $75,000 will receive a $1,200 check, couples filing jointly will receive $2,400, and those with children will receive $500 for each additional … Continue reading
How to Lower Health Care Costs: A Webcast from The Hamilton Project
The goal of this webcast, held on March 10, 2020, was to explore how competition, regulation, and reduced administrative expenses can help lower health care costs, strengthen the health care sector, and drive economic growth in the United States. In the United States health care sector, administrative costs are high and competition is generally low— … Continue reading
Assessing the Value and Feasibility of Telehealth
In light of the current pandemic, everyday life for Americans across the country has been looking significantly different than anyone is used to. Whether we like it or not, life is going digital, at least for the next few weeks. People are being forced to work remotely, take their classes online through platforms such as … Continue reading
Bankruptcies in the Antibiotics Market: An Impending Crisis
Without antibiotics, many everyday medical procedures would become deadly. Antibiotics treat bacterial infections that can arise from a range of causes including surgery, chronic conditions that weaken the immune system, dialysis, and cancer care.[1] However, the ability of the bacteria to adapt and become resistant to certain drugs that previously killed them, called antibiotic … Continue reading
Healthy Adult Opportunity: A Conservative Alternative to Medicaid Expansion?
The Trump administration recently released the Healthy Adult Opportunity, or HAO, initiative. This initiative offers states the option to revamp the way Medicaid is funded in their state. Medicaid funding has long been a topic of contention in healthcare. This needs-based public-assistance program that helps to cover the medical costs of specifically vulnerable or low-income … Continue reading
Addressing Social Determinants of Health
Addressing Social Determinants of Health: National Institute for Health Care Management webinar Social determinants of health (SDOH) are “the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age,” according to the WHO.[1] Examples of key issue areas include gender equity, early childhood education, social support, housing, transportation, and food security. Addressing social determinants … Continue reading
Bipartisan Support of “Nurse Coaching”
Background“Nurse coaching” is another name for the nurse-family community partnerships that began in 1996 with a vision from David Olds and funding from the U.S. Department of Justice and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.[i] What first began as 3 small case studies in New York, Tennessee, and Colorado has grown into a publicly … Continue reading
