Titled Prevalence of unprofessional social media content among young vascular surgeons, it appears in the August 2020 edition of the Journal of Vascular Surgery (and online in December). Six of the seven listed authors have ties to Boston Medical Center, including Dr. Alik Farber, chief of vascular and endovascular surgery at Boston Medical Center.

The clinical research study drew so much scrutiny that by Friday afternoon its authors had apologized and in an extraordinary move called for a retraction of their own work, according to a statement from BMC.

A spokesman said the paper was ill-conceived, poorly executed, and reinforces biases about professionalism and gender and doesnt represent the values of the hospital.

This paper highlights that we have so much more work to do to eliminate gender bias among our medical community, our training programs, and especially in the care we provide to our patients and the communities we serve, the statement said.

In their paper, the authors wrote that they set out to evaluate the extent of unprofessional social media content among recent vascular surgery fellows and residents by sifting through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter profiles using incognito accounts.

The study concluded that one-half of recent and soon-to-be graduating vascular surgery trainees had an identifiable social media account, with nearly one-quarter of these containing either clearly unprofessional or potentially unprofessional content.

It described potentially unprofessional content as holding or drinking alcohol in photos; posting controversial political and religious comments or controversial social topics; and sharing images in inappropriate attire such as underwear, provocative Halloween costumes, and provocative posing in bikinis/swimwear.

Young surgeons should be aware of the permanent public exposure of unprofessional content that can be accessed by peers, patients, and current [and] future employers, the authors wrote. They argue it could also be harmful to the institutions they work for or affect a patients hospital choice.

But a growing chorus of people who identified themselves as working in the medical field both men and women came out against the papers methodology and conclusions Friday, calling it misogynistic, demanding it be retracted, and spawning the hashtag #MedBikini.

Among the numerous pictures shared Friday were physicians, doctors, and nurses clad in two-piece bikinis and swimsuits, sitting in inflatable tubes in the pool or standing on the beach. Others were sipping or holding alcoholic beverages. Some did both.

My body is my temple, and treating it as such sets a good example for my patients. Drinking a cocktail while on a well-deserved vacation is not unprofessional, one reply to the study said.

While many of the posts led to people sharing photos of themselves in bathing suits or out for drinks combined with pithy responses others rebuffed the idea that health care professionals should tamp down on sharing personal opinions about certain major public health issues, like gun control and abortion, which the study called controversial social comments.

This paper is a perfect example of unconscious bias. By labeling things such as provocative Halloween costumes,' bikinis and opinions on abortion and gun control unprofessional, who do you think they are primarily targeting? one person wrote.

Another doctor called the article ridiculous.

I support #MedBikini, but more importantly I would also ask [the authors] to justify the suggestion that physicians shouldnt speak out about abortion and gun control, the person wrote.

Farber did not immediately return a request for comment. The Globe also reached out to the Journal of Vascular Surgery but did not receive a response.

But at least two of the studys authors, including Dr. Jeff Siracuse, a vascular surgeon at BMC, apologized for the papers content on social media Friday.

Siracuse, in a series of tweets, said the intent was to empower surgeons to be aware and then personally decide what may be easily available for our patients and colleagues to see about us online.

This was clearly not the result, Siracuse said in a thread. We realize that the definition of professionalism is rapidly changing in medicine and that we need to support our trainees and surgeons as our society changes without the appearance of judgment.

Siracuse also admitted that the design had the potential for significant gender bias, particularly with male authors assessing the appropriateness of womens as well as mens clothing, but that the so-called inappropriate attire category that particularly rocked the medical world looked at both women and men in swimsuits.

However, we were wrong not to have considered the inherent gender bias and have certainly learned from this experience, he said. We will do better in the future and teach others from our experience.

Steve Annear can be reached at steve.annear@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @steveannear.

Read more:

#MedBikini: Heres why health care professionals are posting photos of themselves in bathing suits - The Boston Globe

This week, I met with doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville who have been on the front line of saving lives during this coronavirus pandemic. They were tired and stressed, but their work makes me grateful for their services and sacrifice. Today Id like to talk about the need to find more people such as those to enter the field. I am hopeful that the sight of their heroic service will inspire others to choose a career in health care.

The numbers of those in the health care profession nationally and in Arkansas have been declining for years. This worldwide health crisis has highlighted the shortfall and the urgent need to correct it. There never has been a greater need for young people to enter the health care profession.

The reasons for the decline are many, but the result is that as health care professionals retire, there arent enough people to replace them. Americans are living longer, which means the number of people in need of medical care is growing as the number of providers shrinks. In the rural areas of Arkansas, the situation is even more challenging.

As the coronavirus has billowed across our nation like a toxic fog, the illness has illustrated the complicated nature of our health care system. We have seen how various medical specialties intersect, and that each is essential: Medical doctors and doctors of osteopathic medicine. Paramedics. Emergency room doctors and registered nurses. Respiratory therapists and licensed practical nurses. Home health caregivers. Researchers. Medical technicians. That is a very short list of the many important jobs in the health care field.

A health care career offers many benefits. You can find a job almost anywhere you want to live, and the jobs pay well.

But there is more to it than the personal benefit. Health care is a higher calling, much like any other public service. Those who choose that path often are called upon to put the good of others before personal comfort and convenience, as thousands have done during the pandemic. The hours are long, the work can be difficult. But there are the bright moments when someone saves a life or a homebound patient rewards a health aide with a smile of gratitude.

Arkansas is growing and in need of more people who are willing to commit to that level of service. Our state needs young professionals with fresh perspectives to help us figure out new and better ways to deliver health care. We need tech-savvy professionals who elevate our health care system, which benefits all Arkansans: A tech-savvy health care system attracts high-quality business and industry and enhances Arkansass general quality of life.

COVID-19 has changed everything about our lives. We have no idea how long we will be fighting the current battle, but the health care professionals who are guiding us through this time inspire confidence and hope. My hope is that their inspiration will attract a new generation of professionals to accept the call.

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReadyNSI

Read this article:

Governor addresses the 'higher calling of health care' - ktlo.com

Kara Odom Walker Published 5:00 a.m. ET July 26, 2020

As we continue to confront the worst public health crisis in our lifetime, health systems are prioritizing emergency care while other essential care hangs in the balance. In many ways, Delaware has been preparing for this moment. During the pandemic, health centers across our state have continued to ensure women have access to birth control, no exceptions. Delaware spent years investing in a new womens health infrastructure, and now we are seeing those efforts pay off.

Ten years ago, Delaware had the highest rate of unplanned pregnancies in the U.S. 57% of pregnancies were unintended. A decade later, Delaware has transformed its health care system and reshaped contraceptive access across the state. By integrating reproductive care into primary care, were empowering Delawareans to become pregnant only if and when they want to.

From 2014 to 2017, unplanned births dropped 25% in Delaware, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At the same time, Delaware saw a 37% decline in the abortion rate, the most significant drop of any state in the country and more than four times the national decline.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

This remarkable progress is linked to our comprehensive effort to increase access to birth control for all Delawareans. The state of Delaware under Governors Jack Markell and John Carney partnered with the nonprofit Upstream USA and our Division of Public Health and the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance to work with thousands of providers across the state. Rather than limiting or banning contraceptives or abortions, we ensured access and care for all patients, one health center at a time.

The status quo was not working. Patients were not regularly asked about their pregnancy intentions or reproductive life goals when they went to see a doctor. Doctors were not always providing adequate counseling on the full range of birth control methods. And when women decided they wanted an IUD or implant considered the most effective forms of birth control they often had to schedule unnecessary additional appointments. This is a huge burden that could require taking time off work or arranging child care. In fact, one study found that about half of women who requested an IUD did not attend the follow-up appointment to place it.

During my time as Cabinet Secretary, Ive heard many stories about how our work with Upstream and providers across our state has changed the lives of women and their families. Brittanys is one of those stories. During college, she didnt have a lot of extra money for an IUD and told herself, I guess Ill have to get better at taking the pill. After checking with her health care provider, she learned that Delaware had a program to cover the cost of the IUD and she made an appointment. Today as a nurse, she has big career goals. My IUD lets me plan my life, she says.

Her story illustrates the importance of integrating reproductive and primary care and making all forms of contraception available in a single visit at low or no cost. And thats exactly what we did in Delaware. Notably, this did not involve building something new, but instead working within our existing infrastructure to provide training and technical assistance to medical providers both in our hospital systems and in private practices. This may not sound momentous, but training staff at every level at practices of all sizes from doctors and nurses to receptionists is crucial and worth the time and investment.

When you put all of these pieces together, it translates to patients receiving best-in-class care in one visit and thats a game-changer. Just as important, we implemented a sustainable model, changing the foundation of how health centers operate so that they can continue to provide this patient-centered care going forward. And surveys indicate that over 99% of patients either made their own decisions about contraceptive methods or shared decision-making with their provider.

Its important to note that this work doesnt happen in isolation, nor is it a singular solution. Delawares commitment to improving outcomes for women and families does not start and end with contraceptive access. Delaware, like the rest of the country, must prioritize improving maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black women, people of color, transgender individuals, and those with lower incomes. As health care providers, we all must address our own biases, particularly when it comes to ensuring patient autonomy. That is why a key component of our training is ensuring that all staff in the health care setting can recognize bias and avoid coercive practices.

Karen Odom Walker(Photo: Special to the USA TODAY NETWORK)

Over the course of five years, we created systemic change throughout Delawares health care system. We made sure that family planning and reproductive health are a regular part of conversations between patients and their providers. We made sure that no matter what, women have access to all forms of birth control in a single visit. By investing in more equitable health care, we have laid a foundation of care that has proven resilient and accessible during the COVID-19 crisis.

As I prepare to leave my position as cabinet secretary at the end of July, I know this critical work will be in good hands going forward. Gov. John Carney has nominated DHSS Deputy Secretary Molly Magarik as the new cabinet secretary, and her appointment was confirmed by the Delaware Senate. Our incoming DHSS Secretary knows the importance of our partnership with Upstream and health care providers across the state. And she understands the difference it is making in the lives of Delaware women and their families.

During a pandemic, it is clear to me as a family physician that we cannot afford to put off essential health care. In an age of uncertainty for reproductive health care, Delawares common-sense solution has made birth control access a reality for tens of thousands of women. We encourage other states and communities to do the same.

Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a practicing family physician, is the Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Health and Social Services. She will be leaving her position at the end of July to begin a new position with Nemours in Washington.

Read or Share this story: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/2020/07/26/delaware-transformed-its-health-care-system-women-heres-how/5503932002/

Follow this link:

Delaware transformed its health care system for women here's how | Opinion - The News Journal

Would you pull into a gas station and fill your tank if you couldnt know the price of gas? What if the attendant said he didnt know the price either, but recommended you go ahead and fill up, and his company would send you a bill later? Of course not. No consumer would tolerate this behavior in any industry, but in health care its the norm.

In these uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic, when concerns about needing health care and worries of how to pay for it are top of mind, the need for health care price transparency has never been more urgent. Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King have a chance to make health care price transparency happen for us and for all Americans. The U.S. Senate recently introduced The Health Care PRICE Transparency Act (SB 4106), which would require all hospitals to reveal their cash prices and secret, negotiated rates with insurers in an easy-to-read online format by Jan. 1. This is information that 90% of Americans want, but that hospitals and insurance companies have been aggressively fighting because they dont want to kill their golden goose.

We need them to not only support this bill, but also to join with lawmakers in the effort to include the bill into the next COVID-19 stimulus package and make it the law.

As more Mainers go without insurance or choose high-deductible health plans, they need the ability to shop for health care based on price and quality. Without price transparency, they will continue to be targets for surprise, after-the-fact medical bills in amounts far greater than is reasonable. Knowing how often this happens, many consumers delay seeking necessary medical attention, hoping their problem will just go away. This can lead to patients not getting care until they are in critical condition or worse. The fear of facing bankruptcy due to outrageous medical bills often motivates consumers to roll the dice. However, if they could know the price of health care ahead of time they could compare prices and be in control of their health care dollars, not blindsided by bills they could not see coming.

Besides helping patients find health care at the lowest cost, complete price transparency in health care would also spur competition, which would drive down prices, spur innovation and lead to better quality and access.

Those fighting the price transparency law claim that health care is too complex to respond to the same free market principles that govern every other market. Notably, these are the same players who profit most from the opaque status quo.

Dont buy their argument. Todays technology can synthesize huge amounts of data and put exact real-time prices for airline tickets and automobiles at our fingertips in seconds. The same can happen with health care prices. Thats why a law that would require every hospital, medical office and clinic to post their prices cash and secret, negotiated rates in a way that is easy to search and accessible is so needed.

As a Direct Primary Care physician in greater Portland, my staff and I strive to find transparent pricing for our price-conscious patients. It isnt easy. We know that the price for the same blood test can cost anywhere from $3 to $60, depending on where you go, but most patients dont find out until its too late.

Price transparency would fix that, which is why we need to make SB 4106 law. We need to hold our lawmakers accountable to Americans, not to the powerful health care lobby, which is paying lawmakers handsomely to vote otherwise. Health care price transparency is not a red or blue issue. Its a widely bipartisan issue. This law would bring tremendous financial empowerment to American households and would cost taxpayers nothing.

Please urge Sens. Collins and King to vote for the price transparency bill and to move to include it in the next COVID-19 stimulus package. It is what Americans want, need and deserve.

Michael A. Ciampi, M.D., is a family physician in South Portland, and a member of the Association of Independent Doctors.

Continued here:

Forum: Patients need to see health care prices to shop for better value - Press Herald

Posted: Jul 25, 2020 / 09:30 AM CDT / Updated: Jul 25, 2020 / 09:30 AM CDT

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson held his daily COVID-19 briefing from the University of Arkansas-Cossatot Friday, holding up De Queen and Sevier County as examples to the rest of the state of a success story in slowing the spread of the coronavirus. (Source: KTAL/KMSS Staff)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (News release) This week Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson talks about the future of health care and what can be done to help aid its growth.

Read the full address below:

This week, I met with doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville who have been on the front line of saving lives during thiscoronavirus pandemic. They were tired and stressed, but their work makes me grateful for their services and sacrifice. Today Id like to talk about the need to find more people such as those to enter the field. I am hopeful that the sight of their heroic service will inspire others to choose a career in health care.

The numbers of those in the health care profession nationally and in Arkansas have been declining for years. This worldwide health crisis has highlighted the shortfall and the urgent need to correct it. There never has been a greater need for young people to enter the health care profession.

The reasons for the decline are many, but the result is that as health care professionals retire, there arent enough people to replace them. Americans are living longer, which means the number of people in need of medical care is growing as the number of providers shrinks. In the rural areas of Arkansas, the situation is even more challenging.

As the coronavirus has billowed across our nation like a toxic fog, the illness has illustrated the complicated nature of our health care system. We have seen how various medical specialties intersect, and that each is essential: Medical doctors and doctors of osteopathic medicine. Paramedics. Emergency room doctors and registered nurses. Respiratory therapists and licensed practical nurses. Home health caregivers. Researchers. Medical technicians. That is a very short list of the many important jobs in the health care field.

A health care career offers many benefits. You can find a job almost anywhere you want to live, and the jobs pay well.

But there is more to it than the personal benefit. Health care is a higher calling, much like any other public service. Those who choose that path often are called upon to put the good of others before personal comfort and convenience, as thousands have done during the pandemic. The hours are long, the work can be difficult. But there are the bright moments when someone saves a life or a homebound patient rewards a health aide with a smile of gratitude.Arkansas is growing and in need of more people who are willing to commit to that level of service. Our state needs young professionals with fresh perspectives to help us figure out new and better ways to deliver health care. We need tech-savvy professionals who elevate our health care system, which benefits all Arkansans: A tech-savvy health care system attracts high-quality business and industry and enhances Arkansass general quality of life.

COVID-19 has changed everything about our lives. We have no idea how long we will be fighting the current battle, but the health care professionals who are guiding us through this time inspire confidence and hope. My hope is that their inspiration will attract a new generation of professionals to accept the call.

More here:

Governor Hutchinsons Weekly Address: For the higher calling of health care - KARK

I dont personally know Dr. Jami Chisdak, but I am disappointed that she supports Daines in a TV ad and says Bullock would be responsible for closing hospitals and would work to establish government care at cost of $30 trillion.

Actually, when running for president he said he would improve ACA (Affordable Care Act) at the margins along with a public option. We all know that, working with the Republican Legislature, Bullock got Medicaid for over 90,000 Montanans. There are roughly 160 towns in Montana under 1,000 people, over 70% elderly.

In 2018 nine counties were without a physician, and their hospitals and nursing homes are dependent on Medicare-Medicaid for survival.

Daines spouts caring for pre-existing conditions (133 million people), yet has voted to dismantle ACAnot perfect but covers 20 million citizens and includes pre-existing conditions -- and offers no good alternative. He is tied to Trumps hip all the way (Trump, besides failing the nation on the coronavirus pandemic, wants to destroy a womans right to make decisions about her own body).

Comprehensive insurance programs are not affordable for most American families. A system like EU countries would be less costly than current American medical care.

To see what else is happening in Gallatin County subscribe to the online paper.

Go here to read the rest:

Bullock best choice to sort our health care issues - The Bozeman Daily Chronicle

SOUTH PORTLAND Would you pull into a gas station and fill your tank if you couldnt know the price of gas? What if the attendant said he didnt know the price either but recommended you go ahead and fill up, and his company would send you a bill later? Of course not. No consumer would tolerate this behavior in any industry, but in health care its the norm.

In these uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic, when concerns about needing health care and worries of how to pay for it are top of mind, the need for health care price transparency has never been more urgent.

Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King have a chance to make health care price transparency happen for us and for all Americans. The U.S. Senate recently introduced the Health Care PRICE Transparency Act (S.4106), which would require all hospitals to reveal their cash prices and secret, negotiated rates with insurers in an easy-to-read online format by Jan. 1. This is information that 90 percent of Americans want, but that hospitals and insurance companies have been aggressively fighting because they dont want to kill their golden goose.

We need them to not only support this bill, but also to join with lawmakers in the effort to include the bill in the next COVID-19 stimulus package and make it the law.

As more Mainers go without insurance or choose high-deductible health plans, they need the ability to shop for health care based on price and quality. Without price transparency, they will continue to be targets for surprise, after-the-fact medical bills in amounts far greater than is reasonable. Knowing how often this happens, many consumers delay seeking necessary medical attention, hoping their problem will just go away. This can lead to patients not getting care until they are in critical condition, or worse. The fear of facing bankruptcy because of outrageous medical bills often motivates consumers to roll the dice. However, if they could know the price of health care ahead of time, they could compare prices, and be in control of their health care dollars, not blindsided by bills they could not see coming.

Besides helping patients find health care at the lowest cost, complete price transparency in health care would also spur competition, which would drive down prices, spur innovation and lead to better quality and access.

Those fighting the price transparency law claim that health care is too complex to respond to the same free-market principles that govern every other market. Notably, these are the same players who profit most from the opaque status quo.

Dont buy their argument. Todays technology can synthesize huge amounts of data and put exact real-time prices for airline tickets and automobiles at our fingertips in seconds. The same can happen with health care prices. Thats why a law that would require every hospital, medical office and clinic to post their prices cash and secret, negotiated rates in a way that is easy to search and accessible is so needed.

As a direct primary care physician in the Portland area, I strive with my staff to find transparent pricing for our price-conscious patients. It isnt easy. We know that the price for the same blood test can cost anywhere from $3 to $60, depending on where you go, but most patients dont find out until its too late.

Price transparency would fix that, which is why we need to make S.4106 law. We need to hold our lawmakers accountable to Americans, not to the powerful health care lobby, who are paying lawmakers handsomely to vote otherwise. Health care price transparency is not a red or a blue issue. Its a widely bipartisan issue. This law would bring tremendous financial empowerment to American households, and would cost taxpayers nothing.

Please urge Sens. Collins and King to vote for the price transparency bill and to move to include it in the next COVID-19 stimulus package. It is what Americans want, need and deserve.

Invalid username/password.

Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

See more here:

Maine Voices: Patients need to see health care prices to shop for better value - Press Herald

A business refusal to serve people based on their race, political beliefs, religion and gender affiliation is considered strictly off limits even illegal but what about the denial of service to medical professionals and first responders who have had recent contact with people who have tested positive for COVID-19?

Dayle Morningstar Laird was shocked to learn she would not be given her scheduled pedicure Wednesday afternoon at Spaaah Shop & Day Spa in Durango after she answered the spas questionnaire saying she had recent contacts with people who have tested positive for the pathogen.

Morningstar Laird, a paramedic based in Pagosa Springs with the Upper San Juan Basin Health District, fairly frequently transports COVID-19 patients from Pagosa Springs to Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango.

Antoinette Whidden, co-owner of the Spaaah Shop, said denial of service to people who have had recent contact with people testing positive for COVID-19 was and remains the proper procedure for her employees to follow. She said her employees denial of service to Morningstar Laird or anyone with recent contact with COVID-19-positive patients is common sense.

As you can understand, for a spa, where our services are up close and personal, you cant take chances. ... I cant expose my employees. Its just common sense, she said. If we were to expose our employees, then we would be required to shut down. It doesnt matter if theyre a paramedic, or if theyre a school teacher, or if theyre a housewife or whatever they are it doesnt matter. If they answer yes to that question, then it is our job, its our responsibility to make sure that our customers in the back as well as our employees are not exposed. I mean, it sucks. I would love to be able to give them a service. But, you know, in this day and age, you just cant. Youve got to be careful.

Claire Ninde, director of communications with San Juan Basin Public Health, said the state requires personal service businesses to screen customers for COVID-19 symptoms when receiving a high-contact service like a massage, haircut or spa treatment, but they dont have to screen for past exposures.

Businesses must follow required state guidance to protect their employees and customers according to their industry standards. SJBPH has not added to these requirements or provided other detailed recommendations, aside from the self-certification requirement for establishments in La Plata County, Ninde said in an email to The Durango Herald.

Guidelines for personal service providers to follow while operating in a COVID-19 environment are spelled out on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environments website, she said.

EMTs and other health care providers use elevated protective strategies and equipment when interacting with potential or confirmed COVID-19 patients, and SJBPH does not consider them exposed or close contacts as long as these procedures are followed, Ninde said.

SJBPH, she said, realizes complex challenges faced by businesses and customers as they navigate new situations posed by COVID-19.

We acknowledge that most businesses are doing their best to protect the health of both their employees and customers. This includes self-certification using our online infection-control checklist and continually practicing things like physical distancing, face covering and elevated sanitization, she said. We also know that most customers and even patrons are acting in a responsible way by monitoring their own symptoms, wearing face coverings and following businesses requirements.

SJBPHs recommendation to personal service businesses like the Spaaah Shop, Ninde said, would be that they follow state guidance which is specifically: conduct symptoms check for all customers of services with close personal contact and decline to provide services to anyone who has symptoms.

Morningstar Laird said paramedics with Upper San Juan Basin Health are required to wear personal protective equipment from head to toe. After transport she said, paramedics clean like crazy, are required to shower and the ambulance is flooded with ultraviolet light to disinfect the vehicle all procedures she believes any reasonable person would take into account before denying service to a paramedic.

The precautions we take at work are very, very extreme, so Im not worried about giving it to other people, she said. But I filled out the form correctly, and before I even filled out the rest of the questionnaire, she said, You have been in contact. And I said, Well, yes, Im a paramedic. And she started yelling at me and told me that I had to get out.

Wade Whidden, co-owner of the Spaaah Shop, said if the business is responsible for a confirmed case of COVID-19 it will be required to close for 14 days, and the business is put in a tough place because it looks bad if the spa is overly cautious by turning away clients or if it is identified as a business responsible for a COVID-19 transmission.

What would you suggest we do? he said. Do you think we want to turn people away that have exposure to COVID? Our business is down 50% from last year. The last thing we want to do is turn anybody away for a service. But we cannot put our employees at risk. We cant put our back staff at risk. I know its a tough situation. I know its brutal to have to turn anybody away.

Charles Spence, an attorney and a partner in the Durango firm Maynes, Bradford, Shipps and Sheftel, said litigation for small businesses based on COVID-19 incidents is such a recent development, it is too early to say whether the Whiddens are acting too excessively in their denial of service to Morningstar Laird.

Several class-action lawsuits have been filed, but they have yet to be adjudicated, he said.

The liability exposure is somewhat unclear at this point, he said. I dont think weve seen the true fallout from all of that yet. And its going to be pretty dire in some cases. Theyre trying to protect themselves from these possible claims. It gets difficult, and I dont know if theres a clear answer right now.

parmijo@durangoherald.com

Link:

Fearful of virus, business denies health care worker pedicure in Durango - Pine River Times

VCU Health will occupy the building at 332 North Henry St. Located near campus, the new clinic will be equipped with patient rooms and imaging technology and will be accessible to anyone, not just the university community. Services at the North Henry St. location will be available once renovations are complete. (WYDaily/Erin Zagursky, W&M News)

William & Mary recently announced a long-term, strategic partnership with VCU Health to significantly increase its capacity to provide access to health care on campus starting this fall. Included in the agreement is management of an extensive, university-wide COVID-19 testing program for students, faculty and staff.

The partnership will also expand the universitys health care in several unique categories for students, including general care support, mental health services and comprehensive orthopedic and sports medical coverage.

This agreement greatly expands our services and allows William & Mary to closely align with a leading university health center, said W&M President Katherine A. Rowe. Our partnership with VCU Health will support immediate needs during the pandemic while also providing the W&M community long-term access to a broad network of exceptional medical and mental health services. This is a terrific example of the kind of innovative collaboration that is essential to the success of a world-class university.

William & Mary and VCU Health are in the process of finalizing a 10-year contract with two five-year renewal options. The contract was awarded following a competitive bidding process conducted by a university selection committee with representatives from student affairs, athletics, human resources, and university operations.

The alliance with a third-party health care provider is the first of its kind at W&M. This is also the first partnership with another university for VCU Health, which boasts a vast network of providers that offer a wide range of health care services.

I am proud of this unique partnership that brings VCU Healths comprehensive services to the William & Mary community and residents of Williamsburg, said Michael Rao, Ph.D., president of Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System. I look forward to serving the William & Mary and Williamsburg communities in a more robust way. Especially in these unusual times, we are better together.

VCU Health will provide enhanced support services in conjunction with the on-campus Student Health Center and for the Counseling Center, including mental health services to the student population and medical options for staff and faculty.

Additionally, it will administer sports medicine and orthopedic care to the universitys athletics department, as well as club sports, intramural sports and other related areas of the Universitys Health and Wellness division.

The new partnership takes William & Marys health care to a new level, said Kelly Crace, W&Ms associate vice president for health & wellness. It blends W&Ms existing resources with those of a top-notch university health organization in VCU Health, he added.

This is a very unique hybrid where we are developing a collaborative partnership to really enhance the breadth and depth of our resources for the health and safety and wellness of our community, said Crace.

VCU Health will also manage the universitys COVID-19 testing program that expects all students to be tested before returning to campus. VCUHS will continue prevalence testing among students and employees throughout the semester in order to track positivity results and modify operations, if warranted. During the semester, William & Mary will provide dedicated housing for quarantine and isolation for residential students who require it. In addition, employees will also have access to optional testing, partially subsidized by the university, if desired. Finally, all students and employees will be able to sign up for exit testing as they leave campus in November, as an additional precaution for their home communities.

We are finalizing the details on a long-term arrangement that will provide VCU Health with quality clinical space in close proximity to the campus, William & Mary contracts manager Bill Vega said.

As part of this partnership, VCU Health will occupy the building at 332 North Henry St. The facility is owned by the W&M Real Estate Foundation and leased by the university. The university will extend a long-term sublease to VCU Health as part of this arrangement. Located near campus, the new clinic will be equipped with patient rooms and imaging technology and will be accessible to anyone, not just the university community, Vega said. Services at the North Henry St. location will be available once renovations are complete.

It will be available to the Williamsburg community as an outpatient center, Vega said. So it will not only serve William & Mary, but it helps the community as well.

Until that facility is available, VCU Health will have temporary sites available on campus to support COVID testing.

The William & Mary-VCU Health partnership comes at a time where health care needs are heightened because of COVID-19.

Were going to be good thought partners on how to best respond to the continued health and safety guidelines for those in our campus community and the greater Williamsburg area, so VCU Health is going to partner with us in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of those who are managing the virus, Crace said.

VCU Health is also going to be a really important part of us recognizing that during this time of pandemic conditions and during this time of social unrest, theres increased anxiety and theres a lot of chronic uncertainty that really causes a level of mental strain and emotional strain among our community members. Our behavioral health partnership with them is going to really help us tend to the mental health needs of our community that are going to be more amplified this year than they have been in the past.

Crace said VCU aligns completely with William & Marys mission to provide integrative wellness, which includes many dimensions emotional/mental, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual.

Having a collaborative partner to help us manage the demand that we have is really exciting, Crace said. VCU Health really understands our mission of integrative wellness, and they really want to be a part of that vision with us.

Nathan Warters is a communications specialist at William & Mary.

YOU ALSO MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT THESE STORIES:

Always be informed. Click here to get the latest news and information delivered to your inbox

Read more:

William & Mary partners with VCU Health to expand university health care - WYDaily

This article was originally published here

Cancer Med. 2020 Jul 25. doi: 10.1002/cam4.3333. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Concerns have been raised about the accessibility and quality of cancer-related care for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). However, there is limited insight into cancer incidence and the utilization of cancer care at the ID population level to inform targeted cancer control strategies. Therefore, we aimed to examine differences in the utilization of cancer-related care between people with and without ID, identified through diagnostic codes on health insurance claims.

METHODS: In a population-based cohort study, Dutch individuals of all ages who received residential care through the Chronic Care Act due to an ID (n = 65 183) and an age and sex-matched sample of persons without ID (1:2 ratio), who were cancer-free at enrollment in 2013 were followed through 2015. Incidence rates (IRs) of newly started cancer care and IR ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs were used to compare groups. Separate analyses were performed per cancer type.

RESULTS: Individuals with ID received less cancer-related care than individuals without (IRR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.62-0.66). Differences increased with age and were larger for females than for males. Utilization of care for cancers within the national screening program (female breast, cervical, and colon cancer) was lower for people with ID compared to people without ID.

CONCLUSION: Cancer may be underdiagnosed and/or undertreated in people with ID, or cancer is truly less prevalent in this population. In particular, the differences detected between males and females with ID, and the potential underutilization of national screening programs, require urgent follow-up investigations.

PMID:32710528 | DOI:10.1002/cam4.3333

See the rest here:

Disparities in cancer-related healthcare among people with intellectual disabilities: A population-based cohort study with health insurance claims...