45% of adults over 65 lack online medical accounts that could help them sign up for COVID-19 vaccinations

As the vaccination of older adults against COVID-19 begins across the country, new poll data suggests that many of them don’t yet have access to the “patient portal” online systems that could make it much easier for them to schedule a vaccination appointment. In all, 45% of adults aged 65 to 80 had not set up an account with their health provider’s portal system.

COVID forced psychiatric care online. Many patients want it to stay there, study finds

A new study suggests that more than half of outpatient psychiatry patients whose appointments were suddenly converted to video or phone interactions by the pandemic will want to keep going with virtual mental health care even after the pandemic subsides. The convenience of seeing a provider without leaving home, and avoiding potential exposure to the coronavirus, factor heavily into this preference. So does a patient’s initial experience with seeing a provider virtually.

People in Rural Areas Less Likely to Receive Specialty Care for Neurologic Conditions

A new study has found that while the prevalence of neurologic conditions like dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS) is consistent across the U.S., the distribution of neurologists is not, and people in more rural areas may be less likely to receive specialty care for certain neurologic conditions. The study, funded by the American Academy of Neurology, is published in the December 23, 2020, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Story Tips from Johns Hopkins Experts on Covid-19

Vaccines that prevent infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are being rolled out around the world. Below are five things about vaccine science of which you may be unaware. Additionally, here is a video about how vaccines are determined safe.

Show Rates for Asthma Visits During COVID-19 Increased Thanks to Telemedicine

A new study being presented at this year’s virtual ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting reveals that “show rates” for children with asthma – how often parents brought their kids to an appointment rather than being a “no show” – increased with the use of telemedicine during four months of the pandemic.

Telemedicine Reduces Cancellations and No-Shows for Rheumatology Care During COVID in Large Ohio Health System

New research presented at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, shows that expanded use of telemedicine during COVID-19 improved cancellation rates, no-shows and completed medical visits for rheumatology ambulatory clinics in one large Ohio health system.

CLEVELAND CLINIC UNVEILS TOP 10 MEDICAL INNOVATIONS FOR 2021

An up-and-coming gene therapy for blood disorders. A new class of medications for cystic fibrosis. Increased access to telemedicine. These are some of the innovations that will enhance healing and change healthcare in the coming year, according to a distinguished panel of clinicians and researchers from Cleveland Clinic.

In conjunction with the 2020 Medical Innovation Summit, Cleveland Clinic announced the Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2021.

“There’s No Place Like Home” for Rehab After Stroke

Stroke patients who get professional rehabilitation training in their homes through live video consultations may recover their motor skills better than those who do their rehab in person with a therapist at an outpatient rehabilitation facility, according to a study published in the September 30, 2020, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Remote rehabilitation may also promote greater brain connectivity, the study said.

Story Tips from Johns Hopkins Experts on COVID-19

Front-line Worker Story: Ebony Hunter — Teamwork Will Get Us Through
It seems there will never be enough “thank-you’s” for the incredible doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff members who are working around the clock to help patients who have COVID-19, the dangerous coronavirus disease. Their dedication, determination and spirit enable Johns Hopkins to deliver the promise of medicine.

Just in time for children returning to school this fall, Baylor Scott & White Health has launched an at-home monitoring service for children diagnosed with COVID-19.

Just in time for children returning to school this fall, Baylor Scott & White Health has launched an at-home monitoring service for children diagnosed with COVID-19. The service has been offered for adults since April. If you are interested in…

NAU nursing program wins federal grant aimed at increasing access to telehealth care on Navajo Nation, other rural areas

Nursing professor Anna Schwartz is the PI on the two-year grant, which will fund increased simulation-based education for health care providers. The education will be focused on improving treatment for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and behavioral and mental health care.

Poll: Telehealth visits have skyrocketed for older adults, but some concerns & barriers remain

One in four older Americans had a virtual medical visit in the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of them by video, a new telehealth poll finds. That’s much higher than the 4% of people over 50 who said they had ever had a virtual visit with a doctor in a similar poll taken in 2019.

Barriers to addiction care fell because of COVID-19, experts say; now the challenge is keeping them down

The opioid epidemic didn’t go away when the coronavirus pandemic began. But rapid changes in regulations and guidance could also help many more people get care for addiction, experts say. They caution that it will take more changes to truly lower barriers that stand in the way of delivering evidence-based addiction care to more people via telemedicine.

COVID-19 Collaboration Reducing Infections in Long-Term Care Facilities

A collaborative program developed at UVA Health to work with local long-term care facilities to control COVID-19 is saving lives and offers a model for communities across the country, a new scientific paper reports.

Survey: In Vermont, Pandemic’s Impact Falling Disproportionately on Lower Income Groups

High percentages of Vermonters agree with the state’s pandemic-inspired social distancing measures and have complied with them. But their actions have come at a significant economic cost, especially for low income Vermonters, one of several ways this group has been disproportionately affected.

Telemedicine Proven Effective Means of Monitoring Patients in Large Pediatric Neurology Network

As the COVID-19 pandemic sent entire communities into lockdown, doctors quickly adopted telehealth strategies without knowing whether they would be effective or feasible. Now, a new study from the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) shows that for pediatric neurology care, the transition was very successful even in a short period of time and may provide guidance on the future of pediatric care after the pandemic subsides.

During Virtual Hill Visits, Rheumatology Leaders Urge Lawmakers to Provide Targeted COVID-19 Relief for Healthcare Practices

In virtual meetings with lawmakers and on Twitter tomorrow, physician and health professional leaders from the American College of Rheumatology are sounding the alarm about the economic impact of COVID-19 on rheumatology practices and the urgent need for targeted relief to help specialty practices remain solvent and continue to serve patients.

Artificial Intelligence Algorithm Can Rapidly Detect Severity of Common Blinding Eye Disease

A new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm developed by researchers at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE) can rapidly and accurately detect age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in the United States.

Innovative Communication System Protects Health Professionals Treating Infectious Disease Patients

Physician-scientists have developed a communication management system built on a telemedicine platform that can help minimize the exposure of health care professionals to highly infectious diseases while still providing personalized patient care, according to a new report published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

Cancer Doesn’t Wait: Seek Care for Symptoms

During the COVID-19 pandemic, most people aren’t hesitating to call their physicians when they experience coronavirus symptoms, but cancer symptoms are not creating the same sense of urgency for medical help. Cedars-Sinai experts encourage anyone who suspects they might have cancer to get in touch with their physician, as the use of telemedicine or other physical-distancing tools will allow them to get medical help immediately.

AS VIRTUAL HEALTH CARE VISITS SOAR AMID THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK, DERMATOLOGISTS SHARE TIPS TO HELP PATIENTS MANAGE THEIR APPOINTMENTS

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across the country, telemedicine visits — which allow patients to have an appointment with their doctor from the comfort and safety of their homes — are skyrocketing. This has created unique challenges for both patients and doctors alike as medicine quickly adapts to health care appointments via video conferencing, sending photos, and other virtual tools. This is why dermatologists — a specialty with more than two decades of experience in telemedicine — are stepping up to share tips to help patients across all medical specialties get the most out of their telemedicine appointments.

LifeBridge Health Virtual Hospital’s COVID-19 Tele-triage Program Sees Exponential Growth In First Weeks of Operation

With the rapid spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), LifeBridge Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in Maryland, ramped up its tele-triage program to help reduce an overflow of concerned patients in the system’s emergency departments and provider offices in the community.

Mental Health Care Needed More Than Ever During COVID-19 Pandemic — Telehealth Can Help Make it Happen

Live video telehealth services are a critical component of the COVID-19 response. Offered by physicians, other clinicians and health-care organizations, telehealth provides a useful method for starting and continuing essential mental health treatment without risk of spreading infection.