BILLINGS CARE TRANSITIONS COALITION

Even as the economy and Montana ‘opens up,” many of those in need of healthcare, either at home or some type of healthcare facility, won’t enjoy the same level of contact and interaction with caregivers and healthcare providers as they did prior to shelter-in-placed and social distancing orders were ordered in response to the threats posed by COVID-19. Healthcare professionals and providers are doing a terrific job by (1) working to deal with an array of the newly-imposed constraints and (2) expanding the use of telehealth.  Through all of this, new procedures and policy must recognize the abysmal state of patient healthcare literacy and patient prescription drug literacy, in the case of the latter, particularly as it applies to opioids. There is an abundance of literature regarding how healthcare providers assume that patients understand more than they are actually able to comprehend and apply. In the COVID-19 environment, as constraints and the ...

As the Governor’s across the nation relax shelter-in-place restrictions and “open up the economy” by issuing guidelines for businesses and patrons to observe, a Kaiser Family Foundation poll conducted between 15 and 20 April   indicates most Americans (80%) say strict shelter-in-place measures are worth it in order to protect people and limit the spread of coronavirus. Fewer (19%) say the strict shelter-in-place measures are placing unnecessary burdens on people and the economy and causing more harm than good .  For complete summary of the tracking poll click here .

According the Kaiser Family Foundation, “about 4.5 million people work in the long-term care industry in facility settings such as skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, and home health agencies, which provide clinical and personal care services in the home.”  As they care for family members and loved ones, COVID-19 presents significant challenges for these workers and their employers, with reports of widespread and sometimes deadly coronavirus infections among patients and staff in such settings, especially in hard-hit states.     Here is an except of a Just Released  report from (KFF): Most are in close contact with patients .  For instance, aides and personal care workers, who provide medical and/or personal care and come into direct and frequent contact with patients, account for 53 percent of all long-term care workers. Health care providers such as doctors and nurses account for 14 percent of long-term c...

The Billings Transition Care Coalition with meet virtually on the fourth Thursday of each month at 0700 hours. Next meeting: Thursday, April 23, 2020 – 0700 hours Presenter: GREG HOLZMAN, MD Montana’s Chief Health Officer Topic: The Most Current Information and Developments on COVID-19 Here is how to access the virtual meeting: Join Zoom Meeting https://mpqhf.zoom.us/j/863539270?pwd=Mk5rTnlXTENwNVhDVm1hZ1NwNHZEUT09 Password: 055499 One tap mobile +13462487799,,863539270# US (Houston) +16699006833,,863539270# US (San Jose) Dial by your location         +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)         +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)         +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)         +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)         +1 253 215 8782 US         +1 301 715 8592 US         85...

The Covid-19 Crisis Too Few Are Talking About:  Health Care Workers’  Mental Health Stat News Jessica Gold 3 April 2020 In the midst of this global pandemic, people are talking about the urgent and critical need for  personal protective equipment . They are sharing concerns about the impending  lack of respirators  and the need for  testing . And they are encouraging people to #flattenthecurve through  social distancing . But no one is talking about a potential mental health crisis facing health care workers on the frontlines of this pandemic. To an outside observer, health care workers look strong and resilient in the face of the unknown. They  inspire  us as they  go to work  every day, at great personal risk, to keep others safe. But, as a psychiatrist, I spend much of my life observing and listening — I know that their calm surface appearance is the only armor th...

If your company or organization has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic because of the social distancing requirements and shelter-in-place orders, you may be eligible to participate in the newly-authorized programs sponsored by the Small Business Association SBA). There are four programs. 1. The  Paycheck Protection Program  is intended to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their employees on the payroll . From the SBA: You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program. Lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3, 2020. The Paycheck Protection Program ...

Join Our Telehealth Affinity Group If you haven't already registered for our telehealth affinity group, it's not too late!  As you know, the telehealth regulations are rapidly changing to meet the COVID-19 pandemic. We are working with key stakeholders to support health care professionals wherever they are in providing telehealth services. Our first virtual session will be Friday, April 17, at 1:00 PM MDT . We will then hold virtual sessions every Friday for the next four weeks to discuss: 1.    Plan: What you need to know to get started 2.    Do: Fine tuning your process 3.    Study: What is working? What is not working? 4.    Act: Make changes to processes and engage specific patient populations Sessions will be recorded, and registered participants can access any sessions they miss when their schedule allows. If you are interested in registering to join our telehealth ...

On 8 April 2020, was responsible for the deaths of 1,940 people in the US. So, how does that compare with other causes of death? On average,129 individuals die by suicide each day in the US. During the same period, another 333 die because of Alzheimer’s disease. Heart disease takes another 1,774. For an illustration about how COVID-19 as the cause of death increased and supplanted other causes of death between 1 March and 6 April 2020, click here .

Advance Care Planning - The ABCs and the Effect of the Covid-19 Virus Montana State University is offering a webinar on advance care planning . Led by Dr. Borgenicht, geriatrician, palliative care physician and Medical Director of Hospice of Bozeman  this webinar will address ways to have appropriate advance care planning discussions with patients and families.  She will also discuss the role of advance directives and Physician's Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) especially in the current environment. The role of palliative care and hospice will also be addressed. According to the announcement, the intended audience includes providers, nurses, social workers, etc. Date: Tuesday, 14 April 2020 Time: 1200 hours (MDT) Information regarding how to access the webinar may be found here .

COVID-19: Indian Country There are seven Indian reservations in Montana. In 'normal' times, each of these locations confronts significant challenges resulting from very high unemployment, substance abuse, teen-age pregnancy, hunger and inadequate housing, every day. The results of these and other factors are devastating. The  Montana Healthcare Foundation summarized it this way : In a 2014 report on the health of Montanans, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services documented severe health disparities among American Indians living in Montana. The report found that American Indians in Montana die at a median age of 50 years (more than 20 years earlier than non-Indian Montanans). Death rates for specific illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, respiratory illnesses, injuries, and suicide are substantially higher as well. COVID-19 only serves to exacerbate these dreadful statitisics, especially for those with heart disease and respira...