COVID-19 Infection – Neurological Risk

Angie SzumlinskiAnnouncements, Health, Studies

People who have had COVID-19 may have an increased risk of being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder such as anxiety or depression. Researchers looked at the medical records of 69 million people in the United States between January 20 and August 1, 2020. The data included 62,000 people who contracted COVID-19 as part of what the authors described as the …

COVID-19 – Not Necessarily the “Big One”

Angie SzumlinskiHealth

World Health Organization experts have warned that even though the coronavirus pandemic has been very severe, it is “not necessarily the big one” and that the world will have to learn to live with COVID-19. Professor David Heymann, the chair of the WHO’s strategic and technical advisory group for infectious hazards said, “It appears the destiny of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is …

Cell Phone Activity – Increase COVID-19 Cases

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

In 2019, nearly 81% of U.S. adults owned a smartphone capable of transmitting location data, and many U.S. prediction models are using, or plan to use, cell phone location data as a tool to help summarize human behavior as a means to understand disease spread and inform policy. However, evidence to support cell phone location data as a marker of …

COVID-19 Score Calculation

Angie SzumlinskiAnnouncements, Featured

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly affected mortality worldwide. There is unprecedented urgency to understand who is most at risk of severe outcomes. A new online tool helps to estimate an individual’s risk of dying from COVID-19 depending on where they live in the United States, which could provide useful information on which individuals should be prioritized for early vaccinations. …

Incentives – Risks and Benefits

Angie SzumlinskiHealth

There has been a lot of discussion of late regarding whether to incentivize staff to encourage increased acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. While it is not a “required” vaccine, studies have shown that it does work! So if you have employees who are hesitant or downright negative about accepting the vaccine, what should you do? First, of course, identify the …

COVID-19 Data – Incomplete, Unstable

Angie SzumlinskiNews

The White House coronavirus task force warned states of incomplete and unstable COVID-19 data due to the ongoing holiday season, making it difficult to track the pandemic’s trajectory as concerns rise over the continued or accelerated spread. “Data is currently unstable, outside of daily hospital admissions, due to inconsistent reporting and incomplete data over the holidays; there will be reporting …

Evaluating SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines

Angie SzumlinskiAnnouncements, News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for 2 vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), one developed jointly by Pfizer and BioNTech and the other by Moderna. According to company press releases and data made available by the FDA, both vaccines have shown approximately 95% efficacy in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infections …

All Cause 30-Day Mortality – COVID-19

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

Nursing homes provide care for a vulnerable population of frail older adults who are unable to live independently because of a combination of underlying chronic conditions, cognitive and physical impairments, and other age-related disabilities. Residents often face an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 illnesses owing to extrinsic factors such as a lack of adequate infection prevention and control …

Spotlight on HealthCap Heroes:

Angie SzumlinskiFeatured, News

Heritage of Bel-Air We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our newest HealthCap Hero, Karissa Zwingman from Heritage of Bel-Air. Karissa lifts up both her team and her residents with her positive attitude, displays of leadership, and compassion. Heritage of Bel-Air shared a wonderful testimony to us about the impact Karissa has on their facility: “Karissa is such …

Mask Filtration Efficiency

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

In March 2020, the soaring number of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections resulted in an unprecedented shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for clinicians and essential health care workers. The shortage was most profound among N95 respirators, named for their ability to filter 95% or more of tiny 0.3 µm particles, and are considered the mainstay of …