Articles: pandemics.
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This article aimed at analyzing the acute impact and the longer-term recovery of COVID-19 pandemic effects on clinical encounter types, HIV viral load (VL) testing, and suppression (HIV VL < 200 copies/mL). This study was a longitudinal cohort study of participants seen during 2019-2022 at nine HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) sites. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) estimated monthly rates of all encounters, office and telemedicine visits, and HIV VL tests using 2010-2022 data. ⋯ The change in probability of viral suppression was not associated with participant's age, sex, race/ethnicity, or insurance type. In the HOPS, overall patient encounters declined over 2 years during the pandemic with variations in telemedicine and in-person events, with relative maintenance of viral suppression. Ongoing recovery from the impact of COVID-19 on ambulatory care will require continued efforts to improve retention and patient access to medical services.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Oct 2024
Letter Observational StudyMulti-organ abnormalities assessed by a single MRI scan in individuals with blood cancer.
During the COVID-19 pandemic individuals with all blood cancers were classified as clinically vulnerable and at high risk of complications and death. Our study sought to determine if individuals with specific blood cancers were at a heightened risk of longer term organ impairment, secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection. ⋯ A multi-organ MRI platform offers the capacity to accurately evaluate organ health dynamically in blood cancers and detect asymptomatic organ impairment. The application of multi-organ MRI could aid early detection and longitudinal monitoring of organ impairment, potentially guiding more personalised treatment strategies and improving clinical outcomes in many rare diseases.
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Background: We planned a pilot study on a physician engagement intervention, termed ECHO-MDA, using the Project ECHO framework. The study was approved and launched just as the COVID pandemic reached Texas. We pivoted to accommodate the realities of research in pandemic times. ⋯ Conclusion: Pandemic-related work and personal conditions likely had adverse impacts on enrollment and attendance. Launching professional wellness programs during a global crisis is challenging but can still yield benefits for participants. We offer suggestions for researchers launching professional engagement studies in unexpectedly challenging times.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Downstream Emergency Department and Hospital Utilization Comparably Low Following In-Person Versus Telemedicine Primary Care for High-Risk Conditions.
Telemedicine use expanded greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic. More data is needed to understand how this shift may impact other venues of acute care delivery. ⋯ Among office, telephone, and video visits in primary care for potentially high-risk, time-sensitive conditions, downstream ED and hospital use were uncommon. ED utilization was lower for video visits than telephone visits, although telephone visits were timelier and may offer a safe and accessible option for acute care.
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Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHCs) are on the frontline of efforts to improve healthcare equity and reduce disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assesses the provision and equity of preventive care and chronic disease management by FQHCs before, during, and after the pandemic. ⋯ While preventive screening and chronic disease management in FQHCs have largely rebounded to pre-pandemic levels following an initial decline, persistent disparities highlight the need for targeted interventions to support FQHCs in addressing healthcare inequities.