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Purpose: The paper aims to disentangle the factors behind territorial disparities in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case fatality ratio, focusing on the pressure put by the pandemic on healthcare services and adopting a spatial perspective. Design/methodology/approach: Multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) models have been used for uncovering the spatial variability in the impact of healthcare services on COVID-19 case fatality ratio, allowing authors to better capture the real spatial patterns at local level. The authors proved that this approach yields better results, and the MGWR model outperforms traditional regression methods. The selected case studies are two of the biggest UE countries, among the first affected by a high incidence of COVID-19 cases, namely Italy and Germany. Findings: The authors found sizeable regional differences in COVID-19 mortality rates within each of the analysed countries, and the stress borne by local healthcare systems seems to be the most powerful factor in explaining them. In line with other studies, the authors found additional factors of influence, such as age distribution, gender ratio, population density and regional development. Originality/value: This research clearly indicated that COVID-19 related deaths are strongly associated with the degree of resilience of the local healthcare systems. The authors supply localized results on the factors of influence, useful for assisting the decision-makers in prioritizing limited healthcare resources. The authors provide a scientific argument in favour of the decentralization of the pandemic management towards local authorities not neglecting, however, the necessary regional or national coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers health care news briefs. Topics include Joint Commission, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, recently awarded UMass Memorial Health as the inaugural recipient of the Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity; and Joint Commission and the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare (CTH) were recently recognized for continuous quality improvement efforts by the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC).

They could offer "walk-in only" hours to treat people without appointments, text patients when the doctor is ready to see them, and include clear explanations on bills so patients understand what they're paying for. Physician burnout only adds to patient burnout, says Dr. Bengt Arnetz, a professor at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine who researches how to improve primary care. Doctors may not know how much the tests they're recommending cost, particularly when every patient has a different type and level of coverage, so surprise bills are common - and so hard to understand that patients often have to spend hours on the phone seeking clarity from their insurance providers. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Coronaviridae; Coronavirus; Diet and Nutrition; Dietetics; Epidemiology; Health and Medicine; Nidovirales; Pandemic; Pediatrics; RNA Viruses; Risk and Prevention; Telemedicine; Viral; Virology EN Coronaviridae Coronavirus Diet and Nutrition Dietetics Epidemiology Health and Medicine Nidovirales Pandemic Pediatrics RNA Viruses Risk and Prevention Telemedicine Viral Virology 403 403 1 08/21/23 20230824 NES 230824 2023 AUG 22 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at TB & Outbreaks Week -- Investigators discuss new findings in telemedicine. Thus, telehealth service delivery is not inferior to usual face-face dietetic care and has the potential to be a useful adjunct to usual nutrition care for paediatric health service users after the coronavirus pandemic.". [Extracted from the article]

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A serological survey from CDC revealed more than 10% of individuals in America probably resolving or past infection with SARS-CoV-2 at the end of 2020, which illustrated there were massive unconfirmed asymptomatic infected people by contrast with the reported cases numbers. Asymptomatic patients as one of the crucial reasons for the COVID-19 pandemic being tough to contain, estimating the number of unconfirmed ones including the active infected and having cured in this population, is of great guiding significance for formulating epidemic prevention and control policies. This paper proposes a varying coefficient Susceptible–Infected–Removed–Susceptible (vSIRS) model to obtain the time series data of the unconfirmed asymptomatic infected numbers. Moreover, due to the time-varying coefficients, we can effectively track the situation changes of the COVID-19 intervened by related policy support and medical care level through this epidemiological model. A novel two-stage approach with a programming problem is correspondingly developed to accomplish the estimation of the unknown parameters in the vSIRS model. Subsequently, by leveraging seroprevalence data, daily reported cases data, and other clinical information, we apply the vSIRS model to analyze the evolution of COVID-19 in America. The modeling results show millions of active asymptomatic infected individuals were unconfirmed during the autumn and winter of 2020, which was a momentous factor for driving American COVID-19 pandemic. • An infectious disease model with time-varying coefficients is developed. • A two-stage parameter estimation method with a programming problem is proposed. • Seroprevalence is used to correct the American underreported COVID-19 data. • The daily active unconfirmed asymptomatic numbers in the US are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A report from the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research in Tamil Nadu, India, discusses the development of a conceptual framework for understanding the needs and readiness of stakeholders in rural areas for tele-practice services for childhood communication disorders. The research highlights the importance of tele-practice in providing equitable access to healthcare services, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The framework was developed by reviewing existing telemedicine planning frameworks and mapping suitable constructs and attributes to the Bowen's feasibility framework. The study concludes that the framework facilitated the assessment of needs and readiness among various stakeholders in implementing tele-practice for childhood communication disorders in rural communities. [Extracted from the article]

Government and private funding both are playing a prominent role in growth of the substance use treatment industry, with progress into new geographic areas and expanded lines of business. Recent activity ranges from substantial state grant support for new facility construction in California to expansions into mental health by some prominent names in addiction services nationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer clinics in the US are facing financial difficulties after a cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, disrupted the healthcare system for three weeks and counting. The attack has halted the flow of billions of dollars in payments between doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and insurers, putting smaller clinics at risk. Some cancer practices are concerned about their ability to pay for drugs as cash flows dry up. The financial pressure on health clinics is growing as expenses and unpaid bills accumulate, leading some physicians to forgo their paychecks. The Biden administration has asked health insurers to make emergency funding available to providers. [Extracted from the article]

A study conducted by researchers at Ibn Tofail University proposes the use of an Internet of Things (IoT) device to monitor the spread of the coronavirus and relieve pressure on healthcare systems. The device is a wristband that measures blood oxygen levels and body temperature, providing real-time data on a patient's health status. It also includes a tracker to monitor adherence to social distancing guidelines. The device is energy-efficient and allows for instant access to healthcare services regardless of location. The study suggests that this device could be a promising tool in managing the spread of the virus. [Extracted from the article]

Health and Medicine, Immunization, Information Technology, Information and Data Privacy, Public Health, Vaccination Keywords: Health and Medicine; Immunization; Information Technology; Information and Data Privacy; Public Health; Vaccination EN Health and Medicine Immunization Information Technology Information and Data Privacy Public Health Vaccination 884 884 1 07/10/23 20230714 NES 230714 2023 JUL 16 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA -- Fresh data on information and data privacy are presented in a new report. [Extracted from the article]

COVID-19, Coronavirus, Epidemiology, Health and Medicine, Pandemic, Psychological, Quality of Life, RNA Viruses, SARS-CoV-2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, Viral, Virology Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Epidemiology; Health and Medicine; Pandemic; Psychological; Quality of Life; RNA Viruses; SARS-CoV-2; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2; Viral; Virology EN COVID-19 Coronavirus Epidemiology Health and Medicine Pandemic Psychological Quality of Life RNA Viruses SARS-CoV-2 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Viral Virology 2023 MAR 5 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at NewsRx COVID-19 Weekly -- Fresh data on COVID-19 are presented in a new report. [Extracted from the article]

Our news editors report that more information may beobtained by contacting Michele Ciulla, Department ofPharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara,66100 Chieti, Italy. Health and Medicine Investigators discuss new findings in agriculture. [Extracted from the article]

The article informs that the physician members of the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) have continued to battle the COVID-19 pandemic in hospitals and clinics. According to Alice Mann, MD, MPH, representing the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, part of their training is to help patients avoid illness through preventive care. The crushing reality is that the large majority of the hospitalized COVID patients could have been prevented with vaccinations.

South Africa's surge in Covid-19 cases following the emergence of the omicron variant hasn't overwhelmed hospitals so far, prompting some cautious optimism that the new strain may cause mostly mild illness. NYC Calls for Private Sector Vaccine Mandate (9:40 a.m. NY) New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called for a private sector vaccine mandate on Monday without elaborating how the city would enforce the requirement. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson won amandate from the House of Commons to raise taxes to thehighest level on record to fund health and social care. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves called theproposals an "unfair, job taxing, manifesto-shredding,tax bombshell" in the Commons in Wednesday's debateleading up to the vote. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: FBI; Scripps Health; DuPage Medical Group; Cybersecurity; Privacy and Security; Patient Safety; Data; Hospitals; Payer; Finance; Practices EN FBI Scripps Health DuPage Medical Group Cybersecurity Privacy and Security Patient Safety Data Hospitals Payer Finance Practices N.PAG N.PAG 1 09/03/21 20210901 NES 210901 Graph: cyberattack The FBI warns healthcare systems of Hive ransomware that employs various tactics such as phishing emails with malicious attachments to compromise businesses. The notes urge victims to purchase decryption software through ransom payments and threatens to leak exfiltrated victim data on the TOR site "HiveLeaks", the FBI warns. [Extracted from the article]