By The American hospital system has never seen anything like the coronavirus pandemic. Many facilities and health systems have had to rely largely on themselves as they respond to the growing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, while still caring for non-virus patients. These facilities are battling dozens of issues at the same time, including staffing and personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, changing telehealth regulations, postponing non-essential care, and public messaging.
To help facilities and health systems make sense of the ongoing crisis, the American Hospital Association, a non-profit network of nearly 5,000 hospitals and 43,000 individual members, has just launched a new tool called the COVID-19 Digital Response Pulse. AHA members can log onto the website to see how the situation is changing in real-time.
If your facility is looking for in-depth solutions when it comes to managing the pandemic, the AHA is here to help. Learn more about this ground-breaking new tool and how it can change your approach to infectious disease management.
What Is the COVID-19 Digital Response Pulse?
The AHA has been closely monitoring the healthcare system’s response to the coronavirus epidemic. It has been in touch with many hospitals and providers around the country as they struggle to keep up with the changing situation on the ground. This has turned the AHA into a valuable cache of coronavirus response information.
The organization created the COVID-19 Digital Response Pulse to put all of this information in one location. Members can log onto the tool using their AHA membership information to access the latest response guidelines and resources, including patient screening, testing, triaging symptoms, surge planning, primary and specialty care, as well as tips for keeping the general public informed.
They can also connect with hospitals and providers around the country to learn more about how they are responding to the pandemic. Hospitals and facilities are resorting to extreme and unusual methods during the ongoing crisis to ensure staff members have access to PPE while keeping the general public up to date on the latest care recommendations. Healthcare facilities can use the tool to learn from each other’s success and failures during this uncertain time.
Providers and administrators are also using the tool to monitor gaps in care, PPE shortages, and certain coronavirus hotspots. This will help AHA members better prepare for a wave of new coronavirus patients. If they are experiencing a high volume of patients, they can better coordinate with local healthcare facilities to ease demand.
The AHA developed the tool in partnership with AVIA, one of the country’s leading healthcare digital technology providers. If you are a member of the AHA, log in to your account on the AHA website to access the COVID-19 Digital Response Pulse tool. If you are not yet a member of the AHA, you can use the same link to create an account.
Cutting Through the Noise
For many healthcare facilities and providers, navigating the coronavirus epidemic can be overwhelming. The situation on the ground is changing fast as the virus quickly spreads from one community to another. The news cycle is being dominated by breaking headlines and misleading information. President Trump has been touting hydroxychloroquine, a drug that’s long been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and malaria, as a potential treatment for COVID-19, despite concerns from the FDA and numerous healthcare organizations about its effectiveness and safety.
The AHA created the COVID-19 Digital Response Pulse to help care providers and facilities make sense of the ongoing situation without falling prey to false information. They can access the latest virus response information without worry about whether it is accurate or out-of-date.
Liz Dean, Executive Director of Strategy and Business Development at Riverwood Healthcare in Aitkin, Minnesota recently commented on the tool, saying, “The COVID-19 Pulse helped us quickly identify virtual health solutions. We gained insights on best practices, resources and reassurance that we were on the right track. Because we used this tool, we were able to implement virtual solutions very quickly and efficiently.”
Andy Shin, COO AHA Center for Health Innovation, went on to say, “In this moment of crisis, there is so much noise when health systems need focus and clarity. The COVID-19 Pulse allows our 5,000 members to identify where they can take rapid action on the front lines to best serve their communities.”
Other Ways the AHA Is Supporting Its Members
The AHA is stepping into high gear to stop the coronavirus from spreading. The organization recently joined with Providence, a non-profit group that’s working to bring face masks to healthcare providers working on the front lines of the crisis. AHA has bolstered Providence’s call for the 100 Million Mask Challenge by urging manufacturers, businesses, and individuals across the country to help contribute to this growing movement.
The organization has also developed a new online resource devoted to helping health systems protect themselves from cybercrimes during the coronavirus pandemic. Hospitals are already considered vulnerable to malware and various cybercrimes. The platform is designed to help expand cybersecurity measures, so you don’t have to worry about falling victim to ransomware or a hack during this stressful time.
Connect with your peers using the COVID-19 Digital Response Pulse to make sure you’re doing everything you can to bring the pandemic to an end in your community.
