A new COVID-19 response coordinator will replace Jeff Zients; cigarette smoking rates were down in 2020; mental health providers offer telehealth services to Ukraine.
The Biden administration announced Ashish Jha, MD, MPH, will replace Jeff Zients as the country’s COVID-19 response coordinator, STAT News reports. Jha currently serves as the dean of the Brown School of Public Health and in his new role will work alongside the CDC and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to enact the nation’s policies combatting COVID-19 and help communicate them to the American people. Zients oversaw the distribution of the initial COVID-19 vaccines, boosters, rapid tests, and therapies.
New CDC data show that during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of American cigarette smoking dropped to an all-time low, The Associated Press reports. Although more Americans were drinking heavily or using illicit drugs at this time, just 1 in 8 adults said they were current smokers, while e-cigarette use also dropped. Tobacco company price hikes, pandemic lifestyle changes, and public health campaigns all likely played roles in the decline. Some individuals may have also quit after learning the habit could lead to more severe cases of COVID-19.
US-based online mental health experts have been offering their expertise to Ukrainians living under duress of the Russian invasion, providing guidance to parents on how to talk to children about death and help infants in shock, according to new reports from The Washington Post. The professionals are coordinating with nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions to provide guidance in Ukrainian and Russian, while volunteers have to be trained in the specific strategies of psychological first aid. The work also helps to prevent burnout among mental health caregivers operating in the crisis.
Emily Goldberg Shares Insights as a Genetic Counselor for Breast Cancer Risk Screening
October 30th 2023On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Emily Goldberg, MS, CGC, a genetic counselor at JScreen, breaks down how genetic screening for breast cancer works and why it is so important to increase awareness and education around these screening tools available to patients who may be at risk for cancer.
Listen
Untangling Medical Debt From Credit Scores: Effects So Far and Next Steps
November 29th 2023After recent policy changes removing most medical debts from credit reports, Americans are seeing their credit scores increase, but experts warn of the need to monitor billing and collection practices for unintended consequences.
Read More
Oncology Onward: A Conversation With Thyme Care CEO and Cofounder Robin Shah
October 2nd 2023Robin Shah, CEO of Thyme Care, which he founded in 2020 with Bobby Green, MD, president and chief medical officer, joins hosts Emeline Aviki, MD, MBA, and Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, to discuss his evolution as an entrepreneur in oncology care innovation and his goal of positively changing how patients experience the cancer system.
Listen
Study Validates Smartphone Analysis for Predicting Obstructive Sleep Apnea
November 29th 2023Findings show breathing sounds recorded by smartphones during sleep at home can reliably identify obstructive sleep apnea, presenting an innovative and accessible alternative to traditional in-laboratory polysomnography.
Read More