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COVID-19 delays, but doesn't stop Albert Lea, Minnesota, from replacing lost hospital services

Lyle Muller

October 16, 2020 |

IowaWatch |

Podcast |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Albert Lea, Minnesota

During the coronavirus pandemic, leaders and administrators of small hospitals have learned through their failures about the limitations of their facilities. While some of these hospitals have relied on streamlining and efficiency to maximize the quality of care, it has impacted their ability to react to less predictable events.

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Public Health Workers Stand Behind Contact Tracing

Chris Rudisill

September 18, 2020 |

QNotes Carolinas |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

The Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative (CCTC) is the first statewide coordinated care network that contact traces new COVID-19 cases and electronically connects people to community resources. Investigators interview newly diagnosed patients, provide information about appropriately isolating, and identify people who were potentially exposed, all of whom are also contacted and connected to resources. Information is entered into a secure online system at each stage and individuals are followed up with. It is not clear that CCTC has successfully tracked the origins of many widespread COVID-19 infections.

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What the U.S. can learn from Australia's hybrid health care system

William Brangham Jason Kane

September 03, 2020 |

PBS NewsHour |

Broadcast TV Programs |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Australia, Sydney

Australia's health care system combines public and private health insurance to create a hybrid model that caters to every citizen. Although there is some uncertainty surrounding the future of the private health care program due to the younger generation's tendency to choose the public option, overall, "the outcomes for both systems have been quite good," especially when compared to America's system.

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How Switzerland delivered health care for all -- and kept its private insurance

William Brangham Jason Kane

September 02, 2020 |

PBS NewsHour |

Broadcast TV Programs |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Switzerland, Oberhofen am Thunersee

Switzerland is home to the world's lowest avoidable mortality rate and residents of the country live longer lives and are healthier than those who live in the United States. Health policy experts credit the Swiss health care system for playing a significant role. Despite the high cost and the penalty for not carrying insurance, the system is praised as guarateeing access to quality health-care and "unlike the U.S., people rarely go bankrupt from medical bills."

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Hope, the Senegalese app that saves lives by optimizing blood donations

Morgane le Cam

August 30, 2020 |

Heidi.news |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Senegal, Thies

An app developed by a two telecommunications design engineers in Senegal is helping to connect hospitals with blood donors. The app alerts donors in nearby areas when blood is needed and sends "messages of thanks and donation reminders," which has helped to decrease the regional stigma about donating blood. Although the technology has not achieved widespread adoption, where it has been used, blood donations have significantly increased.

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Flu was all but eliminated in South Africa this year. Coronavirus is to thank.

Lesley Wroughton Max Bearak

August 18, 2020 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: South Africa

When South Africa's government implemented measures to protect its citizens from the spread of COVID-19, it also drastically reduced its flu cases down to 1 single case for its winter season as a side effect. Stringent mask requirements and complete school closures, along with a sharp increase in people getting flu vaccines, contributed to South Africa's record-low flu season, despite being one of the countries with the highest recorded cases of coronavirus.

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How to save a life: Easing grief from inside COVID ICUs

Joan van Dyk

August 03, 2020 |

Bhekisisa |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: South Africa, Cape Town

To combat the grief, trauma, and frustration caused by COVID-19 hospitalizations where families are cut off from loved ones and from most information about their care and condition, the staff at Vincent Pallotti Hospital created a new way of capturing doctors' updates on patients that improved the flow of information. Instead of recording their observations and treatments on paper charts, doctors enter the information on an online system. Volunteer counselors with access to that information then update families daily, relieving some stress and bringing solace to families and patients alike.

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Community Workers Lend Human Connection To COVID-19 Response

Rob Waters

July 07, 2020 |

Health Affairs |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Community health workers have long been helping people navigate the intersection of health care and social services in the United States, such as in Philadelphia, where one program stands out for its overall design and continuous rigorous evaluation. Studies of the program indicate that those who worked with community health workers improved their overall health compared to those who received standard care. Now, as many cities navigate the Covid-19 pandemic, some officials see an opportunity to expand the workforce to also provide "social, material and psychological support."

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Japan: A glimpse at Montana's future?

David Erickson

July 01, 2020 |

Missoulian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Japan

A government-mandated care insurance program in Japan has gained both recognition and international praise for removing the burden of senior care from family members through the "socialization of elder care." The goal of the program, which has now been in place for two decades, is to help keep "elderly people physically active and less socially isolated," and could provide a model of care for other aging regions.

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RIP Medical Debt helps poor Americans eliminate medical bills

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

June 30, 2020 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York

Two former debt collectors have teamed up to put their experience and expertise to use paying off medical debts for Americans below the poverty line. RIP Medical Debt is a nonprofit that buys debt in bulk at reduced rates from hospitals. Within five years, $2 billion dollars of debt have been eliminated. The nonprofit has also launched projects researching systemic issues within healthcare and how to solve them.

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