After COVID-19—Thinking Differently About Running the Health Care System

Abstract

Wars and other national crises force society to act differently for awhile. But in doing so, they highlight organizational actions and innovations that should not end with the crisis and should be allowed to play a greater role in the future. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has similar features, and it should spur policy makers who shape the US health care system, to-as Apple Computer cofounder Steve Jobs often urged-"think different."The US response to the COVID-19 pandemic highlights several strategies that should be emphasized more in the management of the health care system. These strategies include using waivers to boost federalism, reconsidering the role of hospitals and other institutions as hubs for care, expanding the use of telehealth, and bringing together funds from multiple programs to improve the delivery of health care and health-related services. Using Waivers to Boost FederalismAlthough frustrations about the failure of federal leadership often get highlighted, the real story is that states have been the key drivers of action and adaptation. The federal government has tools to

International Prevalence and Correlates of Psychological Stress during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Consistent with recent studies, marital status, dependents, and knowing someone with the virus did not affect stress levels [ 6 ]. Other studies have reported that social support is an important factor contributing to perceived stress that is related to loneliness [ 18 ].…”

Psychosocial Effects of Corona Measures on Patients With Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Subjective Cognitive Decline

“…Recently, in response to COVID-19 literature becomes available on how to redesign health care and telehealth has been advocated. The advantages of remote care for predementia patients and their care partners may outweigh the difficulties of setting up this new way of working; outpatients do not have to visit the hospital, reduces need for traveling, minimizes complications and better fits a patients' daily routine (29,30). The association of psychological symptoms with higher caregiver burden and increased worries for cognitive decline shows that not only patients, but also their caregivers should be actively monitored, supported and empowered.…”

“…In order to facilitate early recognition, governmental bodies should help to increase society's awareness of the challenges that vulnerable patients and their caregivers face due to corona and corona measures (31). Efforts should be made to help patients and caregivers to develop and maintain a daily routine during active lockdown measures, as the predictability of such a routine can decrease anxiety (29). Moreover, activities in and around the house can help to keep active and purposeful (20,29).…”

“…Efforts should be made to help patients and caregivers to develop and maintain a daily routine during active lockdown measures, as the predictability of such a routine can decrease anxiety (29). Moreover, activities in and around the house can help to keep active and purposeful (20,29). The current study adds to this by showing that there should not only be attention for symptomatic patients, but also for cognitively normal patients as they express significant worries for faster cognitive decline and often experience psychological symptoms as well.…”

Beyond COVID‐19: Five commentaries on reimagining governance for future crises and resilience

“…Van der Heijden encourages us to examine the underlying causes that created vulnerability in the first place. In this sense, an uncertain risk like COVID‐19 is not the cause of the problem; it has merely exposed underlying problems, as with the instability of the gig economy (Jeon et al 2019), homelessness (Perri et al June 2020), and an over‐burdened healthcare and long‐term care system (Butler 2020 and Royal Society of Canada June 2020), for example.…”