Florida universities get grants to boost telehealth training

| 5/19/2020

Florida universities get grants to boost telehealth training

The federal Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded $15 million in grants nationwide, including to Florida universities, to increase training in telehealth as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth involves using the internet and other technology to provide care remotely. The Health Resources and Services Administration is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. More from WUSF and CBS Miami.

Council approves guidelines on health rationing

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council on Friday voted to adopt a set of ethical guidelines for the potential rationing of health care during a pandemic. The only dissenting vote on the council came from the organization Disability Rights Florida. The guidelines were developed by the Florida Bioethics Network. [Source: Health News Florida]

Florida health care system: 35,000 virus tests 'unreliable'

The results of more than 35,000 COVID-19 tests ordered by Florida-based health care system and performed by a third-party lab are unreliable, with the majority of the questionable tests having been conducted in Florida, the company said Saturday. According to AdventHealth, a faith-based health care system, the situation has created “unacceptable delays." In a statement, AdventHealth didn't name the third party lab. The tests were a mixture of positive and negative results, and some tests that hadn't been yet returned. [Source: AP ]

Florida Blue CEO: Some fundamental health-care changes coming

The head of Florida Blue predicted the coronavirus outbreak will lead to some fundamental and lasting changes in the way health care is delivered, including a greater reliance on remote care and home care. Pat Geraghty, the CEO of Florida Blue, told the Orlando Sentinel Editorial board that some of the insurance company’s providers are doing 90% of their care by telehealth. While he doesn’t expect that percentage to remain so high, he said the change would be huge even if 40-50% of care is delivered remotely. [Source: Orlando Sentinel ]

Florida ER visits plummet, virus scares patients from care

Emergency room visits have dropped by almost 50% across Florida since the coronavirus pandemic began as hospital officials on Tuesday warned that patients suffering from heart attacks and strokes are delaying or refusing care because they are afraid of going to the hospital. [Source: AP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Pending lawsuits to challenge proposed legal immunity for Florida nursing homes [The Center Square]
During Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Re-Open Florida Task Force meetings in April, businesses sought assurances that if they reopen in accordance with state and federal guidelines, they would not be sued if patrons and workers contracted COVID-19. Among those seeking “blanket immunity” include operators of 3,800 Florida nursing homes and assisted living facilities that house about 150,000 elderly residents and long-term care patients.

› Florida healthcare workers answered New York’s call for help, now they’re being charged taxes [WFTS]
Some Florida healthcare workers are speaking out after New York’s Governor announced last week that any break from paying Big Apple taxes is a big fat no. It was March 30 when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo first called on the nation for help.

› In Florida, 83 percent of coronavirus deaths are people 65 and older [Tampa Bay Times]
As the novel coronavirus has spread across Florida, much has remained uncertain about how long it will stay, how many it will infect and how many lives it will take. But the virus’ grip on the state’s elderly is tragically clear. In Florida, 83 percent of those who’ve died of the virus were over 65 years old. One in four people over 85 with a confirmed infection has died.

› Florida woman accused of selling masks intended for health care workers [FOX 23 News]
A Florida woman is accused of selling masks intended to be donated to local health care workers, according to police. Anna Lieble, of Sanford, was booked Friday morning into the Seminole County Jail on grand theft and fraud charges, police said.

Tags: Health Care eNews

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