APTA answers questions about e-visits and schedules an online town hall; experts offer recommendations for rehab providers; CDC offers guidance on return-to-work for health care providers, and more.
APTA answers questions about e-visits and schedules an online town hall; experts offer recommendations for rehab providers; CDC offers guidance on return-to-work for health care providers, and more.
Practice Guidance
March 18: APTA Answers 25 Questions on "E-Visit" Waiver From CMS
Many questions from PTs and PTAs have arisen since the CMS announcement of waivers that would allow for limited digital communication by PTs. APTA offers answers to 25 of the most frequently asked questions about the still-evolving system.
March 18: E-Visit Online Town Hall and Q&A March 19
Join APTA regulatory affairs experts on Thursday, March 19, for a town-hall style webinar and Q&A session on the e-visit waivers. The webinar begins at 8:00 p.m. ET and will be delivered via Adobe Connect; toll-free access numbers are 1-646-560-7802 or 1-888-407-5039, participant code 76560988. The event is open to members and nonmembers, but seats are limited. A Facebook Live event covering the same issues will be held Friday March 20 at 2:00 pm, ET. Recordings of both sessions will be available afterwards.
March 17: Experts Offer Recommendations for Rehab Providers During COVID Crisis
A Special Communication in the journal Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (pre-proof version) offers recommendations for rehabilitation providers during the outbreak, including advice for addressing patient deconditioning and infection risk, as well as best practices for staff infection control, occupational risks, business continuity planning, and staff communication.
From CMS
March 18: CMS Publishes Guidance for Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Organizations
The guidance document recognizes that "there may be circumstances where a [provider organization] may need to implement strategies that do not fully comply with CMS PACE program requirements to provide benefits to participants while ensuring they are also protected from the spread of COVID-19."
From the CDC
March 16: CDC Issues Guidance for Return to Work for Health Care Personnel With Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued interim guidance for occupational health programs and public health officials responsible for making decisions about return to work for health care personnel with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The guidance includes recommendations for return-to-work criteria, return-to-work practices and work restrictions, and strategies for mitigating staffing shortages. CDC notes that these guidelines may be adapted by state and local health departments.
In The Media
March 17: NSAIDs Okay for COVID Patients?
In recent days the French government recommended against the use of ibuprofen in COVID patients, citing potential adverse outcomes. Other researchers say there is no evidence to back the claim, but agree that acetaminophen is preferable to treat a fever. [Free account required]
March 16: Predictive Analytics May Help Hospitals Identify COVID-19 Needs
Data scientists at University of Pennsylvania have built a mathematical model to help hospitals predict future COVID-19 patient load and severity. The model uses best current estimates of a variety of data points, such as how long people are contagious, to project a hospital’s needed capacity for beds, equipment, and other resources.
Visit APTA's Coronavirus webpage for more information and updates.