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Life-or-death hospital decisions come with threat of lawsuits

Life-or-death hospital decisions come with threat of lawsuits

Allison Hoffman of the Law School said hospitals should apply consistent standards when triaging patients and rationing resources in order to avoid legal troubles down the line. Health care providers are “trying to look at what is reasonable and customary in uncharted territory,” she said.

A new way to study HIV’s impact on the brain
colorful rendering of different brain cells in blue, green, and red

By culturing astrocytes, microglia, and neurons—all derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells—in one dish, researchers have created an effective model to study the cognitive impacts of HIV and other diseases. (Image: Sean Ryan)

A new way to study HIV’s impact on the brain

Using a newly developed laboratory model of three types of brain cells, Penn and CHOP scientists reveal how HIV infection—as well as the drugs that treat it—can take a toll on the central nervous system.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Pavilion powers ahead to combat COVID-19
Penn Med Patient Pavilion

The $1.5 billion Penn Medicine Pavilion is scheduled to open in 2021.

Pavilion powers ahead to combat COVID-19

Construction crews are on the job around the clock at the new hospital on the campus of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to expedite the completion of 120 patient rooms 15 months ahead of the facility’s planned opening.

Providing care from a distance
Doctor and patient digital outreach through phones

Providing care from a distance

Telemedicine is a critical tool in the COVID-19 epidemic. Clinicians at the medical, dental, and veterinary schools are making use of virtual encounters to keep providing patients with safe, timely, quality care.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Her incredible sense of smell is helping scientists find new ways to diagnose disease

Her incredible sense of smell is helping scientists find new ways to diagnose disease

Richard Doty of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the use of scent signaling in diagnosing disease. “It used to be that physicians did use breath odor and other odors, to signify certain disorders. But that’s not really invoked presently, because we have so much better ways of [diagnosing] things,” he said.

More lifesaving ventilators are available. Hospitals can’t afford them

More lifesaving ventilators are available. Hospitals can’t afford them

Lewis Kaplan of the Perelman School of Medicine explained why it’s impractical for most hospitals to keep back up ventilators on hand, which require regular maintenance and additional trained staff. “It’s like taking military planes out of your boneyard,” he said. “There can be a variety of economic disincentives to be prepared for the worst thing that can happen."

Why the coronavirus and most other viruses have no cure

Why the coronavirus and most other viruses have no cure

David Barnes of the School of Arts and Sciences spoke about the role of supportive care during viral outbreaks. “There are actually plenty of cures for viral illnesses,” he said. “We just don’t think of them as cures. We’re still kind of myopically fixated on finding a cure, when what we really should be doing is getting adequate basic nursing care for all patients.”