5.20
Public Health
Can Yelp reviews identify better skilled nursing facilities?
Can Yelp reviews identify better skilled nursing facilities?
A new study suggests that hospitals, payers, and patients might learn something useful about the quality of skilled nursing facilities by checking online Yelp reviews.
At a community health center, doctors offer COVID testing—and screening for depression
At a community health center, doctors offer COVID testing—and screening for depression
The Sayre Health Center in West Philadelphia is including anxiety and depression screening with COVID-19 testing, a necessity for a population especially at risk for both.
COVID-19’s assault on Black and Brown communities
COVID-19’s assault on Black and Brown communities
Racism, inequality, and the coronavirus have combined to cause an alarming number of COVID-19 cases and deaths among African-American and Latinx populations.
Do political beliefs affect social distancing?
Do political beliefs affect social distancing?
A new study found that political partisanship influenced Americans’ decisions to voluntarily engage in physical distancing at the start of the pandemic, particularly in response to communications by state governors.
COVID-19 checkup
COVID-19 checkup
Ezekiel J. Emanuel, vice provost for global initiatives and a physician, gave an update on the pandemic during a Perry World House virtual earlier this week. He says summer is a good time to open up in stages but cautions about fall.
Side gigs for good during COVID-19
Side gigs for good during COVID-19
Whether making masks, writing letters, raising funds, or shopping for neighbors, members of the Penn community have stepped up during the pandemic to support those in need.
To keep firearms safe from children, look to behavioral economics
To keep firearms safe from children, look to behavioral economics
Mental shortcuts and cognitive biases may factor into whether a gun gets locked up, separate from ammunition. New findings suggest several ways to positively influence this behavior.
Inside the pandemic’s most deadly targets: Nursing homes
Inside the pandemic’s most deadly targets: Nursing homes
The fourth in an ongoing series of LDI “Experts at Home” virtual seminars focused on how the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the cracks in how we fund and staff nursing home care.
Why risk behaviors, not orientation, should decide who gives blood
Why risk behaviors, not orientation, should decide who gives blood
In a Q&A with Assistant Professor of Medicine Katharine Bar, an explanation on how the ban of blood donations on men who have sex with men came to be, why it persists, and what it should be changed to.
Alex Chen’s lessons from Ebola
Alex Chen’s lessons from Ebola
Alex Chen, a doctoral candidate in anthropology, studies emerging disease preparedness, and how air and airflow is the most powerful tool against disease.
In the News
The New York Times
Cancel sleep away camp
Jill M. Baren of the Perelman School of Medicine and a Columbia University colleague wrote an op-ed proposing the cancellation of summer camps. “Camps are primarily in rural communities where an increasing number of COVID-19 cases are now emerging,” they write. “That local rise in cases increases the risk of transmission into camps, which could overwhelm already fragile hospital systems.”
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The New York Times
There are 3 things we have to do to get people wearing masks
Angela Duckworth of the School of Arts & Sciences, Lyle Ungar of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and PIK Professor Ezekiel J. Emanuel wrote an op-ed about how best to persuade people to wear protective face masks. “It’s not too late to apply three basic principles from behavioral science: make it easy, understood, and expected,” they write, “and we’ll soon see face masks everywhere, saving lives.”
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Boston Globe
Colleges plan for on-campus classes, even as scientists warn of risk for COVID-19
Kevin Volpp of the Perelman School of Medicine commented on the decision to reopen college campuses. “It is a risk-benefit equation,” he said. “It’s impossible to make this zero risk.”
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Newsday
Cruelty to poor is the moral hazard
Jonathan Zimmerman of the Graduate School of Education wrote about Republican resistance to increasing food stamp allowances. Americans “take care of each other, so we can care for ourselves,” he wrote. “Shame on anyone—from any party—who forgets that.”
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CNN
The CDC is a national treasure. Why is it being sidelined?
Jennifer Prah Ruger of the School of Social Policy & Practice wrote about the continued relevance of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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KYW Newsradio (Philadelphia)
Penn is training dogs to sniff out COVID-19 in humans
Cynthia Otto of the School of Veterinary Medicine spoke about the Working Dog Center’s efforts to train dogs to detect COVID-19 in humans. “Basically, we are looking at urine samples. We are hoping to look at saliva and breath samples as well,” she said. “We are going to tell basically if there is an odor excreted in these samples.”
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