6.22
Health Sciences
Virtual palliative care doctors are a ‘bright spot’ in dark times
Virtual palliative care doctors are a ‘bright spot’ in dark times
An initiative to provide virtual palliative care for nursing home patients, their families, and staff in a group of West Philadelphia nursing homes is providing comfort in the best and safest way possible during the pandemic.
To boost opioid treatment prescriptions, entice physicians
To boost opioid treatment prescriptions, entice physicians
A new study shows that a financial incentive can dramatically increase the number of emergency department physicians trained to prescribe a potentially life-saving medication that prevents patients from fatal opioid overdose.
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.
Oral care during COVID-19
Oral care during COVID-19
Experts from the School of Dental Medicine share tips on how to maintain healthy teeth and gums even when a trip to the dentist isn’t in the cards for the time being and what to expect as restrictions are lifted.
Steep decline in organ transplants amid COVID-19 outbreak
Steep decline in organ transplants amid COVID-19 outbreak
France and the United States have experienced a significant reduction in the number of organ donations and solid organ transplant procedures since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cavity-causing bacteria assemble an army of protective microbes on human teeth
Cavity-causing bacteria assemble an army of protective microbes on human teeth
Examining bacteria growing on toddlers’ teeth, a team from the School of Dental Medicine and Georgia Tech found that the microbes’ spatial organization is crucial to how they cause tooth decay.
Negative financial shock increases loneliness in older adults
Negative financial shock increases loneliness in older adults
The conclusions hold even after accounting for changes in chronic health conditions and functional limitations, religious service attendance, and relationship strain.
Reddit reveals peaks of public interest in COVID-19 topics
Reddit reveals peaks of public interest in COVID-19 topics
Online forums can be used by public health officials to quickly identify topics of public interest during the COVID-19 pandemic and to quell misinformation.
Supportive work environments help nurses do their job to the fullest
Supportive work environments help nurses do their job to the fullest
A Penn LDI study shows that adequate resources and staffing helps nurses to avoid delayed or missed care opportunities for their patients.
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.
In the News
The New York Times
Five-minute coronavirus stress resets
Research by Veena Graff of the Perelman School of Medicine found that serene music can be highly effective in decreasing preoperative anxiety in patients.
FULL STORY →
The New York Times
Health experts to F.D.A: Make your vaccine deliberations public
Paul Offit of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the FDA’s emergency authorization of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment, despite a lack of evidence of its efficacy. “I think the administration bent or imposed its will on the F.D.A.,” he said. “There’s a concern that this would happen [with the vaccine], too.”
FULL STORY →
The New York Times
Scientists uncover biological signatures of the worst COVID-19 cases
John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about his research on the distinct immune signatures of severe COVID-19 infections, which can cause the typical immune response to go awry.
FULL STORY →
The New York Times
‘Like a horror movie’: A small border hospital battles the coronavirus
Genevieve Kanter of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about a study she co-authored that warned of disparities in access to critical care facilities amid the pandemic. “Unfortunately, there will be a lot of unnecessary suffering and deaths from COVID-19 because of the lack of I.C.U. capacity in these low-income areas,” she said.
FULL STORY →
The New York Times
Contact tracing is failing in many states. Here’s why
Carolyn Cannuscio of the Perelman School of Medicine says contact tracing is broken due to larger failures in the prevention system. “We have to start by supporting people in getting tested, which means making it easy enough for those exposed to someone or has symptoms to just show up and not worry about a doctor’s order,” she said.
FULL STORY →