Healthcare Industry Actions to Protect Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic – May 1, 2020

The Healthcare Leadership Council is comprised of leading companies from every sector of American healthcare.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be sharing examples of actions these companies are taking to protect and assist the public and combat the virus’s spread.  If you would like assistance in reaching a representative for any of these companies, please contact Kelly Fernandez at kfernandez@hlc.org. 

• Anthem has forged partnerships with other organizations to meet social needs arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. With PsychHub and Beacon Health Options, Anthem has built a Mental Health Resource Hub to help people cope with social isolation, job loss, and other challenges.  And with the Aunt Bertha social care network, individuals and families are being linked to free and reduced-cost social services – such as food delivery and help paying bills – in their communities. 

• To help meet urgent personnel needs during the pandemic, AMN Healthcare has launched the Open Talent Marketplace for Healthcare, a technological solution that can immediately connect healthcare providers, at no cost, with a vast network of national and regional staffing agencies. 

• A Genentech drug for rheumatoid arthritis is showing early promise for treatment of seriously ill COVID-19 patients. The trial of tocilizumab, being conducted in France by the Paris university hospital trust, showed that it was able to significantly reduce the number of deaths and life support interventions compared to a control group.  

• Working with Insulin for Life USA, Medtronic is donating sensors, infusion sets, and reservoirs for patients on insulin pump therapy who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. These supplies will be distributed to 15 clinics across the United States that specializing in serving patients with Type 1 diabetes.  

• Merck has entered into an agreement with the Seattle-based Institute for Systems Biology to research the molecular activity of COVID-19, a critical step in identifying targets for vaccines and treatments. The work will involve blood and nasal samples from coronavirus patients at Swedish Medical Center, taken at different stages of the illness. 

• Tivity Health is using the Zoom video conferencing program to help seniors with physical fitness and isolation issues during this time of social distancing. Through Tivity’s Silver Sneakers program, participants can log into Zoom to engage in a number of exercise and yoga programs and participate in educational workshops.