Healthcare Industry Actions to Protect Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic – May 15, 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. 

• BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has announced it is making coverage of telehealth services, begun to promote patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, permanent. The insurer began covering telephone and video visits with in-network providers in March and has expanded occupational, physical, and speech therapy.

• To address the high rate of COVID-19 infections in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, Cerner is now incorporating an alert in electronic health records encouraging the use of hand-held inhalers instead of nebulizers for patients able to use them. Hand-held inhalers don’t aerosolize vital particles and do not require staff member assistance.

• Genentech and the Genentech Foundation have committed $42 million to support COVID-19 recovery and relief efforts. The funds will be devoted to three purposes – critical health needs, strengthening schools, and grassroots community support.  Dollars used for healthcare will purchase personal protective equipment for frontline workers and ensure access to care for low-income and uninsured coronavirus patients.

• By utilizing innovative safety measures, QTC, a Leidos company that is the nation’s largest provider of medical disability and occupational health exam services, has been able to maintain its critical operations without interruption. In March, the company conducted 50,000 exams across 90 clinics throughout the country without a single reported infection.

• MemorialCare Health System has announced that its four hospitals in southern California are participating in the federally-supported Expanded Access Program providing convalescent plasma to patient suffering from severe or life-threatening coronavirus cases. The hospitals are involved in both providing the treatment and recruiting potential plasma donors who have recovered  from COVID-19.

• Leading pharmaceutical manager UCB provides employees with volunteer hours they can devote to the causes of their choice and much of that time is being focused on the needs created by the pandemic. Employees are participating in a wide range of activities from contactless meal delivery to elderly shut-ins, tutoring homeless teens, and making and donating protective masks.