Background: Survivors of hospitalization for COVID-19 are potentially at high risk for subsequent psychiatric morbidity due to medical trauma, systemic inflammation, and potential neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2(1). In addition, social isolation during the hospital stay due to restrictive visitor policies and after discharge due to fears of contagion or stay-at-home orders could further increase psychiatric vulnerability […]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated rapid changes in healthcare delivery in the United States, including changes in the care of hospitalized children. Our study aimed to identify the major changes in inpatient pediatric healthcare delivery and potential learnings from these changes. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews for this qualitative study. We purposefully sampled hospitals […]

Background: As a result of COVID-19, clinical care across the U.S. has changed with virtual services becoming the new normal in many clinics.1-5 How these changes impact patient care following hospitalization is unclear as data are limited.6 We report on characteristics and rates of clinic follow up and satisfaction with care in patients discharged during […]

Background: Literature on the prognostic value of laboratory tests on patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is sparse.1-4 Based on available evidence our institution developed a protocol for care of patients admitted with COVID-19. In addition to routine labs (complete blood count, complete metabolic panel, venous lactate, etc.), the protocol recommends a set of COVID-specific daily lab […]

Background: Patient and family experience have become increasingly important to the hospital community, whereby exceptional patient and family experience is the common ground for all six aims of quality care as defined by the Institute of Medicine in Crossing the Quality Chasm — care that is patient centered, safe, effective, timely, efficient, and equitable (1). […]

Background: Uncertainty of viral transmission and PPE availability early in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic created unique infection control challenges for hospitals. Prior to masking recommendations and widespread testing availability, the hospital medicine service at an academic hospital system published “medical distancing” guidelines to reduce the frequency and proximity of physician-patient interactions to minimize transmission. While previous […]

Background: Hospitalists commonly discuss advance care planning (ACP), which supports patients in understanding and expressing their values for medical care during serious illness. The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the urgency of these conversations, especially for patients with older age, comorbidities, or an otherwise high risk for complications such as ICU admission, […]

Background: Hospitalists rely on patients’ family members and caregivers to convey medical history, communicate on the patient’s behalf, assist with decision making, participate in care training, partake in discharge planning and provide support. With the rise of COVID-19 infection rates across the country, hospitals promptly enforced strict visitation protocols to prevent transmission, preserve PPE and […]

Background: COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease of 2019) is a global pandemic caused by the rapidly spreading SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2). The novel coronavirus has stressed the limits of healthcare systems globally, making early identification of risk factors essential to the functioning of our healthcare systems during this ongoing pandemic. Many risk factors are already […]

Background: COVID-19  has claimed over 260,000 American lives (1), disproportionately affecting older adults (2). High mortality rates in older adults, along with the potential need for resource allocation, placed an even higher importance on the timely discussion and documentation of advance directives (3). The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of early […]