In this episode, Kim dives into current testing reports, highlighting declining statistics and mortality rates. Kim also shares her insights on President Trump's positive COVID test result, treatment to-date and the significance of the number of other White House Officials who have tested positive. Join Kim weekly for more real time updates and send your questions to [email protected].

In this episode, our resident clinical lab expert sheds new insights on the race to a vaccine, increased testing (yes, we're STILL working on this) and current efforts to slow spikes in some states. Kim continues to arm us with facts and data as we continue to adjust to our "new normal". Send questions or topics for Kim to cover in future episodes to [email protected].

Lab tests have never been in the healthcare spotlight like they are now. In this episode, HPI connects with Dr. Jane Dickerson from Seattle Children’s Hospital to talk Lab Stewardship. As an expert on the topic, Dr. Dickerson defines what stewardship really means while sharing best-in-class program examples from across the country - consistently highlighting the shared responsibility of clinicians to ensure the right tests are selected, interpretations are clear and visible, and results are received in a timely manner to best treat each and every patient in their care.

In this episode, Mara educates us on the impending "twindemic", explaining the key differences between the flu and COVID, how to best prevent exposure and when to test for one, the other or both. She also tackles some significant vaccine myths! Tune in to bust this myth with Mara - and be sure to continue to send topics you'd like Mara to cover in upcoming episodes to [email protected].

In this episode of COVID Conversations, Kim Zunker dives into vaccine developments for COVID-19 as well as clinical trial work to-date. Tune in for updates on which countries and companies are having the most success in the race to be first to market, as well as Kim's opinions on the safety of those that make it that far. You can also continue to send questions you'd like Kim to answer to [email protected].

In this episode, Mara dives into variables that fuel the virus in one area and limit it in others. From public transportation ventilation to differing protocols in education, professional or community settings, the lack of policy direction leaves the door open for more questions and future concerns. Tune in to bust this myth with Mara!

In this episode of COVID Conversations, Kim Zunker provides major testing updates, details on the Convalescent Plasma EUA, CDC guidance on asymptomatic testing, death certificate data, and a new rule CLIA rule under HHS reporting. Send questions you'd like to hear answered to [email protected].

In this episode, HPI connects with Dr. Claudia Cohn, Chief Medical Officer of AABB and the Blood Bank Laboratory Director at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Cohn shares her experiences and learnings throughout the pandemic to-date in both roles - one advising the largest blood management organization in the U.S. and the other as a blood laboratory leader foreseeing a shortage in both blood and ICU beds - and needing to find a solution, FAST.

In this episode, members of the Alvarez & Marsal team walk us through the Provider Relief Fund terms and conditions, including what recipients should know and do to best demonstrate compliance. Join the team to understand the value of a compliance framework as well as important policies, processes and documentation that will help mitigate risk. Send questions you'd like to hear answered in future episodes to [email protected].

Additional Sources:

1. https://covidtracking.com/blog/finally-some-good-news-this-week-in-covid-19-data-aug-20

2. https://www.jhsph.edu/covid-19/articles/covid-19-testing-understanding-the-percent-positive.html

3. https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/as-texas-clears-covid-19-case-backlogs-positivity-rate-may-not-be-accurate-for-several-days-officials-say/285-a03ad715-3a4e-4e2a-b9b4-3512f0066abc

4. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-10/newsom-assures-coronavirus-test-data-is-correct-after-shakeup

5. https://healthdata.gov/dataset/covid-19-reported-patient-impact-and-hospital-capacity-state

6. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/08/20/904450628/white-house-stokes-hopes-that-key-hospital-data-tracking-will-soon-return-to-cdc

7. https://www.nfid.org/about-nfid/newsroom/press-releases/new-campaign-encourages-all-to-keep-up-the-rates-and-get-vaccinated-amidst-covid-19/

8. https://www.nfid.org/keep-up-the-rates/

9. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/08/18/903617560/who-chief-urges-nations-to-join-in-preventing-vaccine-nationalism

10. https://www.gavi.org/covid19/covax-facility

11. https://www.gavi.org/news/media-room/172-countries-multiple-candidate-vaccines-engaged-covid-19-vaccine-global-access

12. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/24/world/covid-19-coronavirus.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage#link-6536c808

13. https://www.statnews.com/2020/08/24/first-covid-19-reinfection-documented-in-hong-kong-researchers-say/

14. https://www.wsj.com/articles/troubled-covid-19-data-system-returning-to-cdc-11597945770?mod=mktw

15. https://www.kark.com/news/state-news/governor-hutchinson-hosts-dr-deborah-birx-at-governors-mansion/

16. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/covid-19-faqs-hospitals-hospital-laboratory-acute-care-facility-data-reporting.pdf

17. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/testing/tracker/map/percent-positive

18. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/testing/tracker/overview

19. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/?fbclid=IwAR0tmB3XKGrWFJjyMMKqbl5hRxH0fPK63EXq1J_Vs5eDQnZDPwwwhwdSKsw

20. https://rt.live/

21. https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/testing/recission-guidances-informal-issuances-premarket-review-lab-tests/index.html