Houston Medical Times June 2020

Serving Harris, Brazoria, Fort Bend and Montgomery Counties

HOUSTON

Volume 10 | Issue 6

Inside This Issue

Pandemic Highlights the Plight of Female Health-CareWorkers See pg. 10

INDEX Mental Health...................... pg.5 Oncology Research......... pg.6 Healthy Heart....................... pg.8 Hospital News......................pg.11

Travel Safely During Summer Vacation Season See pg. 13

June Edition 2020

Reopening the Economy And Getting Back To Business: Privacy Concerns with Health Data Collection and Contact Tracing

By Frank T. Spano, JD Kathy A. Hardee, JD Polsinelli, PC

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any of the reopening guidelines require businesses to screen individuals who have COVID-19 and communicate such data to public health authorities for the purpose of contact tracing. In their screening efforts prompted by these guidelines, many businesses will take the temperatures of employees, customers and visitors, or start tracking attributes of “wellness� such as who reports in sick.

As time goes on, technology will play a greater role. Facial recognition and other biometric technologies may offer solutions for identifying individuals who have tested positive or need to be quarantined based on contact tracing more broadly.

The increasing use of biometric and geolocation technologies was raising privacy concerns before COVID-19.

Presently, there are a number of laws that address private sector usage of facial recognition or biometric data.

These laws may soon be modified or in some cases preempted by legislation that is specific to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although it is too early to predict the contents of any legislation, it is fair to assume it will provide individuals with some measure of control over how their personal health, geolocation and proximity data are being collected and used to combat the pandemic.

The common thread in all of these initiatives is the balancing of concerns for the safety and privacy for personal data on the one hand, and the critically important public health need for screening and contact tracing on the other.

Practical Tips for Businesses Requirements for COVID-19 screening and contact tracing are rapidly evolving, and will undoubtedly vary from place to place depending on the overlay of federal, state and local laws, regulations and executive orders.

Nevertheless, there are a few basic privacy principles that will help companies implement effective screening and contact tracing and minimize exposure to potential liability.

1. Privacy Notice. Companies should ensure that they provide clear notice to individuals (including employees) describing the personal data that will be collected, the means used to collect it, and how the data will be used, shared and stored. The privacy notices should be transparent and in a concise, easy to read format. Avoid technical and legal jargon that will make the notice difficult to read and understand.

2. Consent. Businesses should consult local and state laws for the inclusion of consents and disclosures. Where consent is required, it should be clear and unambiguous, and should encompass all forms of processing of COVID-19 screening data. If the company is considering requesting access to health information directly from health care providers, there are separate authorization and consent requirements under state and federal law that the company should follow, including HIPAA, regarding how such consent must

see Economy... page 14

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 1 HOUSTON TX

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June 2020

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Texas A&M System Brands Landmark Campus in Texas Medical Center later this year.

Complementing the academic, he Texas A&M University research, discovery and innovation System announced the name of its missions of the EnMed Building, landmark 5-acre campus in Houston, Texas A&M Innovation Plaza will TX at the prominent intersection provide a welcoming, secure and of Holcombe Blvd and Main St. vibrant experience to the campus near the Texas Medical Center population and visitors alike, with (“TMC”). Setting a new standard generous green spaces and lifestyle for collaboration in engineering, amenities not commonly found in the medicine, research and education is TMC area. the first all-new mixed-use campus for With groundbreaking scheduled the Texas A&M System in Houston: in late 2020, the System’s public-private partnership (P3) developer is bringing Texas A&M Innovation Plaza.

The Texas A&M University additional investment of $401 System initiated the new campus by million to fulfill unmet needs with acquiring and renovating an 18-story two complementary towers total an office building at 1020 Holcombe to additional 1.9 million square feet. be the home for EnMed, a unique “EnMed is just the first example of two-degree program that provides innovation that Texas A&M System students the chance to earn a master’s intends to bring to the Texas A&M degree in engineering from Texas Innovation Plaza,” said Chancellor A&M and a medical degree from the John Sharp. “We are excited to have such a visible location in the Texas Texas A&M College of Medicine.

Hou_Med_times_ad_3_2020.pdf 3/11/20 Medical 5:25 PM Center.”

The EnMed Building will1 open

By Lindsey Hendrix

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Scheduled to deliver in June 2022, a 19-story, 714-bed student housing tower will overlook a scenic plaza flanked by a large garage with retail and dining at grade with convenient, affordable parking for 2,800 vehicles.

Texas A&M medical students and Prairie View A&M nursing students will be given priority for housing, but students from other institutions could fill open slots, if available.

Scheduled to be delivered in January 2024 is a 17-story, 515,000 square-foot integrated medical building that will be built atop the 13-story parking structure. With generous, efficient floorplates and

robust building technologies, this integrated medical building will be ideally suited to medical, clinical, biomedical, tech and office uses.

Accessible via Main St., Holcombe Blvd. and Fannin St., Texas A&M Innovation Plaza is also adjacent to the METRO TMC Station, providing convenient connectivity via bus and light rail service to the TMC, Museum District and Downtown Houston.

The developer for the P3 projects is Medistar Corporation. American Triple I Partners, founded by Texas A&M alum Henry Cisneros, is part of the financing team.

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Houston Medical Times

Single-Use Masks Can Be Disinfected, Reused According to Latest UTMB Research

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ersonal protective equipment, and in particular masks, have been a topic of much concern for front-line health care workers and first responders dealing with spread of the new coronavirus. The global spread of the disease has strained supplies and disrupted supply chain, making the needed masks harder to come by.

However, researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have found a way to disinfect single-use surgical masks and N95 filtering facepiece respirators, allowing health care workers to reuse these lifesaving piece of equipment. The research team published their results in Applied Biosafety: Journal of ABSA International.

“PPE shortage can pose a serious threat to healthcare workers, first responders, researchers and the public, so we decided to see if by using tools already available in most hospitals and labs, masks could be cleaned, decontaminated and reused,”

June 2020

said Miguel Grimaldo, an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology and Director of Institutional Biocontainment Resources at UTMB.

Medical grade filtering facepiece respirators, also known as N95 masks, are an essential form of personal protective equipment that can help limit a doctor or nurses’ exposure to pathogens transmitted by droplets and aerosols. Hospitals have had to be judicious in the use of the masks as the pandemic wears on. Previous studies have looked at how to decontaminate and reuse masks, but most of the proposed techniques are labor-intensive and require specialized equipment.

Grimaldo and his team of scientists tested three different kinds of N95 masks and two types of surgical masks. To clean the masks, the team used an autoclave, a machine found in most hospitals and laboratories that sterilizes equipment.

The researchers found that they were able to decontaminate two of the

three N95 mask types tested and both surgical masks up to three times using moist steam sterilization in an autoclave without significantly reducing their effectiveness. Masks were tested for filtration function and fit. Even after the third cleaning, the masks were still found to be 99 percent as effective as new, unused masks, the team said in their paper. The team’s method was effective against viruses and bacteria, researchers said.

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“The lack of masks and other protective equipment can place health care workers, first responders, and researchers at great risk,” Grimaldo said. “Hopefully, with this information, hospitals and other institutions will be able to disinfect and reuse some of their masks and make their supplies last a little longer as we all continue to fight this disease.”

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Mental Health Reconnecting after COVID-19 Therapists Offer “What’s Next” In Mental Health and Ways You Should Reintegrate

By John J. O’Neill, EdD, LCSW, LCDC, CAS, Clinical Director, Menninger Outpatient Services

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or many, the months-long COVID-19 lockdown feels like the movie Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray’s character faces a sort-of purgatory, reliving the same day every time he wakes up. Sound familiar?

Now that we are reconnecting with the world (and people) around us, many are trying to return to so-called “normal life” again. However, jumping back into an old routine could cause anxiety, since people’s patterns have been altered by staying home for so long.

As daily life undergoes a reset worldwide, my colleagues and I agree that patience has to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind as we learn new ways to function.

“People may experience a type of shock if they try to return to their old schedule,” says Cynthia Mulder, LCSW, The Menninger Clinic. “By

resetting what we value, we find a new appreciation for what we no longer need and what helps us cope.”

While learning how to cope with isolation is important, the need to rebuild social connectivity is real.

Enforced distancing measures are not only changing our work, family, and travel routines, it’s changing how we interact with others.

Bottom line, loneliness is bad for your health, and it’s likely on the rise.

A meta-analytic review, which analyzed results of roughly 150 studies, underlines the impact of loneliness on our health.

It found a lack of social integration increases the risk of death more than factors such as obesity or alcohol consumption and it is as harmful as heavy smoking. While we may crave social interaction, the thought of going out into the world anew might seem scary for some - and that’s OK.

“It’s normal to be nervous or even feel guilty about reconnecting,” says Angela Koreth, MS, LPC-S, The

Menninger Clinic. “Assimilating back into society is like getting into a pool, you either dip your toe into the shallow end or you dive head first into the deep end. Once you gauge your comfort level, then you can begin to make healthy choices for your post-pandemic life.”

I concur with my colleague, for some, wading out into the water might be a happy medium. In fact, it might be hard to reengage typical systems at the same intensity as before. If that’s the case, then consider a gradual reentry.

For example, consider shopping at an outside mall where it’s easier to establish social-distancing instead of visiting an indoor mall. For others who used Uber pre-COVID-19, the safer decision now may be to drive in order to control the

environment’s level of sanitization.

As a therapist, I talk about boundaries frequently and I’m not alone; my colleague offers steps we can take to place boundaries on our time and environment in order to gain social connection.

“People might now obsessively wash their hands, clean surfaces more often, and frequently use sanitizer in order to reintegrate into society,” says Elissa Bauer, MEd, LPC, The Menninger Clinic. “I think people will also reevaluate how busy they were, and if that’s necessary or sustainable, to help ease their reintegration anxiety.”

To gauge our comfort level, and see Mental Health...page 14

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June 2020

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Oncology Research Telemedicine: Reshaping the Future Of Cancer Care

By Gury Doshi, M.D., Texas Oncology Houston Memorial City

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hen As our communities continue to adjust to social distancing, life looks a little different. What hasn’t changed for Texans living with cancer is the critical care required to fight their illness. Appointments are a necessity, whether patients are newly diagnosed, currently in active treatment, or in need of follow-up care.

For some cancer patients, the risk of leaving home during the COVID-19 pandemic is worrisome, even for an in-clinic appointment, particularly for those with weakened immune systems or who live in communities at risk.

Telemedicine provides an alternative, as patients can meet with their provider, when clinically appropriate, without leaving home.

While telemedicine isn’t new,

June 2020

COVID-19 has triggered a rapid rise in virtual appointments and has reshaped and enhanced he way patients receive cancer care.

How Telemedicine Works

The process healthcare providers follow for telemedicine appointments may differ slightly, but the concept is generally the same. Through a video conferencing service on a mobile phone or computer, providers and their care team members conduct appointments, securely share files, review imaging and laboratory data, and engage with patients and their families.

The virtual patient experience enables providers to evaluate patients from their own homes without bringing them into the clinic. Providers continue to actively follow patient progress while reducing risk of exposure to illness for patients and staff. Telemedicine is useful to cancer patients and providers while dealing with COVID-19, but the benefits of telemedicine go beyond its use during the pandemic.

Broadening the Spectrum of Care

Telemedicine can be helpful with

routine appointments and follow-up care.

Patients connect directly with providers who offer highly specialized care, even if they live many miles away from the clinic.

This also provides patients wider access to other Texas Oncology disease experts and information about alternative or novel treatments and clinical trials.

For example, a patient in a rural part of the state may be a candidate for a clinical trial or specialty treatment offered at a clinic far from the patient’s home, such as brain tumor specialists based in Austin. A telemedicine consultation enables the physician and patient to determine whether the trial or treatment is a fit before the patient travels a long distance for an in-person

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appointment. This can be life-changing for patients in many areas of Texas where specialty healthcare is limited.

It’s important to note that telemedicine does not eliminate the need for patients to travel for some aspects of treatment or in-person appointments.

High-touch, hands-on care is necessary to treat cancer. Rather, telemedicine may be beneficial during certain phases of a patient’s cancer treatment plan while other phases will require regular, in-person appointments, such as when treatment needs to be administered. The purpose of telemedicine is to augment

see Oncology Research...page 14

Houston Medical Times

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Page 8

Healthy Heart Interim CPR Guidelines Address Challenges of Providing Resuscitation During COVID-19 Pandemic

By The American Heart Association During National CPR and AED Awareness Week, June 1 – 7, new guidance aims to balance providing timely high-quality CPR and protecting the safety of the rescuer

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ith COVID-19 incidence currently increasing worldwide, the percentage of cardiac arrests with COVID-19 are also likely to increase.

The evolving outbreak of COVID-19 cases creates challenges around resuscitation efforts and requires potential modifications of established processes and practices.

The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, has compiled interim CPR guidelines to help rescuers treat victims of cardiac arrest with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

The Association, in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Association of Respiratory Care, The Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists and American College

of Emergency Physicians, published “Interim Guidance for Basic and Advanced Life Support in Adults, Children and Neonates with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19,” in its flagship journal, Circulation today.

The goal is to ensure that patients with or without COVID-19 who experience cardiac arrest have the best possible chance of survival without compromising the safety of rescuers.

“COVID-19 is complicating resuscitation efforts and making us rethink established processes and practices.,” said Allie Bateman, Resuscitation Quality Improvement Manager for the Southwest Region of the American Heart Association.

“The AHA’s CPR efforts are critically important. We sought to balance the competing interests of providing timely and high-quality resuscitation to patients while simultaneously protecting rescuers.”

In addition to the statement, the Association has released a free e-learning course to help health care providers understand the impact of

the resuscitation guidelines.

Principles for resuscitation in suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients provided in the statement include: • R e d u c i n g prov ider exposure to C OV I D -19.

Limit personnel in the room or on the scene to only those essential for patient care.

• Prioritizing oxygenation and ventilation strategies with lower aerosolization risk. Emphasis has been placed on the use of HEPA filters for all ventilation and early and successful intubation with mechanical intubation to minimize the airborne spread of the virus.

• Considering the appropriateness of starting and continuing resuscitation. Health care systems and EMS agencies should institute policies to guide front-line providers in determining the appropriateness of starting and terminating CPR for patients with COVID-19, taking into account patient risk factors to

estimate the likelihood of survival.

• Continuing to encourage bystander CPR and defibrillation, for with those willing and able, especially if they are household members who have already been exposed to the victim at home.

For out-of-home cardiac arrests, a face mask or cloth covering the mouth and nose of the rescuer and/ or victim may reduce the risk of transmission to a bystander during Hands-Only CPR. Supporting organizations for the statement include the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the National Association of EMS Physicians.

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Page 9

Hands-Only CPR CPR CAN DOUBLE OR EVEN TRIPLE A PERSON’S CHANCE OF SURVIVAL

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Page 10

Pandemic Highlights the Plight of Female Health-Care Workers Torn Between Jobs and Home Duties

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hen it comes to waging war on the COVID-19 virus, those most likely to suit up are women.

“Nearly 90% of nurses and nursing assistants in the United States are women,” said Kathryn Tart, professor and founding dean of the UH College of Nursing, noting that women are also overwhelmingly the primary caretakers of their families. “With schools closed across the country, our female health-care providers are left with a demanding, if not impossible schedule.”

According to the World Health Organization’s 2020 State of the World’s Nursing, “nursing remains a highly gendered profession with associated biases in the workplace.”

Though such a high percentage of nurses are female, the report finds that “few leadership positions in health are held by nurses or women.”

The predicament is no surprise to

Elizabeth Gregory, director of the UH Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality.

“The job and pay-gap division reflect a stratified economy where women have been largely limited to jobs involving caregiving or domestic work, and these have historically been under-valued,” said Gregory.

“The pay-scale dynamic has always been linked to the idea that women did this kind of work for free at home anyway, and because they were low paid as a group for so long, they have only recently begun to achieve the status and civic voice to argue for higher wages in these essential realms —a vicious cycle.”

“Even worse,” said Gregory “women and all essential workers may be forced to choose between their health and their job, in this pandemic.”

Shouldering the higher risk is

Celebrating

common among nurses, who are at a patient’s bedside no matter the illness.

“Nurses are at the bedside when it comes to caring for patients and this is no different when nurses care for COVID-19 patients,” said Tart. “They administer oral and intravenous medications and fluids, provide hygiene and take vital signs.

They talk, comfort and sit beside patients. They are there when patients die because their families cannot be there.”

The illness strikes a peculiar balance In New York, 60% of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were men.

Similar stats from China, indicating need for further research, show the fatality rate for men at 2.8%, over a percentage point higher than for

women at 1.7%.

Not so, however, on the front lines. Recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 73% percent of U.S. health care workers infected with the virus are women.

Ultimately, Tart said, it is crucial to ensure the health and safety of all health care providers both at work and at home.

“Nurses need their families and significant others to help with the care of the home, educating the children, preparing the meals, following the CDC guidelines, all while they do these same things for the patients in their care,” said Tart.

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Page 11

Hospital News Face Coverings and Visitors Limited at Houston VA

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uring these challenging times, your Houston VA is committed to making sure you have access to our health care services. We want all of our Veterans to know the VA is still open and here for you.

MEDVAMC is working hard to stop the risk of COVID-19 infection and its spread to Veterans, employees, and visitors at the Houston VA and our community based outpatient clinics. Your VA

asked to use hand sanitizer before entering our building. Our screeners will also verify that you have an appointment. We also ask that you arrive for your appointment no more than 15 minutes early. This will reduce the number of people in waiting areas and ensure your safety and the safety of others.

Virtual Visits: We have converted the majority of our outpatient visits to phone and VA Video Connect

Dear Doctors and Staff, Let us take the guesswork out of fracture referrals.

No more waiting for appointments!

We at the Orthopedic Care Center wish to offer your patients and staff easy scheduling of patients.

Our office has extended office hours on Fridays to accommodate patients with fractures.

On behalf of the Orthopedic Care Center

Lubor Jarolimek M.D.

ORTHOPEDIC CARE CENTER 2121 OAKDALE HOUSTON, TX 77004

Call us today! visits will continue to be different for a while.

Face Coverings Mandatory: For the safety of all Veterans and staff, Houston VA requires all who enter our buildings to wear face coverings.

Face coverings are normally cloth, scarves, or bandanas. The face covering must cover the mouth and nose, fit snugly, and allow for breathing without restriction. This is now mandatory at our Houston VA and CBOCs as well. Face coverings must be worn at all times while in the medical center. Find out more information on cloth face coverings from the CDC. Visitors Limited: All visitors, including children and adolescents under the age of 18, are restricted from entering our main hospital.

Outpatient visitors are limited to ONLY one person who is helping a Veteran that requires physical assistance.

Screening: We continue to screen all who enter our buildings. This screening includes a temperature check and a series of screening questions. Once you pass through our screening area, you will be

visits. We will reach out to you via phone prior to your appointment to determine if your visit can be done virtually. Please feel free to email us through our MyHealtheVet secure messaging system. Clinical staff are available to provide 24/7 virtual care and support, including nurse advice and triage.

Call first: We continue to ask Veterans to call us at 713-794-8985 if they have symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath before going to any of our VA facilities.

Calling first helps us protect our Veterans, medical staff, and other patients.

Please call your provider prior to coming as a walk-in.

Veterans whose needs can’t be met through virtual care appointments are still coming into the medical center for things like dialysis, chemotherapy etc. Our Emergency Department is still open, and we are still performing non-elective surgeries here at our

OCC_FractureFridaysFA3_Outlined.indd 1

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see Hospital News...page 14

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Oakbend Medical Center’s Newly Graduated Nurses Find New Ways to Help Patients

From all of us at the

THANK YOU to all of our Houston area FRONTLINE

Healthcare Workers, First Responders, and all Essential Workers!

Note: The New Grad photo was taken before COVID-19 so there was no social distancing at that time

R

ichmond, TX…OakBend Medical Center’s Nurse Residency Program has a brand-new set of nurses.

And, with these new grads came new ideas on how to help their patients.

According to the graduated, “As new nurses, we were always

video conferencing visits.”

The nurses in the residency program collaborated ideas and established a process to allow virtual visits with the patients.

The gathered as many tablets as they could to help patients reach out to family. After providing video

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taught the importance of providing emotional support and a sense of hope to get our patients through their stay. This is done from a holistic standpoint which often involves the family. Patients loved ones can play a key role in their health outcome. When the coronavirus pandemic took over the United States, this challenged how we as nurses were going to still provide that holistic care. During rotations, we saw the challenges that patients were facing everyday with not being able to see and hear their loved ones. It was noticed when going in and out of patient’s rooms that there was a sense of not being motivated and the patients seemed down. This sparked an idea within our Nurse Residency program, to combine technology with healthcare and look towards

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conferencing, Bianca Ascencion, one of the new graduates stated, “This gives them a sense of hope and security, knowing that someone is there, and they still have someone that cares for them.”

The class believes that the quote ,”Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring; all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

—Leo Buscaglia” speaks to their chosen journey.

“OakBend is blessed to has this class of new nurses,” stated Marilyn Phillips, CNO and hospital Administrator, “their compassion and problem-solving abilities will guarantee their success as nurses.”

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Travel Safely During Summer Vacation Season

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any people have put vacation plans on hold over the past few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But now as states relax stay-at-home restrictions and summer vacation season begins, some Americans are looking for safe ways to travel. A Baylor College of Medicine infectious disease expert offers a few tips on how to reduce your risk of getting sick if you’re hitting the road or catching a flight this summer.

Do your research before you go

Dr. Jill Weatherhead, assistant professor of tropical medicine and infectious diseases at Baylor, said at this time there’s still risk involved in any kind of travel. She recommends everyone stay up to date on the number of COVID-19 cases and the travel restrictions locally and at their vacation destination.

“The risk will depend heavily on local viral transmission patterns and the population density of travelers visiting the area,” Weatherhead said.

“In areas that are more remote where social distancing can be maintained

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and there are fewer interactions between visitors and local residents, the risk may be less. Understanding the risks to both yourself and to the vacation community needs to be heavily considered prior to travel.”

Consider your mode of travel carefully Any form of transportation that puts you in close contact with a large number of strangers increases the risk of virus transmission. Planes, trains and buses can involve close exposure to people from different parts of the country. Most planes have high-efficiency filters that reduce the risk of the virus spreading through the air. But Weatherhead notes that when in confined spaces it’s difficult to prevent droplet and surface transmission if you’re in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

“Practice social distancing as much as possible, disinfect highly touched surfaces such as seats, trays and arm rests, and wear a facial covering to help reduce viral transmission,” Weatherhead said.

Driving can be a good way to decrease your contact with other people, but take caution when stopping for gas or food. You can reduce the number of stops you take by bringing food and water in the car with you.

Weatherhead recommends planning your route ahead of time to scout out restaurants and gas stations that may be open and aren’t overpopulated with other travelers. Use drive-thru or curbside service when possible to reduce the frequency of going inside businesses. When you do get out of

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the car, be sure to wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol content to kill viruses.

“Even on road trips, it is important to continue to practice social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet distance from others and stopping at locations that aren’t crowded,” Weatherhead said. “Limit face-to-face interactions by using credit cards to pay and wear a face covering when in public spaces.”

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June 2020

Page 14

Economy

Continued from page 1 be obtained and confirmed in writing by the individual involved.

3. Data Retention. Businesses should have a process that anonymizes or deletes location and other personal data on a rolling basis (subject to legal or regulatory requirements).

This will help minimize the risk that personal data is used for purposes unrelated to contact tracing.

4. Data Sharing. Information should only be shared with governmental public health authorities or other third-party service providers needed to provide the services to support contact tracing. Obtain written certification from service providers that shared data will not be used for advertising or other purposes unrelated to contact tracing. Data shared with government partners

Mental Health

Continued from page 5 reduce stress levels related to social situations, ask yourself these questions: • What, from isolation, do I want to continue?

• How do I balance my social time and home time?

• What can I do to keep from

Oncology Research

Continued from page 6 high-quality, personal cancer care – not to replace it.

Reimagining the Patient Experience

Physicians and their healthcare

Hospital News

Continued from page 11

VA. As we look to the future, your Houston VA and VA facilities across the country are making plans for a phased reopening of elective

June 2020

Houston Medical Times

should be similarly limited to data the agency certifies as necessary for pandemic-response efforts and not for any other purpose. Executive orders or regulations may provide immunity from suit for companies that comply with prescribed content tracing protocols, but this will not always be the case and may require analysis and interpretation of government requirements or further outreach to government representatives.

5. Data Security. Companies should apply security measures that are appropriate for the most sensitive information. This would include limiting access to the contact tracing data to key employees and service providers, and using a system that monitors their access.

Security systems should provide secure storage and continuously encrypt data in transit and at rest.

Businesses should make every effort to ensure that no one other

than key employees is able to see any of the data collected and that records are secured from disclosure, transmission, or release.

6. Data Breach.

Current and anticipated privacy legislation often requires companies to have a system in place for providing regulators and consumers with prompt and detailed notice of any data breaches that resulted in disclosures of certain types of personally identifiable information.

This will likely encompass COVID-19 screening and contact tracing information.

The continuing impact of COVID-19 and government’s response to the pandemic on businesses and their relationships with employees, customers and guests requires careful, individual analysis. By implementing these basic privacy principles businesses may accomplish effective screening and contact tracing while minimizing exposure to potential liability.

booking my calendar full and causing increased anxiety?

• What am I going to do to take care of myself, whether it be time alone, exercise, or a massage?

We do not know when COVID-19 will end, so we could have a long way to go with this pandemic. There’s fear that this invisible enemy could return in winter, so establishing a personal plan now to socially reconnect could be one

we revisit for years to come. Practicing cleanliness and social distancing, gauging one’s social comfort level, and establishing a check-in with oneself, in order to best manage stress and anxiety, will create a smoother transition back into society.

teams are constantly evaluating how to enhance the patient experience.

Telemedicine has had a positive impact on healthcare access for patients and their families, enabling physicians to provide seamless and uninterrupted care.

As we navigate the current and future treatment landscape, telemedicine allows for safely and effectively managing and delivering healthcare to our patients.

I’m proud to work with a network

of physicians that not only embraces the potential of telemedicine but evolves and expands its services to ensure patients care is never compromised – even during a global pandemic. Of the many challenges COVID-19 brought with it, I’m optimistic that telemedicine is a benefit that will be with us for years to come.

procedures and other clinical operations. Our plans will involve a careful, well-thought out, phased approach that protects the health and safety of all who enter your Houston VA and our clinics. We will be communicating our plans for specific clinics and services in the coming days. Moving forward together, we will continue to provide

exceptional care to our Veterans.

Your trust in VA is paramount.

Safe care is our mission and our continuing commitment to you.

Find updates on our web site at www.houston.va.gov/emergency/ index.asp.

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Page 15

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CARING TAKES TRUE COURAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE.

THANK YOU TO EVERY PHYSICIAN, NURSE, FIRST RESPONDER AND HEALTHCARE WORKER IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. Thanks to those being called away from their own families to be of service to yours. And we thank the people of the Greater Houston area for taking every step possible to safeguard your own health. Thank you for the sacrifices you’re making. And for the impact you’re having on all our lives.

Advancing health. Personalizing care.

June 2020

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ThankYouHouston.org