ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 continues to have a profound impact on infant healthcare and health outcomes. In this study, we aimed to characterize the social impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown on families in a neonatal follow-up program (NFP). Given the ongoing increased use of telehealth across the medicine, we also evaluated for patient-level differences in virtual visit rates to identify patients at risk of follow-up challenges. METHODS: In order to assess the impact of virtual healthcare utilization, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to describe challenges associated with telemedicine use in this vulnerable patient population during our telemedicine epoch (March 13, 2020-July 31, 2020). We also looked for patient-level factors associated with attending NFP visits as scheduled. Finally, we summarized caregiver responses to a COVID-19 Obstacles Assessment Survey and assessed for racial disparities in these responses. RESULTS: When comparing patients who completed their virtual visit to those who did not, we found no differences by infants' sex, birthweight, gestational age at birth or caregiver self-reported race and ethnicity. However, infants whose visits did not occur were more often discharged with equipment or covered by public insurance. Nine percent of families endorsed food insecurity. CONCLUSION: During the initial COVID-19 lockdown, families with infants discharged from a NICU faced significant obstacles caring for their infants and attending scheduled follow-up visits. Infants in families with lower socioeconomic status or with increased medical complexity faced increased challenges in attending virtual follow-up visits during this epoch. Given the ongoing reliance on telemedicine in healthcare and the need to better prepare for future epidemics/pandemics, this study offers critical information that can assist neonatal teams in bolstering transitions to home and creating stronger safety nets for their patients after discharge.
ABSTRACT
/IntroductionOnce a year we take the opportunity to thank the reviewers whose difficult, important work is never sufficiently recognized. Two years into the COVID‐19 pandemic, reviewers continued to show deep resolve to support their community, by providing thorough, timely reviews aiming to improve manuscripts, while simultaneously dealing with very difficult personal and professional circumstances. Without their intense, robust, and helpful attention, all the science we do would be diminished. Ulla and I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation for your efforts this year and our hope for improvement in 2022 and beyond.
ABSTRACT
Once a year we take the opportunity to thank the reviewers whose difficult, important work is never sufficiently recognized. This year is special. Due to the vicissitudes of COVID19, submissions were up just as reviewing came at a higher personal cost than ever before. Reviewers had to dig deep and make real sacrifices to respond to the community's needs for critical, thorough reviews aiming to improve manuscripts, while simultaneously dealing with very difficult personal and professional circumstances. Without their intense, robust, and helpful attention, all the science we do would be diminished. Ulla and I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation for your efforts this year and our hope for improvement in 2021 and beyond.