Growth and characteristics of US first episode psychosis programs

Aims: In 2008, only two US states supported first-episode psychosis (FEP) programs. Today every state in the United States has a plan for supporting FEP programs, and over 350 programs currently operate across the country. In this presentation, we will describe the milestones and factors that have marked the growth of U.S. early psychosis programs and their characteristics. Method(s): Data were drawn from two national surveys fielded in 2018 and 2022. The 2018 survey data included responses from leadership at 215 early psychosis programs across the United States, and the 2022 survey data includes responses from U.S. state mental health authorities. The surveys provide information about a variety of key programmatic features of FEP clinics across the United States, including, program size, client capacity, duration of care, referral sources, services offered, funding, and outcomes measurement. Results and Discussion: Nearly 70% of the programs tie their start date to after the 2014 influx of federal funding. Services offered by the FEP programs have many similarities despite programs prescribing to specific FEP models (e.g., NAVIGATE, EASA, OnTrackNY, etc.). The surveys show program-level changes that have occurred between 2018 and 2022 and offer historical and data-driven explanations for how FEP programs have developed. The 2022 survey data also provide information regarding how States have chosen to implement the additional COVID-19 emergency funds designated for early psychosis programming.

Comparison of Pediatric Dermatology Conditions Across Telehealth and In-Person Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Understanding the utility of virtual visits in pediatric dermatology practice has become increasingly important in the telehealth pra. We compared the conditions diagnosed in pediatric dermatology between traditional in -person visits and virtual telehealth visid during the initial 8-month phase of the COVID-19 pandemic at an urban medical institution. When given the option, pediatric derrriatology patients and their families were more likely to choose telehealth visits for the diagnosis and/or management of acne, hemangiomas, and contact dermatitis;however, they were more likely to choose in-person visits for atopic dermatitis, viral warts, and alopecia areata. These differences may be attributed to clinical features of pediatric skin conditions, treatment options, and other factors wh ch may influence patient preference for telehealth or in-person care for their condition.

Are intravitreal injections essential during the COVID-19 pandemic? Global preferred practice patterns and practical recommendations.

Tertiary outpatient ophthalmology clinics are high-risk environments for COVID-19 transmission, especially retina clinics, where regular follow-up is needed for elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. Intravitreal injection therapy (IVT) for chronic macular diseases, is one of the most common procedures performed, associated with a significant burden of care because of the vigorous treatment regimen associated with multiple investigations. While minimizing the risk of COVID-19 infection transmission is a priority, this must be balanced against the continued provision of sight-saving ophthalmic care to patients at risk of permanent vision loss. This review aims to give evidence-based guidelines on managing IVT during the COVID-19 pandemic in common macular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macula edema and retinal vascular disease and to report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected IVT practices worldwide.To illustrate some real-world examples, 18 participants in the International Retina Collaborative, from 15 countries and across four continents, were surveyed regarding pre- and during- COVID-19 pandemic IVT practices in tertiary ophthalmic centers. The majority of centers reported a reduction in the number of appointments to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 with varying changes to their IVT regimen to treat various macula diseases. Due to the constantly evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the uncertainty about the normal resumption of health services, we suggest that new solutions for eye healthcare provision, like telemedicine, may be adopted in the future when we consider new long-term adaptations required to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.