ABSTRACT
Serology (antibody) tests to detect previous SARS-CoV-2 infection have been in high demand from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial shortage of diagnostic tests coupled with asymptomatic infections led to a significant demand for serology tests to identify past infections. Despite serious limitations on the interpretation of a positive antibody test in terms of immunity to SARS-CoV-2, antibody testing was initially considered for release from social distancing, return to employment, and "immunity passports." The regulatory approach to antibody tests was limited; manufacturers were encouraged to develop and market antibody tests without submitting validation data to the FDA. FDA guidance grew more stringent, but many poor-quality tests were already on the market-potentially inappropriately used for individual decision-making. This is a case study describing COVID-19 serology tests and the U.S. market and describes lessons learned for a future health security crisis.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/blood , COVID-19 Serological Testing/methods , COVID-19/diagnosis , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Asymptomatic Infections , COVID-19 Serological Testing/history , COVID-19 Serological Testing/standards , Forecasting , Health Policy , Health Services Needs and Demand , History, 21st Century , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Immunoglobulin M/blood , Marketing of Health Services , Politics , Quality Control , Sensitivity and Specificity , United States , United States Food and Drug Administration , Validation Studies as TopicSubject(s)
Delivery of Health Care , Direct-to-Consumer Advertising , Home Care Services , Marketing of Health Services , Office Visits , Reproductive Health Services , Telemedicine , Female , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Male , Patient Satisfaction , Pharmaceutical Services, Online , Reagent Kits, DiagnosticSubject(s)
Delivery of Health Care , Direct-to-Consumer Advertising , Home Care Services , Marketing of Health Services , Office Visits , Reproductive Health Services , Telemedicine , Female , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Male , Patient Satisfaction , Pharmaceutical Services, Online , Reagent Kits, DiagnosticSubject(s)
COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage , COVID-19/prevention & control , Immunization Programs/organization & administration , Pharmacists/organization & administration , Communication , Drug Stability , Drug Storage , Hospitals, Teaching/organization & administration , Humans , Marketing of Health Services/organization & administration , Personnel Staffing and Scheduling/organization & administration , WorkflowSubject(s)
COVID-19 Serological Testing/standards , Diagnostic Test Approval , Government Regulation , Marketing of Health Services/legislation & jurisprudence , United States Food and Drug Administration , Clinical Laboratory Techniques/standards , Diagnostic Test Approval/legislation & jurisprudence , Federal Government , Humans , Laboratories/legislation & jurisprudence , Laboratories/standards , Organizational Policy , United States , United States Food and Drug Administration/organization & administrationSubject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Cosmetics , Marketing of Health Services , Plastic Surgery Procedures , Skin Care , Social Media/statistics & numerical data , Surgery, Plastic , Cosmetics/economics , Cosmetics/therapeutic use , Humans , Marketing , Marketing of Health Services/methods , Marketing of Health Services/trends , Plastic Surgery Procedures/economics , Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods , Plastic Surgery Procedures/trends , SARS-CoV-2 , Skin Care/economics , Skin Care/methods , Skin Care/trends , Social Marketing , Surgery, Plastic/economics , Surgery, Plastic/methods , Surgery, Plastic/trendsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: We present the integration of telemedicine into the healthcare system of West China Hospital of Sichuan University (WCH), one of the largest hospitals in the world with 4300 inpatient beds, as a means for maximising the efficiency of healthcare delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Implemented on 22 January 2020, the telemedicine technology allowed WCH providers to conduct teleconsultations, telerounds, teleradiology and tele-intensive care unit, which in culmination provided screening, triage and treatment for COVID-19 and other illnesses. To encourage its adoption, the government and the hospital publicised the platform on social media and waived fees. DISCUSSION: From 1 February to 1 April 2020, 10557 online COVID-19 consultations were conducted for 6662 individuals; meanwhile, 32676 patients without COVID completed virtual follow-ups. We discuss that high-quality, secure, affordable and user-friendly telemedical platforms should be integrated into global healthcare systems to help decrease the transmission of the virus and protect healthcare providers from infection.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Telemedicine/organization & administration , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , China , Cooperative Behavior , Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Efficiency, Organizational , Humans , Intensive Care Units , Marketing of Health Services/organization & administration , Mobile Applications , Pandemics , Quality of Health Care , SARS-CoV-2 , Triage/organization & administrationABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a multitude of effects on daily life. Aesthetic and cosmetic surgery practices have been significantly reduced in their working capacity or closed during this time. We used Google Trends to gauge the public's interest in facial plastic surgery during this pandemic, and how it has changed over the preceding months. As local shelter-in-place orders are being lifted, interest in facial plastic surgery is increasing even in the context of an ongoing national pandemic. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: Letter to the Editor.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections , Esthetics , Marketing of Health Services/trends , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral , Social Media/trends , Surgery, Plastic/trends , COVID-19 , Decision Making , Humans , Plastic Surgery Procedures , Rhinoplasty/trends , Rhytidoplasty/trendsABSTRACT
A widely accessible vaccine is essential to mitigate the health and economic ravages of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Without appropriate incentives and coordination, however, firms might not respond at sufficient speed or scale, and competition among countries for limited supply could drive up prices and undercut efficient allocation. Programs relying on "push" incentives (direct cost reimbursement) can be complicated by the funder's inability to observe firms' private cost information. To address these challenges, we propose a "pull" program that incentivizes late-stage development (Phase III trials and manufacturing) for COVID-19 vaccines by awarding advance purchase agreements to bidding firms. Using novel cost and demand data, we calculated the optimal size and number of awards. In baseline simulations, the optimal program induced the participation of virtually all ten viable vaccine candidates, spending an average of $110 billion to generate net benefits of $2.8 trillion-nearly double the net benefits generated by the free market.