The Future of Telehealth in School-Based Health Centers: Lessons from COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: In response to COVID-19, schools rapidly transitioned to virtual learning. School-based health centers (SBHCs) required immediate shifts from in-person to telehealth services to continue supporting students. METHOD: A qualitative analysis of nationally-led "Listening and Learning" sessions by the School-Based Health Alliance revealed substantial innovation and expansion of telehealth services. RESULTS: Providers and sponsoring organizations shared challenges and mechanisms for troubleshooting barriers during online webinars to provide support, education, and resources to SBHCs. DISCUSSION: Lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate the value of SBHCs, which continue to target barriers to health care access, protect the most vulnerable, and decrease the spread of disease. Telehealth implementation by SBHCs can support schools and communities, mitigate future strain on the health care system by continuing to keep youth from over-burdened emergency departments and provide needed mental health care. State and federal policy changes can ensure the continued provision of telehealth by SBHCs for disadvantaged youth.

Obstetrician-Gynecologists' Strategies for Patient Initiation and Maintenance of Antiobesity Treatment with Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists.

Obesity is a chronic disease affecting women at higher rates than men. In an obstetrics and gynecology setting, frequently encountered obesity-related complications are polycystic ovary syndrome, fertility and pregnancy complications, and increased risk of breast and gynecological cancers. Obstetrician-gynecologists (OBGYNs) are uniquely positioned to diagnose and treat obesity, given their role in women's primary health care and the increasing prevalence of obesity-related fertility and pregnancy complications. The metabolic processes of bodyweight regulation are complex, which makes weight-loss maintenance challenging, despite dietary modifications and exercise. Antiobesity medications (AOMs) can facilitate weight loss by targeting appetite regulation. There are four AOMs currently approved for long-term use in the United States, of which liraglutide 3.0 mg is among the most efficacious. Liraglutide 3.0 mg, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), is superior to placebo in achieving weight loss and improving cardiometabolic profile, in both clinical trial and real-world settings. In addition, women with fertility complications receiving liraglutide 1.8-3.0 mg can benefit from improved ovarian function and fertility. Liraglutide 3.0 mg is generally well tolerated, but associated with transient gastrointestinal side effects, which can be mitigated. In this review, we present the risks of obesity and benefits of weight loss for women, and summarize clinical development of GLP-1 RAs for weight management. Finally, we provide practical advice and recommendations for OBGYNs to open the discussion about bodyweight with their patients, initiate lifestyle modification and GLP-1 RA treatment, and help them persist with these interventions to achieve optimal weight loss with associated health benefits.

Non-obstetric surgery during gestation: risk factors for lower birthweight.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk for preterm birth and low birthweight for women undergoing non-obstetric surgery during gestation. DESIGN: Two perinatal tertiary care centres. POPULATION: Women undergoing non-obstetric surgery during gestation between January 1989 and June 1999. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A chart review was carried out. Cervical cerclages, procedures carried out under local anaesthesia or intravenous sedation, or carried out in combination with Caesarean delivery were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preterm birth (<37 weeks), birthweight. RESULTS: A total of 116 of 69 800 women (0.2%) underwent non-obstetric surgery, with 96 women delivering under our care. Procedures were more commonly carried out in the second trimester (53%), versus the first (23%) or third trimester (24%). Surgery in the second trimester resulted in the lowest rate of preterm birth (11%). The overall preterm birth rate was 21% (20/96), with 13 out of 20 (65%) occurring between 35 and 37 weeks. The mean interval from surgery to delivery was 18.7 weeks. Rates of preterm birth were similar for either intra- versus extra-abdominal procedures, or general versus regional anaesthetic. Use of a general anaesthetic was associated with a significant decrease in birthweight (3053 vs 3515 g, P = 0.01) despite similar gestational ages at delivery (37.6 vs 38.6 weeks, P = 0.08). Multiple linear regression controlled for gestational age showed that general anaesthesia, longer surgery duration, and intra-abdominal procedures were all significant independent risk factors for lower birthweight. CONCLUSION: While non-obstetric surgery appears to be relatively safe during gestation, general anaesthesia, longer surgery time, and intra-abdominal procedures are associated with lower birthweights.