TY - JOUR
T1 - Guidance for Healthcare Providers Managing COVID-19 in Rural and Underserved Areas
AU - Sharma, Sunil
AU - Cain, James
AU - Sakhuja, Ankit
AU - Schaefer, Gregory
AU - Krupica, Troy
AU - Sarwari, Arif
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, W. Montague Cobb-NMA Health Institute.
PY - 2020/10/1
Y1 - 2020/10/1
N2 - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has ravaged many urban and high-density areas in the USA. However, rural areas (despite their low population density) may be especially vulnerable to poor outcomes from COVID-19, owing to limited healthcare infrastructure, long distances to advanced health care, and population characteristics (e.g., high tobacco use, hypertension, obesity, older age). A panel of experts who are actively engaged in treating and managing COVID-19 at a rural academic center was convened to address this topic. In this commentary, we provide readers with some specific issues faced by rural healthcare providers and offer guidance in overcoming these challenges. This guidance includes alternative ventilator strategies, personal protective equipment (PPE), and common therapeutic options.
AB - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has ravaged many urban and high-density areas in the USA. However, rural areas (despite their low population density) may be especially vulnerable to poor outcomes from COVID-19, owing to limited healthcare infrastructure, long distances to advanced health care, and population characteristics (e.g., high tobacco use, hypertension, obesity, older age). A panel of experts who are actively engaged in treating and managing COVID-19 at a rural academic center was convened to address this topic. In this commentary, we provide readers with some specific issues faced by rural healthcare providers and offer guidance in overcoming these challenges. This guidance includes alternative ventilator strategies, personal protective equipment (PPE), and common therapeutic options.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Pandemic
KW - Rural health
KW - Ventilation strategies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087825966&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s40615-020-00820-9
DO - 10.1007/s40615-020-00820-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 32651882
AN - SCOPUS:85087825966
SN - 2197-3792
VL - 7
SP - 817
EP - 821
JO - Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities
JF - Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities
IS - 5
ER -