Our parent company, HCA Healthcare is teaming up with Google Cloud and SADA to launch a data portal for the COVID-19 pandemic. The open data platform will help accelerate analysis and response by aggregating data on ICU bed and ventilator utilization, testing results, and total number of patient visits to America’s hospital systems. 

HCA Healthcare is proud to collaborate with Google Cloud on the announcement of the COVID-19 National Response Portal, an open data platform built and operated by SADA. Running on Google Cloud, the platform is intended to promote data-sharing about the COVID-19 pandemic and how it is spreading in an effort to help hospitals and communities prepare and respond.

“COVID-19 presents a unique and significant challenge to healthcare providers, and collaboration and coordination is more important than ever to help ensure the best possible response,” said Dr. Edmund Jackson, HCA Healthcare’s chief data officer. “While COVID-19 has driven us apart physically, we will respond to it by coming together digitally. We are proud to work alongside Google Cloud to create a platform to help address this urgent public health challenge.”

The COVID-19 National Response Portal is intended to enable healthcare providers across the country to safely share and display anonymous, aggregated metrics from hospital systems into a single platform to show a complete and real-time view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data can be submitted each day from hospital systems across the United States and will be focused on metrics such as:

• ICU bed supply and utilization;
• ventilator supply and utilization;
• total numbers of positive, negative, and pending COVID-19 test results;
• and total numbers of healthy patients who have been discharged.

The platform will also have the ability to leverage publicly available datasets, such as data on local shelter-in-place policies, and traffic or mobility patterns, to help shed light on how public behaviors and policies may impact the spread of COVID-19.

“Healthcare organizations need access to accurate and timely information around the country to plan for care and respond to COVID-19,” said Philip Moyer, Vice President, Industry Sales at Google Cloud. “We’re proud to team up with HCA Healthcare and SADA in the launch of this important new data resource for care providers on the front lines.”

“As healthcare providers, we are all battling the same crisis,” said Michael Wargo, vice president of emergency preparedness at HCA Healthcare. “However, we are being faced with COVID-19 at different times and levels of severity. By pooling our data into one cohesive platform, we can share best practices to better prepare communities across the country for this unprecedented pandemic.”

As a learning health system, HCA Healthcare uses data from approximately 35 million annual patient encounters to improve care through research and innovation. HCA Healthcare, which will provide statistical data from its 185 hospitals, structured in a manner to comply with HIPAA and other applicable restrictions, has invited groups representing approximately 4,000 hospitals across the country to join and share data on the platform.

HCA Healthcare, SADA and Google Cloud are in the process of sharing additional details and seeking to onboard other hospitals. The platform is expected to go live to the public next week.

Hospitals interested in learning more and submitting data should visit onboarding.nationalresponseportal.com.

The CDC has issued a recommendation for citizens to use cloth face coverings in “public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.”

Thank you to our Vice President Mike Pence for his kind words and support of our organization. HealthTrust Workforce Solutions is proud to be a part of HCA Healthcare!

Many of you have heard reports of clinical credentialing and licensure requirements being modified to meet the increased demand of critical caregivers to care for the influx of COVID-19-related patient cases.

That said, we are providng a Helpful State by State Resource for RN Licensure Requirements/Waivers Guide in response to COVID-19.

Please check with your Program Team for guidance regarding all other healthcare systems and facilities.

As this situation evolves and we continue to work through this time of crisis together your collective support is critical to the clients we all serve. we will continue to update you throughout this fluid situation. 

Many of you have heard reports of clinical credentialing and licensure requirements being modified to meet the increased demand of critical caregivers to care for the influx of COVID-19-related patient cases.

That said, we are outlining what is- and isn't- changing at this time, specific to HCA Healthcare. Please check with your Program  Team for guidance regarding all other healthcare systems and facilities.

Experience- Must have any experience in the unit in which they will be working in within the last year vs. 12 months of experience.

Background & Drug Screen

• If staffing partner candidate doesn't have one in the last 30 days, but does have one within the last 6 months, your Program Team will submit to governance for approval to proceed.  
• New hires should follow the standard process.

Licenses - Clinicians must have a license in the state in which they will practice. Due to current challenges, the following states have approved a 30-day waiver for other state license holders to practice within their state: FL, TX

• Please note, this situation is fluid and additional states may be added.

As this situation evolves and we continue to work through this time of crisis together your collective support is critical to the clients we all serve. we will continue to update you throughout this fluid situation. 

COVID-9 has introduced much uncertainty and anxiety into our daily lives as we navigate our new "norm". As we continue to navigate our "new norm", the mental health of our team members is important to us. 

“While our in-hospital colleagues continue to carry out their compassionate and courageous duty to care for and improve human life, it’s important for those that are at home during COVID-19 to keep perspective and carry on,” said Dr. Frank Drummond, HCA Healthcare’s medical director of behavioral health services. “We can do this by taking care of our mental health during this challenging moment in history. Reach out to check on the well-being of others, practice self-care, engage in activities that give you purpose and stay calm.”

Things you can do to support yourself:

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditateexternal icon. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs. 
• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

We’re all in this together and even the smallest steps can make a big difference. Learn more about the CDC's guidance on mental health and coping during the coronavirus outbreak here.

Our parent company, HCA Healthcare has joined forces with 17 large health systems and big tech companies across the U.S. to form a COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition. 

The healthcare coalition will bring together healthcare organizations, technology firms, academia and startups to coordinate pandemic response efforts using data and analytics. 

By pooling expertise, the COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition aims to flatten the pandemic's curve to preserve the healthcare delivery system targeting three main areas:

1. Working to understand the effectiveness of social distancing and other state-level measures to slow the spread of COVID-19

2. Better identifying individuals who need diagnostic tests

3. Aiding America's healthcare delivery system, focusing on staff, capacity and supplies

"With top experts and industry leaders sharing plans and resources – and working collaboratively – we can deploy resources more effectively and offer better situational awareness to those at the front lines," the coalition wrote on its website. 

Vendor partners, we’ve clearly entered into unchartered territory and certainly want to express our continued appreciation for your engagement and support..  As we continue to operate and navigate through this ever changing environment our intent is to communicate with you as frequently as things evolve and change. In good times as well as times of extreme stress and uncertainty all of us play an important role in our collective client’s ability to deliver dependable, high quality patient care. That said, one thing certain in uncertain times, is the resolve and dedication of our vendor partner community.

To slow the spread of COVID-19 through communities, the U.S. CDC has encouraged Americans to practice "social distancing" measures.

While these mitigation strategies can be disappointing in the short-term, they come from a scientific viewpoint. Infectious disease experts stress the importance of reducing opportunities for person-to-person transmission to delay the spread of the virus. Taking action to slow the spread of #COVID_19 is especially important to help keep our infrastructure strong, particularly in healthcare, so we can continue to provide exceptional care for all patients.

Everyone has a role to play. Click here to learn what steps you can take to help flatten the curve and slow the spread of #COVID_19 in our community. 

As the global healthcare community responds to the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, we wanted to let you know that we are communicating with our healthcare professionals, clients and staffing partners, stressing the importance of following infection prevention procedures, as well as other coronavirus related protocols in place throughout healthcare facilities. 

We know this is an evolving situation for everyone. We are here to support and partner with you in working to ensure the safety of all healthcare professionals, staff members, patients and communities. Please feel free to reach out to your MSP Operations Team if we can provide any additional support at this time.