Economic and public health costs of COVID-19. Supply chain issues and unemployment have affected hospitals, households, and families-particularly those in racial and ethnic minority groups-and have highlighted inequities in health care access. The long-term health sequelae in some cases of COVID-19, or "long COVID," such as respiratory, cardiac, and mental health complications, could mean long-term financial risk for patients and even premature death. Preliminary costs of loss of health and economic output are estimated to be upward of $16 trillion, with more costs anticipated as testing and treatments for the virus continue.
Nursing reports. Among its recommendations, The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 report released in May 2021 calls for a transformation of nursing education to ensure that nurses can address social determinants of health and health equity. The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing emphasizes competency-based nursing education. It includes a new requirement of a minimum of 500 practice hours to demonstrate advanced level sub-competencies. For the full report, go to http://www.aacnnursing.org/AACN-Essentials.
Ransomware and medjacking. Cybersecurity issues, such as ransomware attacks and so-called medjacking by hackers to cripple or manipulate hospital computers and clinical equipment, will remain top concerns for health care facilities and medical device companies as hackers become more sophisticated. During the pandemic, attacks against health care organizations increased by 45%. Hacks into devices such as insulin pumps and pacemakers, which share information across Internet platforms, could result in patient harm.
The new normal. COVID-19 vaccines have become more widely available, including for children ages five and older, and mix-and-match boosters have been approved. Yet barriers to vaccination, such as hesitancy due to misinformation or mistrust of government, lack of health insurance, and safety concerns, remain. Global distribution and acceptance of vaccines is uneven, thwarting worldwide herd immunity, and it's still unclear how long those who receive vaccines will retain immunity from the virus.
Scientists expect the virus to shift from pandemic to endemic, perhaps requiring vaccine boosters as well as continued use of masking in certain settings.
Leveraging telemedicine, moving toward universal health insurance, and shifting care of older adults from residential facilities to home care could expand health care access more equitably. -Gail M. Pfeifer, MA, RN