What is this about?

In this time of unprecedented global quarantine, everyone is rapidly becoming an expert on Coronavirus and this COVID-19 pandemic. New insights on the virus fill our media daily from all kinds of sources: some authoritative and many not so authoritative. The compendium document in this edition of the Connections newsletter puts together most of the authoritative information that has been disseminated to clinicians through the JAMA Network in March and April 2020 as well as other equally authoritative sources.  This compendium of authoritative articles has been developed with an eye to the details and technical issues that most employees in an employer wellness program may now want to know. It covers a wide range of technical issues including::

• Predictive models of the pandemic
• Patient risk factors and likely care outcomes
• Care guidelines and advice for clinicians treating Coronavirus patients
• Effects of the virus on body systems and degrees of resulting functionality
• Details on the just-passed CARES Act legislation
• The legality of governmental actions to control the pandemic
• Patient education materials including face mask use for preventing COVID-19 infection
• Examination of viral “hot spots” for patterns of patient characteristics and outcomes
• Use of social media in preventing infection
• Testing and diagnosis of the disease
• Factors that will likely affect rationing of ventilators and ICU beds
• Infectivity and lethality of the virus

Why is this important?

This compendium of articles and documents provides authoritative information that has been largely disseminated only to physicians to help them answer the questions that their patients are likely to ask.  This makes the information much more reliable and scientifically based than both mainstream and Internet-based sources of information on the pandemic.  This compendium is important because it brings together a large number of authoritative publications and resources to provide a more accurate and comprehensive picture of the pandemic. This information is geared to the actual clinicians that are providing care to the patients with the disease.

What can you do with this document?

• First, read through the list of topics addressed in the compendium to get some perspective on what it addresses.
• Next, identify which topics are of interest to you and read them.
• Next, determine if the document may be an appropriate technical resource to share with staff, volunteers, vendors, senior management and others.
• Next, consider if you should post this on your website as a resource for employees.
• Next, consult the compendium when questions and issues come up.

In summary, we believe that this compendium of authoritative articles on the Coronavirus pandemic is a valuable resource for those who may be asked questions about the pandemic. Hopefully, accurate information about this crisis will be of value to all of us as we strive to protect our own health and the health of our employees and their family members..