The federal government has released its long-awaited plan to reduce red tape and other administration snarls that create time-eating obstacles for doctors using health information technology.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma took a swipe at accrediting organizations on February 25, noting that when they accept consulting fees from the hospitals they grade it creates “a glaring conflict of interest.”

Health experts are warning providers that COVID-19 might be a long-term problem. Whether it’s contained in the U.S. to only a few dozen cases or becomes the pandemic others warn about, hospitals and other providers need to be preparing for emerging contagious diseases. s

As the CDC and international medical community continues to learn how to handle the spread of COVID-19, the latest emerging infectious disease to hit a global scale, use the available resources in your state and online to gear up your readiness plans.

Review your available personal protective equipment (PPE). Keep an open line of communication with your supply partners. Coordinate with other local healthcare organizations and public health coalitions. 

How should hospital admissions of transgender persons—which we readily acknowledge is an imprecise umbrella term—be addressed to ensure fair and equal treatment, respect patient autonomy, and provide quality care?