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In December 2019, a novel coronavirus was linked to a deadly outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China. This virus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), quickly spread around the globe. The disease it causes, COVID-19, is a spectrum of acute and long-term syndromes ranging from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A variety of coagulopathic, neurologic, and psychiatric complications may also occur. The mortality rate has been staggering, with over 1.6 million
deaths worldwide and over 302,000 deaths in the US as of December 15th,2020.
The US leads the world in the number of cases and deaths. Economic changes caused by COVID-19 are many and the impact is just beginning to be understood. Over the short term, COVID-19 has resulted in an increased unemployment rate, decreased hours of work / labor force participation, and in some cases, a significant loss of wages. Lost productivity resulting from illness must be accounted for, as well as the changes in how people can or cannot safely work, given the risks of transmission. Social distancing, quarantines, and travel restrictions have reduced the work force across all economic sectors. Those whose work requires proximity to others are generally more affected, while individuals who can work remotely are less so.
This program was developed by The Rx Consultant and published by Continuing Education Network, Inc. The Rx Consultant accepts no advertising or financial support from the pharmaceutical industry and is funded solely by the purchase of programs. The Rx Consultant is dedicated to providing unbiased, balanced information to health care practitioners.
Programs developed by The Rx Consultant are written by health care providers with expertise in the topic area, peer-reviewed, extensively edited, and fact-checked. This development process was created to insure that every program presents information that is current, accurate, relevant to "real world" health care providers, and written in an easy reading, "plain English" style.
The Rx Consultant is a publication of Continuing Education Network, Inc.
ACPE Universal Activity Number: 0428-0000-20-012-H01-P
Chief Editor and CE AdministratorTerry M. Baker, PharmD
Managing EditorTracy Farnen, PharmD
Associate EditorsJames Chan, PharmD, PhD Pharmacy Quality and Outcomes Coordinator Kaiser Permanente Oakland, CA
Associate Clinical Professor
Richard Ron Finley, B.S. Pharm.,R.Ph.
Consultant Pharmacist
Consult Pharmacist Aging and Adult Health Services
Julio R. Lopez, PharmD, FCSHP
Adjunct Clinical Professor |
Assistant Clinical Professor
Visiting Associate Professor and Lecturer Pamela Mausner, MD
Helen Berlie, Pharm.D. CDE, BCACP
Ambulatory Care Specialist - Diabetes
Senior Editorial AdvisorGerard Hatheway, PharmD, PhD
Editorial AdvisorsBelinda M. Danielson, RPh Christopher M. DeSoto, PharmD Angie S. Graham, PharmD Cynthia Chan Huang, PharmD, MBA Fred Plageman, PharmD
Editorial Advisor and Clinical Practice Consultant for Nurse PractitionersEmily K. Meuleman, RN, C, MS |
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