February 10, 2022 – Vizient, Inc. released its latest edition of Pediatric Tech Watch, highlighting increased behavioral health issues in pediatric patients, the latest COVID vaccine authorizations as well as other new drug approvals. The semi-annual publication offers analysis and information to help form hospital strategy, support care delivery, and fuel performance improvement.
“As the nation enters the third year of the pandemic, pediatric caregivers continue to face challenges from COVID, especially the growing crisis in behavioral health,” said Brigitte Chorey, associate vice president, Vizient. “This issue identifies new ways to meet the growing demand in pediatric mental health.”
Featured articles include:
- The effects of COVID-19 on the delivery of pediatric behavioral health care — Several pediatric organizations have declared a national emergency in behavioral health after an uptick in mental health distress related to the pandemic. Vizient company Sg2 predicts a continued increase in emergent department visits through 2029 led in part by behavioral health. Along with this data, researchers present two case studies in altering the care delivery model to meet the needs of patients and reduce the emergency department crisis visits by leveraging telehealth and partnering with other organizations, such as schools and competing facilities to meet this crisis.
- Pediatric trials and approval status of COVID-19 vaccines — Approving a COVID vaccine for the patient population under 12 years of age became a priority when the omicron variant increased the rate of infection for the pediatric patient population, which in November made up 16.7% of overall positive cases. This article provides an overview of available vaccines, their indications and effectiveness and a look at pediatric trials in progress.
- New drug approvals, new indications, new formulations — One of the greatest impacts of COVID-19 for the pediatric population has been a slowdown in the approvals of high-cost drugs for rare diseases. This article features new medications, new indications and new formulations that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including those for rare diseases, and provides additional pharmaceutical options for pediatric patients.