The cross-scale correlations between individuals and nations in COVID-19 mortality

It is challenging to quantitatively clarify the determining medical and social factors of COVID-19 mortality, which varied by 2-3 orders of magnitude across countries. Here, we present evidence that the whole-cycle patterns of mortality follow a logistic law for 52 countries. A universal linear law is found between the ICU time in the early stage and the most important quantity regarding the epidemic: its duration. Saturation mortality is found to have a power law relationship with median age and bed occupancy, which quantitatively explains the great variation in mortality based on the two key thresholds of median age (=38) and bed occupancy (=15%). We predict that deaths will be reduced by 36% when the number of beds is doubled for countries with older populations. Facing the next wave of the epidemic, this model can make early predictions on the epidemic duration and medical supply reservation.

3D-printed swab with cover for precision diagnosis

The collection capacity of common nasopharyngeal swabs and irregularities of medical personnel limit the accuracy of PCR testing. This study describes a newly designed 3D-printed swab that is combined with a 3D-printed cover to prevent the extraction of undesired nasal secretions. This swab improved the accuracy of PCR test results. The results of a series of experiments showed that, because of the mucus extraction effect, 3D-printed swabs can replace ordinary cotton swabs. The crisis of the worldwide medical supply shortage can be ameliorated to a certain extent by applying 3D printing technology.

Incorporating Medical Supply and Demand into the Index of Physician Maldistribution Improves the Sensitivity to Healthcare Outcomes

Background: Since the association between disparity in physician distribution and specific healthcare outcomes is poorly documented, we aimed to clarify the association between physician maldistribution and cerebrovascular disease (CeVD), a high-priority health outcome in Japan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we conducted multivariable regression analysis with the Physician Uneven Distribution Index (PUDI), a recently developed and adopted policy index in Japan that uniquely incorporates the gap between medical supply and demand, as the independent variable and CeVD death rate as the dependent variable. Population density, mean annual income, and prevalence of hypertension were used as covariates. Results: The coefficient of the PUDI for the CeVD death rate was −0.34 (95%CI: −0.49–−0.19) before adjusting for covariates and was −0.19 (95%CI: −0.30–−0.07) after adjusting. The adjusted R squared of the analysis for the PUDI was 0.71 in the final model. However, the same multivariable regression model showed that the number of physicians per 100,000 people (NPPP) was not associated with the CeVD death rates before or after adjusting for the covariates. Conclusion: Incorporating the gap between the medical supply and demand in physician maldistribution indices could improve the responsiveness of the index for assessing the disparity in healthcare outcomes.

The cross-scale correlations between individuals and nations in COVID-19 mortality

It is challenging to quantitatively clarify the determining medical and social factors of COVID-19 mortality, which varied by 2-3 orders of magnitude across countries. Here, we present evidence that the whole-cycle patterns of mortality follow a logistic law for 52 countries. A universal linear law is found between the ICU time in the early stage and the most important quantity regarding the epidemic: its duration. Saturation mortality is found to have a power law relationship with median age and bed occupancy, which quantitatively explains the great variation in mortality based on the two key thresholds of median age (=38) and bed occupancy (=15%). We predict that deaths will be reduced by 36% when the number of beds is doubled for countries with older populations. Facing the next wave of the epidemic, this model can make early predictions on the epidemic duration and medical supply reservation.

Influence of Supply Chain Management Strategies on Performance of Medical Supply Chain Organisations in Kenya

Institutions within the medical supply sector have consistently faced substandard supply chain results because of failure of timely deliveries on the part of suppliers failing to quickly respond to deliver medical shipments. This indicates the procurement role having inadequacies as a key component of an organization since it does not deliver on maximized effectiveness and a reduction of costs based on poor supply chain management plans. A critical purpose of the study was the intention to identify influence of supply chain management strategies on performance of medical supply chain organisations in Kenya. More so, the analysis deals with the degree information integration impacts on Organization performance; to evaluate the impact of warehousing on performance; to examine the impact of outsourcing on performance; and to evaluate the influence of lean supply chain on performance of medical supply entities across Kenya. Direction will through be relying on the resource-based theory as well as the supply chain constraints principle. The analysis will adopt a descriptive study approach; with the targeted size comprising of 30 medical supply entities. The study participants included 2,529 staff of pharmaceutical supply chain entities within Kenya. Determination of the sample group was by Yamane’s concept that led to to a group of 345 participants. Accessing the participants was by stratified and simple random sampling approaches. Towards indicating dispersion and central tendency, standard deviation and respectively, with the inferential statistics being analysed by multiple regression and correlation analysis. The study findings reveal that performance of medical supply organizations in Kenya was significantly related with supply chain information integration (p < 0.05), warehousing (p < 0.05) and outsourcing. Despite this, the association among differentiation strategy and performance was insignificant at p > 0.05 but only significant at p <0.1). It was also found that while lean supply chain had a negative influence on performance (t = -.528, p >0.5) information integration, warehousing and outsourcing had positive influence on performance (information integration: t = 16.461, p <0.05; warehousing: t = 19.671, p <0.05; outsourcing: t = 15.528, p <0.05). The result of these outcomes is that the leadership across medical supply organizations in Kenya need to adopt information integration, warehousing, and outsourcing, which would positively contribute to performance. Medical supply organizations in Kenya should continue emphasizing on supply chain strategies. The outcomes of the study may assist organisations in drawing plans or improving existing strategies governing supply chain management across institutions.