Making smoother transitions from work to home and vice versa can help you enjoy all aspects of your life more. While bringing work issues home seems to be the most common problem, some simple strategies can help ease the transition in either direction.

Use goodbye rituals
Whether it’s saying goodbye to your family members and pets, or playing a quick game with your kids, it helps to use a consistent pattern for your farewells. A dependable kiss and a phrase of affection can steer everyone toward having a good day.

Glance at your planner
To prepare for the day’s activities, take a quick look at whatever type of planner you use. This can trigger some creative ideas and strategies for the day. Each evening, check what is on the schedule or needed for the next day.

Try to cut down on the daily rush
When driving, ease up on the gas pedal. Try to leave a few minutes earlier so that you’re not weaving in traffic or tailgating slower drivers. If you are working from home, try preparing the night before your work day. If you’re going to be on your computer, tidy your home office, and pre-program your coffee maker or tea kettle.

From work to home
Leave work issues at work. If you’ve had a bad day, whether it be in your home office or at work itself, the last thing you want to do is bring those issues and feelings home with you. For everyone’s benefit, mentally remove yourself from work before coming home or logging off for the day.

Start fresh at home
Familiar end of work day rituals can help clear your head and refresh you. Do something simple like changing clothes or washing your face. Or, stand out on the back porch for a moment to breathe. Put on your favorite soothing music or do your favorite exercise. Sweep out the garage. Experiment and find out what works best for you.

Enjoy a little down time
Don’t rush right into preparing a meal if you can help it. Grab at least a few moments of relaxation with your partner, children and/ or pets first.

Make a clean break
At home for the evening, avoid work-related email and messaging if possible. If you can’t fully avoid it, limit it to just a set time, away from the family space.

For additional information, visit MagellanHealth/MYMH

This document is for your information only. It is not meant to give medical advice. It should not be used to replace a visit with a provider. Magellan Health does not endorse other resources that may be mentioned here.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns are growing, and school closures are happening in most states. While grown-ups are anxiously figuring out how to handle the impacts of these decisions, kids are observing everything and may feel just as scared and confused as adults.

Talking with children about COVID-19

Children look to parents, guardians, caregivers and other trusted adults to help them make sense of what is happening in the world. COVID-19 is the topic of conversations everywhere on social media, web news outlets and TV. Everyone is being exposed to the fear and uncertainty of this global pandemic.

Children might find it difficult to understand what they are seeing or hearing about COVID-19, so they can be particularly vulnerable to feelings of anxiety, stress and sadness. As an adult, it’s important to make yourself available to listen to children’s thoughts and communicate in an age-appropriate way that addresses children’s questions without stoking anxiety. Children react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with a stressful situation calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides Tips for Caregivers, Parents and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks that includes information on possible reactions and tips for talking with children and youth of different age groups.

Tips for staying at home with children during the outbreak

• Focus on the uniqueness of the moment. This situation has never happened before. How can you make the best of it? Yes, it is stressful on many levels, but for your children, it is a time they will never forget and there is an opportunity in forced togetherness to reinforce your family bonds.
• Plan for different age groups. Younger children will love being home. Young teenagers may not be as thrilled by not being able to hang out with their friends on a daily basis. High schoolers can handle themselves and may be able to help with the younger kids if you have to work.
• Bend with the wind. Meaning: be flexible with the schedule. Let children play, do a fun project together (make cookies or do a craft), eat breakfast for lunch and make room for downtime to read and hang out. Your kids may have quite a bit of time at home, so try to maintain your patience and perspective.

To learn more about what Magellan Healthcare is doing to support clients during the  COVID-19 pandemic, visit  MagellanHealthcare.com/COVID-19.

To learn more about Magellan Health’s corporate response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to view Magellan’s available resources click here: https://www.magellanhealth.com/news/covid-19/

Adapted from: Stockwell, A. (2020, March 13). What to do with your kids when schools are canceled. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2020/3/13/21178234/coronavirus-covid-19-school-closures-kids-home

In January 2020, the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) published Advancing Health through Innovation: New Drug Therapy Approvals 2019. This report provides a summary of a number of approvals and highlights the “game-changers” approved in 2019, solidifying the upward trend in approval volume initially seen in 2017. Compared to 2017 and 2018, in which CDER approved 46 and 59 new drugs, respectively, 48 novel agents were approved in 2019. This number does not include new and expanded uses of already approved drugs, new formulations, new dosage forms, vaccines, blood products, cellular or gene therapy, or the 10 biosimilar approvals. This far exceeds the average of 38 novel approvals per year in the past 10 years. Figure 1 outlines approvals over the past 10 years.

In 2019, the FDA continued its strategic initiatives, with additional approvals of biosimilars and generics (both first-time agents and those off-patent with limited competition), as well as a focus on the expedited approval process, particularly for rare diseases and agents supported by positive patient-reported outcomes. Notably, the FDA hosted a public meeting in April 2019 to receive input on how to tackle barriers associated with the development of treatments for rare diseases, and held another meeting to celebrate “Rare Disease Day” in February 2020. Moreover, this trend is likely to continue, with the FDA releasing several guidances on gene therapy. The new pathway for insulin approval under biologic license applications planned for March 2020 and the launch of internet-based repositories or apps to improve access to information for both providers and patients (e.g., CURE ID in 2019, antiretrovirals in 2020) also highlight strategic initiatives of the FDA.

Last year, all 48 novel drug approvals met their Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal dates, cementing this as a priority for the Agency. In 2019, 42% were considered first-in-class, and 44% were approved for rare diseases (Orphan Drugs). Priority Review was granted to 58% of novel drugs, 19% received Accelerated Approval (more than doubling the rate of 7% last year), 27% were designated as Breakthrough Therapy, and 35% garnered Fast Track designation. Overall, 60% of all drug approvals in 2019 used expedited development and review methods. In addition, 90% were approved in the first review cycle, and 69% were approved in the US prior to receiving approval in other countries. A breakdown of the types of drugs approved in 2019 is illustrated in Figure 2, with approvals once again dominated by drugs in the expansive oncology spectrum.

Some of the notable 2019 approvals included new advances for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF), with the first triple combination therapy and expanded indications of existing CF therapy available to younger patients, and the first new medications in several years for sickle cell disease. Additionally, several approvals targeted rare conditions, such as erythropoietic protoporphyria, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, tenosynovial giant cell tumor, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease. Beyond treatments for rare disease and cancer, the FDA also approved agents for more common disorders, including multiple sclerosis, novel treatments for depression, migraine and cluster headaches, epilepsy, several autoimmune conditions, age expansions for diabetes therapy, and a drug-sparing regimen and new prophylaxis option for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). Although down slightly from 2018, the large number of approvals from 2019 represent a continued trend by the FDA to expedite and increase the quantity of annual approvals.

The COVID-19 global pandemic is taking a physical, mental and emotional toll on doctors, nurses, healthcare workers and caregivers. The long work hours and limited resources are causing overwork, exhaustion and in some cases, compassion fatigue. Not to mention balancing your work with the concerns for your own family and loved ones.

What is compassion fatigue?

Compassion fatigue is a state of chronic physical and mental distress and exhaustion. People with this fatigue often describe a negative shift in their world view and a preoccupation with the illness of others. They may experience stress and burnout, affecting their ability to be effective in their jobs and relate to their loved ones and friends.

Tips for preventing compassion fatigue:

• Make self-care a priority. Despite your workload, do your best to practice healthy habits. Focus on making sure you are staying hydrated, sleeping as much as possible, eating nutritious meals and getting exercise when you can. Follow the COVID-19 CDC guidelines on keeping yourself and your family’s risk low.
• Boost your emotional resilience. Deep breathing, meditation, being grateful and allowing yourself some down time are ways to keep your life in balance, so you are better able to handle stress, setbacks and crises.
• Get social support. Reaching out over the phone or through a text message to supportive loved ones, friends and colleagues can be a calming influence and shift your perspective on what you are dealing with every day.
• Be proud of your profession. Your work is important. You are caring for people during the first-ever pandemic caused by a coronavirus and giving them hope and strength.
• Seek professional help. If you are experiencing distress and/or symptoms of burnout, take advantage of your healthcare and employee assistance benefits and meet with a behavioral health professional who can help.

We wholeheartedly thank you for all you are doing to care for others and combat this outbreak.

For more information and tips, visit MagellanHealthcare.com/COVID-19.

As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to evolve with ongoing media coverage, many people are experiencing anxiety due to the uncertainty about how this will impact them. They are worried about the impact to their communities, how they can protect themselves and their families, and how to be prepared if the situation disrupts the normal course of daily life.

It is normal to feel anxious, unsettled, distracted, scared and/or overwhelmed by COVID-19 and the uncertainty surrounding its impact to communities. Some people may be more vulnerable due to pre-existing physical and mental health conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder.

Feeling stressed can affect the immune system and increase the risk of getting ill in general. That is why it is important to take steps to manage anxiety and reactions to this evolving situation. The following suggestions can help people manage anxiety and stress for themselves and their families:

1. Seek health information from trusted resources like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), The World Health Organization and state health department websites.
2. Plan ahead to feel more in control. Make contingency plans for work, childcare or travel if it becomes necessary.
3. Wash hands often, get plenty of rest, exercise, eat well, don’t smoke and limit alcohol consumption.
4. Put things into perspective:
   1. Of the 80,000 confirmed coronavirus cases reported in China, “more than 70% have recovered and been discharged,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in a news conference on Monday.¹
   2. Per the CDC, only certain groups, such as older adults and people with serious chronic medical conditions, are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.²
   3. Public health officials are working to mitigate the virus’ spread.
5. Limit exposure to media. Media outlets have a tendency to sensationalize stories, so it’s important to consume news thoughtfully and with a critical eye.

Magellan Healthcare has resources to help people during crises and difficult times. Our Crisis Communications website provides topical information and connects people with U.S. resources, and our Mind Your Mental Health site addresses many topics related to emotional well-being.

1: https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-09-20-intl-hnk/index.html, “More than 70% of coronavirus cases in China have recovered, WHO says,” posted 3/9/20, 7:25 p.m. EDT, Jacqueline Howard, accessed from site 3/10/20, 12:57 p.m. EDT.

2: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html#who-is-higher-risk, accessed 3/10/20, 12:34 p.m. EDT.

Disclaimer: The content in this blog article is not a substitute for professional medical advice. For questions regarding any medical condition or if you need medical advice, please contact your healthcare provider.

On January 31, 2020, the United States (US) issued a public health emergency for 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), a new virus first identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. This comes on the heels of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the coronavirus outbreak an international public health emergency. The disease now called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is a new type of coronavirus without a vaccine or medications to prevent or treat it, has resulted in thousands of confirmed cases and hundreds of deaths in China. This human respiratory illness is moving quickly with cases reported in a number of other countries and continents. In the US, while the number of confirmed cases are currently low, safety measures are being enacted to keep the risk of transmission low. As ongoing investigations seek to learn more about this infection, US public health agencies have dedicated coronavirus sites. They actively update these sites as new information becomes available and communicate up-to-date guidance. 

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA): https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/counterterrorism-and-emerging-threats/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
• World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Disclaimer: The content in this blog article is not a substitute for professional medical advice. For questions regarding any medical condition or if you need medical advice, please contact your healthcare provider.

Teen dating violence is just as serious as adult domestic violence. And it’s common. About 2 in 10 teen girls say they have been physically or sexually abused by a dating partner. About 1 in 10 teen boys reports abuse in dating relationships.

Teen dating abuse is a pattern of abusive behavior used to control another person. It can be:
•Any kind of physical violence or threat of physical violence to get control.
•Emotional or mental abuse, such as playing mind games, making you feel crazy, constantly texting you, or constantly putting you down or criticizing you.
•Sexual abuse, including making you do anything you don’t want to do, refusing to have safer sex, or making you feel bad about yourself sexually.

Who’s at risk?

Like adult domestic violence, teen relationship abuse affects all types of teens, regardless of how much money your parents make, what your grades are, how you look or dress, your religion, or your race. Teen relationship abuse occurs in straight, gay, and lesbian relationships.
Relationship abuse is not just dangerous for you physically and emotionally. It can also put you at risk for other health problems, such as:
•Eating disorders.
•Depression.
•Low self-esteem.

Teens in abusive relationships are also more likely to take sexual risks, do poorly in school, and use drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Girls are at higher risk for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Is it abuse?
Abusive relationships can have good times and bad times. Part of what makes dating violence so confusing is that there is loved mixed with the abuse. This can make it hard to tell if you are really being abused. But you deserve to be treated in a loving, respectful way by your boyfriend or girlfriend.

Does your boyfriend or girlfriend:
•Act bossy and make all the decisions?
•Put you down in front of friends?
•Try to control who you see and talk to?
•Threaten to hurt or kill himself or herself?
•Blame you for “making” him or her treat you badly?
•Pressure you to have or force you to have unprotected sex?
•Stalk you? This can include constantly texting or calling you to find out where you are and who you’re with. You might think that’s about caring, but it’s really about controlling the relationship.

Do you:
•Feel less confident about yourself when you’re with him or her?
•Feel scared or worried about doing or saying “the wrong thing”?
•Find yourself changing your behavior out of fear or to avoid a fight?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you might be in an abusive relationship. There are people who can help you. You’re not alone. Talk to your parents or another adult family member, a school counselor, a teacher, or someone else you trust. Call a help center or hotline to get help.

How parents can help

Teens may not have the experience or maturity to know if their relationships are abusive. A teen may think of dating violence as only physical violence—pinching, slapping, hitting, or shoving. Teens may not realize that any relationship involving physical violence, sexual violence, emotional abuse, or the threat of violence is an unhealthy relationship.

For example, a teen may think his or her partner cares when he or she calls, texts, emails, or checks in all the time. But that kind of behavior is about controlling the relationship.

Talk with your teen about what makes a healthy relationship. Explain that a caring partner wouldn’t do something that causes fear, lowers self-esteem, or causes injury. Let teens know that they deserve respect in all of their relationships. Think about values and messages that you want to pass on.

You might start by asking your teen:
•Is your boyfriend or girlfriend easy to talk to when there are problems?
•Does he or she give you space to spend time with other people?
•Is he or she kind and supportive?

Hotlines for help
These national hotlines can help you find resources in your area.
•National Domestic Violence Hotline toll-free: 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233), or see the website at www.ndvh.org.
•National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline toll-free: 1-866-331-9474 or (1-866-331-8453 TTY) or see the website at www.loveisrespect.org.

©1997–2019, Healthwise, Incorporated
Read the full article here: https://www.healthwise.net/magellanhealth/Content/StdDocument.aspx?DOCHWID=tm7098

Drones have been a part of military operations for decades as they have engaged in drone warfare and performed reconnaissance and surveillance missions. Civilian drones are popular with drone enthusiasts of all ages. Whether it is to take a hobby such as aerial photography or drone golf to the next level, keep the kids entertained, or to simply enjoy flying these unmanned winged vehicles, drones continue to trend on the hottest gift lists.

Zero emission unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are already being utilized across a number of industries including reshaping search and rescue operations. Scores of emergency services including volunteer rescue teams, police officers, and firefighters deploy drones to save lives in natural disasters and to ensure public safety. Commercial drones are now going airborne and transforming healthcare services delivery, including the delivery of prescription medications.

On November 1, 2019, the United Parcel Service (UPS) drone delivery division, UPS Flight Forward (UPSFF), and CVS Pharmacy made the first commercial residential drone deliveries of prescription drugs in the United States (US). For the maiden flight, pharmacists loaded the drones with prescription medications at a CVS drugstore in Cary, NC. The Matternet M2 drones flew to nearby residences and slowly lowered the small packages to the ground from a hover height of about 20 feet over the properties. A remote drone operator was on standby to step in, if needed. One of the revenue-generating deliveries was made to a front lawn of a private home while the other to the public space at a nearby retirement home. Per UPS, one of the packages was delivered to a CVS customer with limited mobility, for whom traditional store pick up was a challenge. UPS drone deliveries are expected to fly on pre-planned routes, carry packages up to 5 pounds, and deliver in 5 to 10 minutes. Prior to these deliveries, UPS had deployed Matternet quadcopter drones in the hospital setting at the WakeMed Raleigh, NC hospital campuses for commercial transport of medical supplies. As of early November 2019, this business-to-business model had yielded over 1,500 revenue-generating deliveries at WakeMed, since launching in March 2019. UPS is already partnering with the drone logistics startup Matternet on its next iteration of delivery services to medical campuses.

What is remarkable about the UPS/CVS autonomous delivery in Cary, NC is that it was for prescription medications flown directly to a patient’s home. Wing, a drone delivery service owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, has partnered with FedEx and Walgreens Pharmacy for a home delivery pilot for health and wellness products in the Christiansburg, VA community. In partnership with local merchants, Wing already has drone deliveries of goods available in select areas of Australia and Finland. In June 2019, Amazon’s drone operator system, Prime Air, announced its plans to launch a drone delivery service in the “coming months.” Amazon’s UAVs are expected to fly up to 15 miles and deliver packages under 5 pounds. According to Amazon, 75% to 90% of purchased items weigh less than 5 pounds. These drones will employ “sense and avoid” technology fueled with computer vision, machine learning algorithms, and artificial intelligence to navigate around obstacles such as trees, birds, power lines, people, and pets. Zipline, a CA drone startup, has been actively delivering lifesaving medical supplies including blood and vaccines in Rwanda and Ghana. Notably, Rwanda will be home to the world’s first “droneport” – an airport for drones.

“Drone-to-Door” delivery of prescription medications is a pharmacy quantum leap. This innovation opens the door to swiftly delivering medications at the point of need and can benefit an array of people. Immobility can be a barrier to getting medications for patients with disabilities or those who have sustained injuries because it can be difficult for these patients to get to the pharmacy. Likewise, it can be challenging for the elderly or parents with a sick child at home to make it to the pharmacy, and people who work or travel may not be able to conveniently access a pharmacy. Patients in assisted living facilities also benefit from drone delivery of life-saving medications directly to the site of need. With a number of independent pharmacies and smaller hospitals closing their doors, consumers in rural communities are left without access to vital prescription medications and medical supplies. Drones can rise to fill part of this void. CVS Pharmacy is exploring these options in rural, as well as suburban and urban, markets. Moreover, medication delivery by sustainable UAVs saves time and provides consumers with convenience.

While questions about safety, privacy, intrusiveness, theft, medication exposure, noise, and light pollution remain, there are still significant regulatory hurdles to overcome before drone delivery becomes commonplace. Drones require aviation regulation similar to commercial airplanes. In September 2019, UPS became the first company to receive full Part 135 Standard Certification by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) granting UPS its highest certification. This allows the carriers to fly at night and out of operator’s line of sight, to fly as many drones supported by as many operators as needed to meet customer demand, and to collect payment for drone deliveries. In April 2019, Wing received a similar but more restrictive certificate limiting it to a single pilot allowing it to only complete one flight at a time. The FAA guidelines to inform how UAVs will operate in US airspace are anticipated in 2021.

The ascent of “The Airborne Pharmacy” is an inflection point in the delivery of medications to consumers and provides an aerial glimpse of its mainstream future. When imagining that future, the sky’s the limit for real-world, everyday life applications of drone-centric technology. What originated as a part of military infrastructure can now change how life-saving medications reach patients at home or in the inpatient and outpatient settings. “Drone-to-Door” not only has the potential to reshape how medications are delivered but also to transform the consumer experience by providing convenience in an on-demand healthcare economy.