Overheard at GMM HQ
“We must triage to triumph.” - Cortney Cino,
.What the Industry is Buzzing About
NFL Players Now Encouraged to Lace Up and Mask Up
Players will still be penalized (15 yards, for those keeping score at home) for grabbing the face shield of another player’s helmet, but we may see viral-blocking N95 material incorporated into newly designed COVID-19 era helmets in the 2020 season, according to Thom Mayer, medical director for the NFL Players Association.
Why It Matters
The NFL is looking down the barrel of a potential $3.2 billion loss due to necessary COVID-19 modifications (bye-bye, live fans) and is desperately seeking strategies for the show to go on. This includes talks with Oakley to design face shield-integrated helmets. We’re not volunteering to test out how they work in a pileup.
Diagnosing Osteoporosis Doesn’t Have to Be Back-Breaking Work
The FDA just granted clearance for an AI-equipped Vertebral Compression Fracture (VCF) product that automatically surveys imaging to detect findings indicative of compression fractures. This VCF product allows clinicians to alert patients to sit out their next tackle football game or otherwise modify their lives to best prevent devastating fractures. Oh, and did we mention this is Zebra Medical Vision’s fifth FDA-cleared solution? Congrats!
Why It Matters
Nearly half of all women and a quarter of all men over age 50 will suffer an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime to the tune of $52 billion in annual healthcare costs in the U.S. alone. Zebra Medical Vision’s VCF product promises to increase early detection and diagnosis, setting the stage for better intervention measures that can keep that population moving and shaking.
Viva Las Vending Machines
Diet Coke? Snickers? Doritos? Pellegrino if you’re feeling fancy? No, no, and no. The newest vending machine offering at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas is—wait for it—PPE. That’s right, once you’ve grabbed your empty calorie airport snacks and your 10 am cocktail (#AirportRules), swing by one of three newly installed vending machines and grab alcohol wipes, a four-pack of disposable gloves, a selection of masks, and a few hand sanitizer options.
Why It Matters
Well, Coronavirus, that’s why. Airports are a petri dish of people from places all over the world, so convenient access to PPE may provide some much needed viral defense (and peace of mind) for travelers. Masks are not compatible with the straw from your cocktail, unfortunately.
GOOD TO KNOW
Across the country, healthcare workers have come together to stand in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Even after working long shifts, healthcare workers made their way to protests to care for and march with protestors on the streets. This stands as proof that good things happen when we all come together.
