Comparing Notes: Recording and Criticism

This chapter charts the ways in which recording has changed the nature of music criticism. It both provides an overview of the history of recording and music criticism, from the advent of Edison’s Phonograph to the present day, and examines the issues arising from this new technology and the consequent transformation of critical thought and practice

Wider Still and Wider: British Music Criticism since the Second World War

This chapter provides the first historical examination of music criticism in Britain since the Second World War. In the process, it also challenges the simplistic prevailing view of this being a period of decline from a golden age in music criticism

Leveraging Informatics and Technology to Support Public Health Response: Framework and Illustrations using COVID-19

Objective: To develop a conceptual model and novel, comprehensive framework that encompass the myriad ways informatics and technology can support public health response to a pandemic. Method: The conceptual model and framework categorize informatics solutions that could be used by stakeholders (e.g., government, academic institutions, healthcare providers and payers, life science companies, employers, citizens) to address public health challenges across the prepare, respond, and recover phases of a pandemic, building on existing models for public health operations and response. Results: Mapping existing solutions, technology assets, and ideas to the framework helped identify public health informatics solution requirements and gaps in responding to COVID-19 in areas such as applied science, epidemiology, communications, and business continuity. Two examples of technologies used in COVID-19 illustrate novel applications of informatics encompassed by the framework. First, we examine a hub from The Weather Channel, which provides COVID-19 data via interactive maps, trend graphs, and details on case data to individuals and businesses. Second, we examine IBM Watson Assistant for Citizens, an AI-powered virtual agent implemented by healthcare providers and payers, government agencies, and employers to provide information about COVID-19 via digital and telephone-based interaction. Discussion: Early results from these novel informatics solutions have been positive, showing high levels of engagement and added value across stakeholders. Conclusion: The framework supports development, application, and evaluation of informatics approaches and technologies in support of public health preparedness, response, and recovery during a pandemic. Effective solutions are critical to success in recovery from COVID-19 and future pandemics.&nbsp

Population Segmentation Using a Novel Socio-Demographic Dataset

Appending market segmentation data to a national healthcare knowledge, attitude and behavior survey and medical claims by geocode can provide valuable insight for providers, payers and public health entities to better understand populations at a hyperlocal level and develop cohort-specific strategies for health improvement. A prolonged use case investigates population factors, including social determinants of health, in depression and develops cohort-level management strategies, utilizing market segmentation and survey data. Survey response scores for each segment were normalized against the average national score and appended to claims data to identify at-risk segment whose scores were compared with three socio-demographically comparable but not at-risk segments via Nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test to identify specific risk factors for intervention. The marketing segment, New Melting Point (NMP), was identified as at-risk. The median scores of three comparable segments differed from NMP in “Inability to Pay For Basic Needs” (121% vs 123%), “Lack of Transportation” (112% vs 153%), “Utilities Threatened” (103% vs 239%), “Delay Visiting MD” (67% vs 181%), “Delay/Not Fill Prescription” (117% vs 182%), “Depressed: All/Most Time” (127% vs 150%), and “Internet: Virtual Visit” (55% vs 130%) (all with p<0.001). The appended dataset illustrates NMP as having many stressors (e.g., difficult social situations, delaying seeking medical care). Strategies to improve depression management in NMP could employ virtual visits, or pharmacy incentives. Insights gleaned from appending market segmentation and healthcare utilization survey data can fill in knowledge gaps from claims-based data and provide practical and actionable insights for use by providers, payers and public health entities