A big jump in the number of COVID-19 patients at The University of Kansas Health System since Friday. 31 patients are being treated for the virus compared to 23 just yesterday and 25 on Friday. Ten of the 31 patients are in the ICU, down from 12 Friday, but 8 of those ICU patients are on ventilators, same as Friday. Doctors say this is a bad trend and are hoping for an improvement this week.
As we observed the 100th episode of the Morning Media Update, we were joined by Tom Bell, president and CEO of the Kansas Hospital Association and Herb Kuhn, president and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association. Both addressed how COVID-19 has affected their state and discussed the long-term changes in healthcare we can expect from the pandemic. Also, a brief preview of the full video of The Faces of COVID-19, a series by KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman on Kansans who are recovering from the virus. This one focuses on college student Alejandro Rangel-Lopez.
Tom Bell noted the trend in Kansas is that hospitalizations and deaths from the virus are down, but it’s already taken a toll on two hospitals which have closed, one in Wellington and one in Leavenworth. He said the federal money was a big help for many hospitals, most of which took at 40-50 percent hit in patient volume and revenue. He feels all Kansas communities are subject to a surge in cases if their residents don’t wear masks and follow the other rules of infection control. He also says now that Missouri has voted for Medicaid Expansion, Kansas has become an island among states that have it, and it’s put the state at a disadvantage for patient care and even physician recruitment. He noted that data shows if you have insurance, you are healthier. He says COVID-19 will change our lives, but in good ways.
Herb Kuhn is thrilled for the 230,000 Missourians who will now have medical coverage because of Medicaid Expansion. He’s seen a “massive drift” in the age of patients with positive COVID-19 tests, from average of 56 in March and April to people in their low 40’s today. He feels the pandemic has advanced the use of telehealth by a decade, and says it’s become a “game changer,” going from “nice to have” to “must have” for healthcare providers. He believes COVID-19 will be with us for a long time, but thinks we are all up to the task of dealing with it.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System, feels it’s a lack of care and concern and people not changing their behavior that’s put the Metro area on the verge of a major virus breakout. He says people made incredible sacrifices early on, then relaxed when society reopened. He applauded the Mask Up Missouri initiative mentioned by Herb Kuhn. He also discussed why getting a flu shot is especially important this year and dispelled the myth that you get the flu from a flu shot. He added the best time to get one is October and November, so you have coverage into the spring.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, says the 8-10 percent hospital admission rate from COVID-19 in the Metro area is “really high” and believes it’s because we have not followed the pillars of infection prevention enough with mask wearing and social distancing. He reminded us that COVID-19 doesn’t have superpowers. It depends on each of us to spread. He wants us to keep in mind that it won’t last forever, but we must constantly do our part to keep it under control until a vaccine is ready.
Tuesday, August 11 at 8:00 a.m. is the next daily briefing call. Our guest is David Alvey, Mayor of KCK/Mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. Born and raised in the Dotte, his great-grandfather established the first school to educate both black and white children back in 1869 in the Oak Grove area. Education has always been a core focus for Mayor Alvey who taught at Rockhurst High School and was Dean of Students. He shares his thoughts about going back to school safely. Also, Dr. Jed Gorlin from the Community Blood Center talks about the expanded call for convalescent plasma to fight COVID.
ATTENTION: media procedure for calling in:
The meeting is available by Zoom, both video and by phone. To join the Zoom Meeting by video, click https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone dial-in Participants:
For those without Zoom, call 1-253-215-8782, meeting ID: 782 897 8628.
The feed is also available via TVU grid. The TVU source is UoK_Health and is being made available to all.
Feel free to send questions in advance to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.