The number of COVID-19 patients being treated at The University of Kansas Health System continues to hold steady this week. 23 patients are being treated for COVID-19, down from 24 yesterday. Twelve of those patients are in the ICU, up from 11 yesterday. The best news is that 70 patients have been discharged so far.
Joining the panel to update all things testing were Rick Couldry, PharmD and VP of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Dr. Fred Plapp, Medical Director of Laboratory Medicine and Rachael Liesman, Ph.D., Director of Microbiology. Rick talked about new high-speed testing equipment coming shortly to The University of Kansas Health System, which could allow nearly a hundred COVID-19 test results to be delivered with a 4-5 hour turn around. He also gave a big shout out to all of the lab workers during National Laboratory Professionals Week. He says they are the backbone in the effort to beat the virus. Dr. Plapp discussed the false sense of immunity being given by current antibody testing and explained how those who have recovered from COVID-19 can donate their plasma in an effort to see if that will help current patients. Rachel Liesman explained how the COVID-19 testing takes place in the lab and gave a video tour of the process.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System says the more testing becomes available to the general public, the sooner society will be able to reopen. He stressed that many people may have COVID-19 and not know it because they don’t have symptoms, yet they’re just as contagious. That’s why, he says, social distancing, staying at home and hand washing are so important.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the health system, reminds us that even when society does reopen, we must all keep up with physical distancing. He says until there is a vaccine, which could be another year, social distancing will be the new normal. He also answered the question of what people with existing health problems like asthma or COPD can do to stay safe.
Friday, April 24 at 8:00 a.m. is the next daily briefing call. Joining the panel will be U.S. Senator Jerry Moran from Kansas to bring us the latest on a $25 billion relief package, which includes money for more testing. Kansas currently ranks last in the country for the number of tests being done. Also, Dr. Jessica Kalender-Rich, a doctor of General and Geriatric Medicine. She’s recently been appointed to a Wyandotte County task force on COVID-19 and the senior population and will talk about challenges now and ahead for older citizens living at home or in long term care facilities.
The feed is now available via TVU grid. The TVU source is UoK_Health and is being made available to all. You will still need to call-in to ask questions.
Telephone dial-in Participants:
Dial: 1-913-588-2222, and enter 50041981# when prompted for the Call ID. Feel free to send questions in advance to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
