The number of COVID-19 patients being cared for at The University of Kansas Health System continues to drop. 21 patients are being treated for the virus, down from 22 yesterday. 9 of those patients are in the ICU, down from 10 yesterday. Doctors say this continues to reflect the number of patients being discharged and those moved from intensive care to regular patient care rooms.
The chief medical officers from three area hospitals joined the discussion. Dr. Raghu Adiga from Liberty Hospital, Dr. Larry Botts from Advent Health Shawnee Mission and Dr. Mark Steele from Truman Medical Centers/University Health to update COVID-19 responses at their hospitals and how we all are getting back to business … not as usual.
Dr. Adiga says the Northland has been blessed with fewer COVID-19 cases than most. North Kansas City Hospital has no patients with the virus today and has seen several discharges in the last week. He says that other than a few clusters of patients, such as in nursing homes, they’ve had a small number of cases since the beginning of the pandemic. He says his hospital, like most others, has made many changes for patient safety and is beginning to ramp up services.
Dr. Botts says Advent Health Shawnee Mission has seen a steady decline in COVID-19 patients and has been able to avoid a surge that some hospitals in larger cities have experienced. He says of the 1,000 patients they’ve tested, only five have been positive for the virus. He believes, as do the other doctors on the panel, that COVID-19 was probably present in the community as early as January, but nobody was testing for it at that time. He thinks the worst may be past and is cautiously optimistic that we’ve weathered the storm.
Dr. Steele reports that Truman Medical Centers/University Health is also seeing lower COVID-19 patient volume. They currently have 5 patients, with 4 in the ICU, one on a ventilator and 13 patients being evaluated for the virus. His hospital is also beginning to ramp up the number of procedures and clinic visits, and like most other hospitals, including The University of Kansas Health System, has made many procedural changes for patient safety.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System answered the question of why the virus is still spreading after two months of personal distancing and other safety measures. He and others addressed the problem with blended families who share custody of children. He says the risk of infection in those families is doubled, and the key is communication and cooperation. He and the others also had advice for those wanting to go to a restaurant as soon as the restrictions are eased. They say it’s still not as safe as ordering takeout food, and it’s best to wait and see if there is a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases. He says if you do go out, make sure the restaurant has the tables six feet apart and that all servers are wearing masks. They also agreed antibody testing is getting better, but it’s still not ready for mass use.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at the health system, says social distancing has helped reduce the numbers of COVID-19 cases, but it’s still out there. It just needs one person to spread…and that person probably doesn’t realize they have it. He says a 100% lockdown of society is not practical, and that’s why personal responsibility, and development of a treatment, are the keys to getting through the pandemic. He says how we act will define us for generations.
Friday, May 15 at 8:00 a.m. is the next daily briefing call. U.S. Senator Jerry Moran from Kansas joins the call for an update on COVID-19 from the Federal level. Also on the call, Robert Moser, MD, Dean, The University of Kansas School of Medicine- Salina, Clinical Assoc. Prof, Dept. of Preventative Medicine/Public Health to talk about public health in rural areas during the pandemic and how that impacts urban areas.
ATTENTION media members- 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.
