The number of COVID-19 patients at The University of Kansas Health System is slightly higher today. Six patients with the active virus are being treated, up from five yesterday. Of those patients, one is in the ICU, the same as yesterday. There are no patients on ventilators, and there have been none since May 24. Four other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, the same as yesterday. That’s a total of ten patients, up from nine yesterday. For the second day in a row, HaysMed reports zero active or recovering patients.
On today’s Morning Media Update, Dr. Hawkinson’s daughter Caroline and son Wyatt were back in the studio to get their second vaccinations. Also joining was Vice President of Revenue Cycle Colette Lasack. COVID-19 has left many patients and families with devastating medical bills. Colette updated the Cares Act and offered help for patients with big bills.
To begin the program, Dr. Hawkinson’s children returned to get their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Neither had complications or side effects after the first shot, other than a sore arm for a short time. Both reported feeling good at the end of today’s program. Dr. Hawkinson says he’s glad both of his kids are fully vaccinated because they can now freely participate in summer activities like soccer, camping and horse riding and showing.
Colette Lasack explained how hospital bills and COVID-19 work. Under the CARES Act, all COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and treatment is paid for. The problem is when patients are admitted and something else ends up being their primary diagnosis. That’s when charges begin accumulating and patients are hit with unexpected bills. For the uninsured, she says the CARES Act has been a blessing because it covers their bills. But it does not cover anything for those with insurance, which can be a huge problem for the underinsured with high deductible plans. That applies to patients in the long hauler clinic, who have long since recovered from COVID-19 but have lingering symptoms. She realizes some hospital bills can be catastrophic but wants to reassure everyone not to panic. She explained how a whole team of sympathetic financial counselors is ready to help patients with a wide range of solutions. She urges everyone worried about a bill to call because they are eager to help.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, noted that the biggest proportion of those dying from COVID-19 is now in the 50 to 75-year age range, down from 75 and above. He thinks vaccine hesitancy is the reason deaths are up in that age group. He also discussed new data showing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is effective against variants and provides good protection from serious illness, hospitalization, and death. He notes we’re very fortunate to have so much vaccine in our country when others can’t get enough and says it’s a real shame some of those vaccines are expiring without being used. He warns vaccinations will be vital to keeping schools open this fall.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, noted that the number of kids 12 and over getting vaccinated has leveled off after a strong start. He thinks it’s great the U.S. is buying half a billion doses of the Pfizer vaccine to donate to other countries where demand far outweighs supply. He noted the virus doesn’t respect national or state boundaries and the only way to get rid of “this worldwide scourge” is to vaccinate as many people as possible. He thinks there’s a good chance this health system, and most others, will require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 when it gets full FDA approval, just like they are required to get a flu shot each year. He says the way to help avoid the potential economic disaster of a hospital stay is to not get COVID-19 in the first place by getting a free vaccination as soon as possible.
Friday, June 11 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. It’s follow-up Friday and Lance Williamson, infection prevention and control nurse supervisor will be here to help answer your questions. Joining the panel will be Dr. Angela Myers from Children’s Mercy Hospital to answer questions about vaccinating our kids. We will also hear from Chelsey Smith with the Community Blood Center which late yesterday issued a blood emergency. They are down to three days blood supply and the normal is at least a week.
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 1-312-626-6799, 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.