The number of COVID-19 patients being treated at The University of Kansas Health System remains steady today. 101 people with the active virus are hospitalized, down from yesterday’s record high of102. 53 patients are in the ICU, up from 46 yesterday. 24 of those ICU patients are on ventilators today, down from 30 yesterday. 58 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 50 yesterday. That’s a total of 159 patients, the highest yet, up from 152 yesterday. In addition, HaysMed has a total of 32 COVID-19 inpatients, down from 35 yesterday, with 24 of those active patients and 8 in the recovery phase.
On the Morning Media Update today, Bob Moser, MD, Dean of the KU School of Medicine in Salina and David Wild, VP of Performance Improvement at the health system, updated the virus spread, impact on communities and learning, plus mitigation efforts to make room for patients from rural areas.
(video here)
Dr. Moser says Salina has seen a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in the last month. It’s put a lot of pressure on the area’s hospital, which has also seen an increase in numbers. The good news, he says, is there have been a low number of cases in the area school district and in the Schools of Medicine and Nursing in Salina. He pointed out that those Kansas counties which have a mask mandate have seen fewer cases of the virus spreading than those without. He believes if residents in rural areas adhere to masking and social distancing, the numbers will drop and there will be no need for further statewide intervention.
Dr. Wild presented data showing Kansas is still one of the hottest spots in the country for COVID-19. He says what looks like a slowdown in cases in the last week may simply be due to fewer tests being given over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. He believes we’re in for a couple more weeks of challenges. He says Kansas and Missouri could potentially be facing more intervention, such as a lockdown, unless the numbers level off or turn around. He says the large number of COVID-19 cases at the health system is making it harder to accept patients from smaller communities who need critical care. He spoke of one case in which a hospital had to make 25 calls to find a place for their patient.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, reminds us it was one year ago today that the first known case of COVID-19 was identified in Wuhan, China. He hopes that December 1, 2021 will be more like December 1st of last year. He says even if you’ve already had COVID-19 you should still get the vaccine as soon as it’s available. He addressed the question of whether those who gathered at Thanksgiving with people outside their bubble should quarantine or be tested. He also said that just having a diagnosis of COVID-19 is not a reason to be hospitalized. That’s for those who need oxygen or other intensive therapies.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health system, described when hospitals use ECMO machines for their patients, which are designed to help lung-damaged patients breathe. He also says having a vitamin D deficiency won’t make you more susceptible to getting the virus, and even though taking vitamin supplements can’t hurt, there’s no proof that they will keep you from getting COVID-19. He says we are “grappling with a viral terrorist.” He believes the answer to getting through the darkest days ahead is dedication and devotion. Dedication to trying to help each other out and devotion to following the pillars of infection prevention.
Wednesday, December 2 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. Dr. Heather Harris, medical director at our HaysMed campus and Kevin Myers, infection prevention director, join the call with a deeper dive into situation at the hospital and Ellis county.
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.
