The number of COVID-19 patients being treated at The University of Kansas Health System continues to hold steady. 26 patients are being treated for COVID-19, up from 24 yesterday. 11 of those patients are in the ICU, down from 12 yesterday. So far 75 patients treated for COVID-19 have been released. The doctors say everything we’ve been doing to stem the tide of the disease is working as the numbers appear to reflect the new normal.
Joining the conversation was Keith Sale, MD, Physician VP Ambulatory Services. He explained how COVID-19 gave rapid birth to telehealth. He says before COVID-19, the health system saw 500 patients a year with that technology. The number has soared to 25,000 visits in just the last five weeks, and Sale says telehealth is here to stay. But some patients still need lab work, x-rays and a doctor’s touch. He talks about which services will start inviting more patients to the hospital first and why, and more importantly, how the hospital and clinics will keep patients safe when they arrive. Dr. Sale described how a clinic visit will look and said they will be a blend of in person and telehealth visits. Patients will be taken directly to the exam room, bypassing the check-in desk and the waiting room. Follow up visits will be scheduled by phone back in the patient’s car.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the health system, says while the steady numbers ae encouraging, the biggest fear of the medical community is reopening society too soon. He says until there is widespread community testing, a vaccine and a treatment there will always be the risk of a surge in COVID-19 cases, and then society will have to close again. Stites also said some patients may be scared to come to the hospital and doctor’s office, especially those who are immune compromised. But he cautioned about getting too sick at home, especially for those who may have symptoms of a mild heart attack. He stressed that telehealth visits by video will continue to be a big part of many patient’s treatment, especially those patients in smaller communities.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System said going to the hospital or a doctor’s visit is safer now than before COVID-19 because of all the new precautions in place. He added that it’s not a post-COVID world yet, and it will be safe to reopen society only if we all take personal responsibility by keeping our distance, washing our hands, keep from touching our faces and sneezing into our arms. He stressed that until there’s a vaccine and a treatment, COVID-19 will be with us. He also addressed a question about how safe it will be to go to the dentist for a regular checkup.
Wednesday, April 29 at 8:00 a.m. is the next daily briefing call. Joining the panel will be David Wild, MD, VP of Performance Improvement at The University of Kansas Health System. He’ll talk about testing from the patient perspective. He explains the history of testing at the health system, why and how we expanded testing, what’s ahead for patients and why. Terry Tsue, MD, VP Clinical Services & Physician in Chief, The University of Kansas Cancer Center will speak to testing for cancer patients
ATTENTION media members-New procedure for calling in:
The meeting is now 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:
Call Zoom audio, 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.
