A steady number of active COVID-19 patients being treated at The University of Kansas Health System today. 65 people with the active virus are hospitalized, down from 67 yesterday. 24 patients are in the ICU, up from 21 yesterday. 10 of those ICU patients are on ventilators today, same as yesterday. 49 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 47 yesterday. That’s a total of 114 patients, same as yesterday. In addition, HaysMed has a total of 21 COVID-19 inpatients, up from 20 yesterday, with 16 of those active patients and 5 in the recovery phase.
On today’s Morning Media Update, we checked in with Dr. Mark Steele, Executive Chief Clinical Officer, Truman Medical Centers/University Health, Dr. Raghu Adiga, CMO and infectious diseases physician, Liberty Hospital and Dr. Larry Botts, CMO, Advent Health to update their hospital numbers and vaccinations.
All three of the chief medical officers noted a recent decrease in patients from earlier record numbers and are glad to see no big uptick from the holidays. Dr. Steele from Truman says they have given more than 100,000 COVID-19 tests and are currently giving the second dose of the vaccine to staff members. He says they’re working with schools on a plan for vaccine distribution and working with community leaders to build trust in the safety of the vaccinations.
Dr. Adiga from Liberty Hospital says he has not seen anything like this pandemic with 400,000 deaths in his lifetime. He reports 20-30 staff members recently missed work from COVID-19, but as of today, only 7 are out. They have given monoclonal antibody treatment to more than 100 patients in the early stages of the disease with great results. He says it’s not a smart idea to gather in large groups to watch the Chiefs playoff games. He also feels primary care physicians will eventually be giving the vaccine when supplies are available. He urges everyone to get the shot when it’s their turn.
Dr. Botts says about 70 percent of the staff at Advent have taken advantage of the vaccine, which mirrors the acceptance rate around the city and country. He also explained how hospitals are sharing their supplies with each other and local healthcare facilities to make sure none of the vaccine goes to waste. He says they have talked about a drive-through vaccine clinic, as have all of the hospitals, but for now have no plans to set one up. The biggest challenges are a big enough parking lot to allow for the 15-minute observation period, the lack of supply and the cold weather.
Nathan Bahr, MD, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Kansas Health System, filled in for the vacationing Dr. Hawkinson. He says it’s not unexpected to run a fever after getting the shot and taking Tylenol will help improve the symptoms quickly. His advice for the group of Coffey County, Kansas nurses who refused to administer the vaccine because they were “not comfortable” with it is to check the safety data. There is proof the vaccine is safe. He says the best way to watch the Chiefs is at home.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, expects we’ll know more about COVID-19 guidance from the new administration in the next 48 hours. He expects there will be a bigger emphasis on wearing masks plus a greater distribution network for the vaccines and a ramp up in production. He says the toll of the disease has been immeasurable, both for families and staff members. He says it’s been harsh and traumatic for them to have to put so many patients into body bags. He can’t understand how people don’t think the disease is real and why they can’t do a simple act like wearing a mask to protect others. He says we have to open up to the reality of the virus.
Thursday, January 20 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. Catherine Satterwhite, regional health administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services joins to update us on the vaccination rollout across the region and answer questions.
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: PLEASE NOTE NEW PHONE NUMBER
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.
