Another drop today in the number of COVID-19 patients being cared for at The University of Kansas Health System. 15 patients are being treated for the virus, down from 16 yesterday. 7 of those patients are in the ICU, same as yesterday. That’s half the number of inpatients from just a few weeks ago. Doctors say this reflects both continuous discharges and new admissions for the virus.
Roy Jensen, MD, Director, The University of Kansas Cancer Center joined the discussion along with Jamie Wagner, DO, FACOS, Division Chief Breast Surgery, Breast Surgery Oncologist.
Dr Jensen discussed the dramatic impact the pandemic has had on cancer patients, not just here but across the nation. He says because many screenings such as mammograms have been delayed, there may be a significant increase in cancer deaths, which have been steadily dropping for the last two decades. He also discussed the strategy of repurposing existing drugs to fight the virus, saying it’s a trend that’s developed, especially in cancer research, over the last 15 years. He also addressed whether the COVID-19 crisis will have any effect on the cancer center’s quest for designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, which will be submitted sometime next year.
Dr. Wagner described the steps the KU Cancer Center has taken to make sure patients are safe. Things like increasing time between patients to allow for sanitization of rooms and equipment, physical distancing and masks for both staff and patients are examples. She says the number of screening mammograms has dropped by 50 percent since the outbreak, but they hope to be back at full capacity sometime in June. She explained how immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, are especially susceptible to COVID-19, and how they need to stay protected more than most. She did say it’s safe for a patient finished with radiation and awaiting surgery to go grocery shopping…with the right precautions and their doctor’s approval. She also says the use of telehealth visits has greatly increased and is especially useful for some cancer patients.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System, said there have been no cases of health system patients being infected by staff members. He explained the rate of infection for health care workers is about half that of the community. He says so far, four patients at the health system have been given remdesivir, a drug that’s supposed to help lessen the length of time a patient suffers COVID-19 symptoms, but it’s too soon to say if it’s working. He adds that the criteria for giving it to patients is being finalized.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at the health system, says doctors are happy to see that society has been reopening gradually for nine days without a surge in patients. But he says the next 7 to 10 days will tell the story, as that’s how long it takes someone who was infected back then to become symptomatic. He says the same rules used in defensive driving apply as we go forward…always look ahead, be aware of your surroundings and be careful of others while making sure you are taking all precautions. He says consistent behavior like that will last us until we get a vaccine, hopefully by this fall.
Thursday, May 21 at 8:00 a.m. is the next daily briefing call. Gary Gronseth, MD and Chair of Neurology and Colleen Lechtenberg, MD, neurologist join Dr. Stites and Dr. Hawkinson with cautionary stories of strokes resulting from fear of C-19 and because of C-19.
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.
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Feel free to send questions in advance to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
