Kansas City, Kan- The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 17 COVID patients today, same as Wednesday. Other significant numbers:
• 7 with the active virus today, 7 Wednesday
• 1 in ICU, 1 Wednesday
• 1 on a ventilator, 1 Wednesday
Key points from today’s guests:
Morning Rounds – Update on Current News
Dr. Stephany Berry, trauma medical director, The University of Kansas Health System
- The State of Kansas has renewed the University of Kansas Health System status as a Level One trauma center. It is the highest level a hospital can earn.
- Every three years, the American College of Surgeons evaluates the Health System to make sure that we're maintaining the highest standards and are up to date on creating research and providing education to the community, in addition to the high level of clinical care.
- Those designations help us to understand what the capabilities at each of those centers are. We need trauma patients to come to the right place for the right care at the right time.
- Time is of the essence when you're dealing with emergencies, and not every center is equipped to handle all traumas. We want the patients who are the most severely injured to go to the highest level of trauma centers in an expedited fashion.
- We’ve been rated a Level One – the highest rated – trauma center since 2000.
Focus Topic
Greg Russell, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) patient
- Greg, a 30-year veteran of the Kansas City Police Department, woke up one morning with a racing heart and decided to get it checked out.
- Doctors took some blood samples and within hours they called telling him to get to the nearest emergency department. He was later diagnosed with MDS – a type of blood cancer.
- He was being treated with low-dose chemo at another hospital but needed a bone marrow transplant and was referred to The University of Kansas Cancer Center.
- A global search for a donor was initiated, but it turns out that his son was a match. He didn’t initially want children, but he said he is so blessed to have his son.
- His family and doctors were “my miracles.”
- For his son, “I gave him life and he gave it back.”
Greg Russell II, Greg’s son and bone marrow donor
- Greg was 15 years old when he become a bone marrow donor for his father.
- He was incredibly sore after the procedure and it took a while to resume his daily workout routine, but he said it was worth it and he would do it again.
- He said it is really important to be strong and have faith.
- “It’s a great feeling to save your father’s life.”
Dr. Forat Lutfi, hematologist & medical oncologist, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) is basically a syndrome where the stem cells and other cells in the body are just not producing normally. And you have what's called a clonal disorder, which is basically a cancer.
- In Greg’s case, the body was unable to get oxygen easily and the organs are stressed greatly – it was a very dangerous situation.
- MDS can lead to leukemia.
- Without a donor, there would not be viable treatment.
- He wants to save all his patients, but when he met Greg, he had an instant connection – such a strong, spiritual person – and felt he needed to do everything he could to give this person his life back.
COVID Updates
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director, infection prevention & control, The University of Kansas Health System
- China is facing a COVID wave due to the XBB strain.
- Some evidence says they have peaked and some says they will peak later in June.
- The good news is that it has not overwhelmed healthcare facilities.
- These are still sub-lineages of the Omicron variant.
Monday, June 5 at 8 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. The importance of a second opinion on cancer has led to a new, lifesaving treatment.
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