The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 28 COVID patients today, 28 Friday. Other significant numbers:
- 13 with the active virus today, 12 Friday
- 1 in ICU, 0 Friday
- 0 on a ventilator, 0 Friday
Key points from today’s guests:
Doug Lewis, stroke survivor
- While taking care of his five-month-old son, he had a stroke, became very disoriented and ended up collapsing on the floor, where his three-year-old daughter found him and got help.
- He went to a local hospital in Olathe, where he was immediately transferred to The University of Kansas Health System to receive urgent advanced care.
- Doug had prior conditions that may have contributed to the stroke, including being a former smoker and being pre-diabetic.
- Doug took steps to become healthier for his family.
- He encourages everyone to know the signs and symptoms of a stroke.
Dr. Michael Abraham, neuro-interventionalist, The University of Kansas Health System
- Doug had a severe stroke, so the team had to act quickly.
- Dr. Abraham performed an endovascular thrombectomy – that means going in through the arteries with a catheter connected to an aspiration tank, which provides continuous aspiration, to literally pull out the clot.
- Through overall testing, doctors also found a visible clot in his heart that was addressed to avoid additional health problems.
- Being part of a big a comprehensive stroke center through the Joint Commission, they are tracking us from the moment the patient hits a door, when a stroke team arrives, when we get the CAT scan, when we get access into the arteries to get to the clot and pull it out. This is to learn and continue to improve response times to help patients like Doug.
- Use the BE FAST tips to help spot a stroke:
- B – Balance issues
- E – Eyesight trouble
- F – Facial paralysis
- A – Arm weakness
- S – Speech problems
- T – Time is important – get help immediately
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, The University of Kansas Health System
- The CDC released its 2022 data on overall COVID deaths in the U.S. and the number dropped 47 percent from 2021. Around 245,000 people died from COVID in 2022 which is still a high number, but it was down from 462,000 in 2021.
- We know that the lowest number of deaths were among those that were under 14 years of age, but highest among those that were over 85.
- We have been saying for a while now that this disease is really becoming a disease of those comorbid conditions, most notably age, but also other immunosuppressive conditions.
- The other things that stood out were just the disparities in the United States. The lowest death rates were in region 1, which is basically the Northeast. The highest death rate was in region 6, which include Southern states – where we know that there are more socioeconomic and access disparities.
- We need to increase the public health infrastructure, access to care, and education. within communities around the nation, especially in those areas where we have seen the highest number of deaths and highest death rates.
Tuesday, May 9 at 8 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Learn more about one patient’s tribute to the doctor who put her cancer in remission while pregnant with her son.
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