The University of Kansas Health System is caring for 123 total COVID patients today, up from 116 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 45 with the active virus, 39 yesterday
- 9 in ICU, 7 yesterday
- 2 on ventilators, 3 yesterday
- 78 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 77 yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Keith Sale, vice president of Ambulatory, Ear Nose and Throat specialist
- Long Haul clinic transitions to system that allows more access to the right specialists
- Patients won’t see change. Must still get referral from primary care doctor
- Usually three to four months from acute COVID till patient needs help for long haul symptoms
- Doctors worry about a “tsunami” of patients from omicron needing long haul care in a few months
- No one treatment works best for long haul patients. Specific to each patient’s needs
- No quick fix. Can take months or years to resolve long haul symptoms
- Have seen some long haul patients heal 100%
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control
- Vaccination has proven to decrease chance of developing long haul symptoms
- No current recommendation for booster for those who are not immunocompromised
- More variants will come along, but vaccination is the best way to be protected from them
Friday, February 25 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Vaccinations that have protected the public’s health for decades are under attack. News accounts might make one think attitudes toward vaccination have dramatically changed. You may be surprised to learn what the survey shows. A reputable, non-partisan group wanted to know what Kansans think about vaccination and religious exemptions. The recently released results are powerful. We’ll also hear from doctors on their experiences with giving vaccinations.
ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:
Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
