The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 49 COVID patients today, up from 51 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 5 with the active virus today, 11 yesterday
- 1 in ICU, 1 yesterday.
- 1 on ventilator, 1 yesterday
- 44 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 40 yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Doug Girod, chancellor, The University of Kansas
- Whole KU campus still riding high from winning national basketball championship
- Team physical and mental health and confidence level extremely important in the tournament
- Explains Kansas Team Health as an innovative partnership between KU Athletics Department, The University of Kansas Health System Sports Medicine and Lawrence Memorial Health
- No other collaboration like it anywhere else in the country
- Academics a priority for all student athletes. Jayhawk basketball team very academically talented. David McCormack for example, has a 4.0 GPA.
Dr. Jeffrey Randall, head team orthopedic surgeon, Kansas Team Health
- Takes an incredible amount of team discipline for entire season to be in peak condition for March tournament
- Mental health of players just as important as physical health
- Players’ food and nutrition is measured and coordinated throughout the week and on game days. After the game, they’re allowed something fun like pizza or fast food, especially if they’re on the road.
Dr. Jarrod Harrall, head primary care team physician, Kansas Team Health
- Takes a lot of planning all year round to keep elite athletes conditioned and on the right track to a championship
- COVID was a factor all season, especially at the beginning when the delta variant was widespread
- Thanks to buy in on prevention from players and staff, COVID was not a problem for team during the season and brought them closer together.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Gave update on BA 2 variant, which is now dominant strain in United States. Not too different from omicron variant
- Fourth dose of vaccine now approved for those 50 and older, but third dose still gives protection against hospitalization and death
- Discussed whether home COVID testing kits have expiration date and when that date might be.
- We would be naïve to think there will not be another surge of COVID
Andy Marshall, emergency preparedness manager, The University of Kansas Health System
- With severe weather a threat this week, advises having a preparedness kit
- Items for kit include shoes, heavy blankets, battery backups for phone and weather radio.
- Important to identify a sheltering location for whole family before severe weather hits.
- Have family drill to practice what to do in any emergency, such as a fire
Wednesday, April 13 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Open Mics With Dr. Stites. African American women are 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than white women. Doctor Stites talks with experts to find out why and what is being done in the Metro to save lives.
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.
