The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 44 COVID patients today, down from 60 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 10 with the active virus today, 13 yesterday
- 1 in ICU, 2 yesterday.
- 0 on ventilator, 0 yesterday
- 34 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 47 yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Ed Ellerbeck, chair of Population Health, KU Medical Center
- Outlined the RADx-UP program, a $500 million NIH initiative, explaining that it stands for Rapid Acceleration and Diagnostics in Underserved Populations
- Helped empower 10 underserved Kansas counties, including Wyandotte County, and improve access to testing through extensive communication and multiple community events
- Now looking at ways to create long-term infrastructure to respond to the endemic stage of COVID
- Was able to address miscommunication about vaccinations in minority communities
Dr. Catherine Satterwhite, Region 7 health administrator, Health and Human Services
- Biggest benefit has been ability to connect people from adolescents to the elderly with vital community services
- April is National Minority Health Month. Focus is getting people vaccinated to prevent another COVID outbreak
- It is also Black Maternal Health Week. Big effort to address inequities and disparities in maternal mortality and birth outcomes
- Misinformation has been biggest barrier to more vaccination in minority communities
Marian Ramirez- Mantilia, director of Juntos Center for Advancing Latino Health, KU Medical Center
- Juntos Center focuses on improving the health of Latinos in Kansas and beyond.
- Helped with Spanish translation for CDC COVID information
- Developed Spanish public service announcements with testimonials from community leaders and health professionals to overcome misinformation and vaccine hesitancy
- Great response to campaign with many saying it helped convince them to get themselves and families vaccinated
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Presented a townhall program to NFL alumni in Kansas City focusing on vaccine safety and effectiveness
- It’s still best to stay home from work if you are not feeling well so you don’t put others at risk
Wednesday, April 6 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Open Mics With Dr. Stites. Thousands in the metro will soon be getting their second COVID booster shot. So why are thousands of others choosing to hold off or not get the vaccine at all? Whether it’s misinformation or questions about how the vaccine came together we’ll show you the science behind COVID vaccines.
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.
