COVID numbers are steady across the state from two months ago, but hospitalizations are still high, an average of one person a day is still dying from COVID, staffing is a big problem in the healthcare industry and we could be in for a difficult fall and winter with another COVID surge and a hard flu season. Those were the main points brought home by 11 hospital chief medical officers who gathered for a news and community conference call today.
Here are the 11 doctors who participated in the order they spoke. The link to the entire news conference is above.
- Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System
- Dr. Richard Watson, co-founder, Motient
- Dr. Lisa Hays, CMO Advent Health Shawnee Mission
- Dr. Heather Harris, Medical Dir., HaysMed
- Dr. James Stewart, CMO, North Kansas City Hospital
- Dr. Elizabeth Long, CMO, Olathe Health
- Dr. Kevin Dishman, CMO, Stormont Vail
- Dr. Jackie Hyland, CMO, The University of Kansas Health System, St. Francis Campus
- Dr. Mark Steele, Executive chief Clinical Officer, University Health Truman Medical Center
- Dr. Edward Kammerer, Chief Quality Officer, Incoming Chief Medical Officer, Mosaic Life Care
- Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
Key points from the panel:
Dr. Stites
- Even with lower COVID numbers, hospital census very high. Transfers still limited. There’s still a lot of other sickness out there
- If we get a COVID surge this fall, combined with a high number of flu cases, it could be our most difficult fall and winter yet
- CDC currently monitoring 11 different variants. Could lead to a “swarm of variants” fueling a surge this fall and winter
- One of the greatest challenges of our time is how we are going to handle behavioral health services in a very stressed and strained healthcare infrastructure
Dr. Watson
- The real problem is demand for beds remains very high with not enough people to staff those beds. Shortage of EMS workers also a big problem.
- Behavioral health problems have increased demand for beds, and there are fewer resources available for transferring patients
- Flu cases around the region are starting to increase
- We have a system still under stress
Dr. Hays
- Increased number of mental health patients putting strain on system
Dr. Dishman
- As a safety net hospital, Stormont Vail is not able to keep up with the demand from referral hospitals.
- Seeing a surge in RSV patients as well as those COVID patients with some of the “swarm of variants” being monitored by the CDC
- Sees fewer people in the communities adhering to COVID guidelines and approach toward vaccines has been somewhat relaxed as well
Dr. Hyland
- Have seen patients in the last week who tested positive for both COVID and the flu
Dr. Hawkinson
- New studies continue to show vaccines are safe for women in their childbearing years, especially those working in healthcare
Thursday, October 20 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. You go to your doctor for a screening, and then get the call that you have cancer. It's normal to wonder if another doctor or hospital could give you a better or different outcome. We’ll show you how getting a second opinion can help you feel better about your treatment plan and maybe save your life.
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