74 total COVID patients are being treated today at The University of Kansas Health System, down from 78 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 16 with the active virus today, 14 yesterday
- 1 in ICU, 2 yesterday
- 0 on ventilators, 0 yesterday
- 58 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 64 yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Jamie Johnson, speech language pathologist, The University of Kansas Health System
- Discussed patient, Dr. Thomas Seck, an area pediatrician who’s had to put his career on hold due to long term brain fog from COVID caught in March, 2020
- Treatment involves speech and cognitive therapy and practicing everyday situations. Process is similar to someone who has suffered a concussion or traumatic brain injury.
- He’s made progress by pushing himself
- No timeline for returning to work
Dr. Eric Ecklund-Johnson, clinical neuropsychologist, The University of Kansas Health System
- Short term memory loss and loss of focus and concentration most common symptoms of COVID brain fog
- Building a patient’s stamina and confidence are very important
- Length of treatment varies by each patient
- In most cases, people will get much better or even fully recover
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director, Infection Prevention and Control
- Numbers are down, but still a large circulation of the virus in the community
- Many hospitalized patients with COVID have other medical problems as well
- Noted that Moderna says it’s COVID vaccine is 40% effective in very young children
- Still unsure why some get long haul COVID symptoms while others do not
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System
- Noted that the flu vaccine was only 16 percent effective this year, but cases were down because of infection prevention measures
- Wastewater testing shows the ba 2 COVID variant is on the rise
- Noted a ba 2 surge in Europe. U.S. tends to lag six to eight weeks.
- We must make good choices to continue the fight against COVID
Thursday, March 24 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. You may recall last week we introduced you to a local woman who donated a kidney to a stranger, then celebrated by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. Tomorrow, she and the recipient get together to share the whole experience with us.
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.
