The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 13 COVID patients today, down from 14 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 4 with the active virus, 5 yesterday
- 0 in ICU, 0 yesterday
- 0 on ventilator, 0 yesterday
- 9 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 9 yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Phil Johnson, Clinical Service Chief, Radiology, The University of Kansas Health System
- CT contrast fluid shortage, caused by COVID shutdown of a Chinese manufacturer, having a huge effect on multiple procedures in the U.S.
- Some planned procedures delayed as fluid is being reserved for the sickest patients, those with strokes and heart attacks for example
- Shortage expected to last until July
- Patients need to be aware of how this change may affect insurance
Raghu Adiga, Chief Medical Officer, Liberty Hospital
- Contrast shortage affecting Liberty Hospital as well
- Seeing a lower number of COVID patients
- Pandemic has prepared them to handle supply chain issues such as this
- Feels that the number of new COVID infections will continue to rise
Chris Loucks, Director of Pharmacy, The University of Kansas Health System
- Drug shortages like these are common and dealt with every day, just not to the same extent as CT contrast.
- Goal is to never allow a drug shortage to affect a patient
- Key is to have multiple suppliers when possible and to stockpile as much as possible
Janie Ott, VP Supply Chain, The University of Kansas Health System
- Health system has an off-site warehouse to store every conceivable supply needed to run a big city hospital
- The warehouse is the foundation of the health system’s supply chain
- Size of health system enables buying in bulk and storing in warehouse
- Goal is to never run out of anything, though sometimes they need to get creative and occasionally use substitutions
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System
- Nationwide COVID numbers are crawling up
- COVID positivity rate in Johnson County is up to 17%
- If not for vaccination, COVID rates here and around the country would be much higher
- Now is the time to get a second booster if you have not had one
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Vaccination plus prior infection is helping keep COVID from being worse
- Recent surges in cases have not overwhelmed hospitals, which is a good sign
- More surges expected, and many experts believe things won’t really be back to normal until late 2023 or mid-2024.
Thursday, May 19 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Thousands of people in the metro suffer breathing problems and brain fog daily due to COVID.
And many long haulers don't have anyone to talk to, until now. We’ll focus on the organization giving them a voice and advice.
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.
