The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 24 COVID patients today, up from 15 Monday. Other significant numbers:
- 17 with the active virus today, 8 Monday
- 2 in ICU, 1 Monday
- 0 on ventilator, 0 Friday
- 7 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 7 Monday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Sharla Smith, population health, the University of Kansas Medical Center
- Discussed recent article in The New England Journal of Medicine by African American pediatrician. Found common themes in families of Black girls including experiences in which normal emotions are caricatured, classic symptoms overlooked, stigmas assigned, and the voices of these patients ignored are made invisible.
- Shows there is a level of discrimination bias in their healthcare as well as a lack of listening
- These stigmas affect mental health, which affects overall health
- The pandemic made existing healthcare disparities even worse
- The stereotype of the “angry Black woman” is an illusion and a term that we need to do away with. Often given to women who speak up, who are passionate about their work, who care and value themselves and concerned they are not receiving quality healthcare, social services, or education.
Dr. Elizabeth Muenks, psychologist, The University of Kansas Health System
- Believes the article made a great point in that there is a lot of focus on Black men and prejudice and stereotypes and treatment, and we tend to forget about Black women and Black girls
- “Black Girl Magic” is another term which highlights role models like Michelle Obama and Serena Williams and how they can inspire Black girls. It has a positive intention but might start to do some harm with the expectations set.
- Racial microaggressions are common for Black girls and women whether shopping or in a business meeting. Healthcare providers must be diligent in keeping it out of medicine.
- Study by Blue Cross Blue Shield finds undiagnosed and untreated major depression disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic communities
- There is a certain amount of medical mistrust among minority populations
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- COVID numbers are definitely higher, though nothing like the crush of patients earlier this year
- Paxlovid is a good treatment for COVID, but patients must meet certain criteria
- COVID vaccine approval for those six months to five years old may come this week
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System
- BA 4 and BA 5 variants are all around us, but most likely won’t change the nature of the pandemic. They will continue to mutate as long as we continue to have such high community transmission.
- Patients treated with great humility and respect will have far better outcomes because of the relationship between them and the physician really improves
- Patients do best when they feel like they have an advocate as opposed to somebody who’s looking at them with suspicion and doesn’t listen.
- We must always look for ways to make healthcare more accessible to all
Friday, June 17 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. 45 million Americans complain of headaches. Incredibly, 70% of woman say they have migraines. Why is that?
From headaches to migraines, our neurology expert joins us to share the latest research and help ease the pain.
Please join us tomorrow at 8 a.m. as we take time to look back at two years of COVID and how we’ve all changed during the pandemic.
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.
