Key points from today’s guests:
Morning Rounds – Red Wednesday
Tammy Peterman, president, Kansas City Division, The University of Kansas Health System
- Red Wednesday was held outside the Health System this morning to celebrate the upcoming Kansas City Chiefs season.
- The Health System has a great partnership with the Chiefs -- the healthcare team takes care of the Chiefs players.
- There is even a Health System clinic at Arrowhead Stadium, which is great for patients and fans.
Rachel Pepper, chief nursing officer, Kansas City Division, The University of Kansas Health System
- Gameday brings a sense of normalcy and fun spirt to patients and staff.
- Everybody loves the Kansas City Chiefs and our place is definitely no different.
- Patients are often facing some of the most challenging days of their lives and the Chiefs give them something to celebrate and have fun with.
Clark Hunt, chairman & CEO, Kansas City Chiefs
- Red Wednesday is a great way to kick off the NFL season.
- Health System employees are so supportive of the organization and its charities.
- More than $4.5 million has been raised to benefit to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City over the years. That's pretty incredible for all the families who need that kind of help.
- He appreciates the Health System and many contributions to the organization and community.
Focus Topic
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System
- Age and exhaustion should not go hand in hand.
- According to a study in the Journal of American Geriatrics, fatigue predicts mortality in older adults.
- With the question of “do you feel tired most of the time?”, the ones in the study who answered yes were 21 percent more likely to die within 10 years.
- Joy helps us in so many ways, including battling fatigue.
Dr. Christian Sinclair, hospice & palliative care specialist, The University of Kansas Health System
- Rating patient fatigue is one of our baseline questions. It is a vital sign.
- It is important to understand what fatigue means to patients.
- There’s not just physical fatigue, but mental and emotional fatigue as well.
- One of the goals is helping patients and family members/caregivers communicate about fatigue.
- Anyone with persistent fatigue should get it checked by a doctor.
Dr. Jessica Kalender-Rich, geriatric specialist, The University of Kansas Health System
- Regular fatigue can be indicative of an underlying medical issue.
- We will do a full set of tests to help identify a cause and understand why the fatigue might be different.
- The more tired we are, the less we move. The less we move, the less healthy we are.
- Medications are another factor in how a person feels fatigue.
- Community and support systems are important in understanding and battling fatigue.
COVID Updates
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, director of infection prevention & control, The University of Kansas Health System
- COVID numbers are at 14 active cases in the hospital right now
- More people are ill with it than they were in previous months.
- Based on what we’ve seen with other variants, there is the same risk of disease and hospitalizations.
- It is still important to get the COVID booster when it is available in the fall.
Friday, September 8 at 8 a.m. CT is the next Morning Medical Update. A stomachache turns into being on life support while waiting for a heart transplant. Learn more about the shocking diagnosis.
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