Another record day for the number of COVID-19 patients being treated at The University of Kansas Health System. 72 patients are hospitalized, up from 68 yesterday, which was the previous record. 25 patients are in the ICU, down from 26 yesterday. 16 patients are on ventilators, up from 14 yesterday. 36 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase. That’s up from 28 yesterday. In addition, HaysMed has 16 total COVID-19 inpatients, down from 17 yesterday, with 4 of those patients in the recovery phase. Doctors noted that just a few weeks ago, when the number of COVID-19 patients was in the 30’s, they thought that was high.
Doctors fear the high number of COVID-19 patients at the health system, 108 total, may force them to make some hard decisions soon. It could force the health system to stop accepting patients transferred from other facilities, including those in smaller communities. They are also actively looking at stopping elective surgeries, but say that really affects a lot of people, especially those who need a 3-4-day recovery in the hospital.
Imagine fighting cancer and learning you’ve caught COVID-19. That was the story of today’s guest. Kari Rawley shared her story along with her medical oncologist Lauren Nye.
Kari Rawley is a breast cancer patient. She and her family thought they were doing everything right to help her immunocompromised condition They all wore masks around the house and faithfully practiced social distancing. They thought it would be OK to host a going away party for their daughter who was leaving for school. They invited family and close friends, but people outside their immediate social bubble, to the event, which was held both inside and outside the house. Five days after the party, guests began reporting positive tests for the virus. The next day, Kari began having a terrible cough that wouldn’t go away. She tested positive, and later so did her husband. She began having the worst aches she’d ever felt and fatigue with no energy. When the breathing problems began, that’s when she went to the hospital. Her lowest point was developing pneumonia, being in the hospital with no visitors allowed and worrying she’d have to be put on a ventilator. She improved after seven days in the hospital, but the fatigue and cough stayed with her for almost two months. She says her and her family’s lives have been turned upside down. She advises everyone to avoid big gatherings and follow the pillars of infection prevention no matter who you are with.
Dr. Nye says cancer patients present a special challenge because their treatment often suppresses their immune systems. She says it’s been a big hurdle in the cancer world dealing with COVID-19. She explained those who get the disease often have to alter their regular cancer treatment while dealing with the virus, which can complicate their outcome. She noted that coming to the clinic for cancer treatment is still one of the safest places for patients and described the safety measures in place. She also says telehealth visits are available for most cancer patients on non-treatment days.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System, showed a very helpful too for those considering attending a gathering which helps assess the risk involved. It’s called the COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool. It displays a county-by-county map of the United States, and shows the risk level of attending an event, given the event size and location. For each county it displays a percentage, which is the estimated chance that at least one COVID-19 positive person will be present at the event. Johnson County, for example, shows a rate of 79%. He also says when it comes to COVID-19, 80 to 85 percent of people will not need to seek medical care, but reminded us that even people with no symptoms can spread the virus He says even those who have already had it can still get it and spread it again since scientists are not sure how long any immunity lasts. He also noted schools have a very low transmission rate for COVID-19. He says the problems come when students gather outside of the classroom, or from large gatherings like weddings and funerals.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, discussed the news of Eli Lilly receiving emergency authorization to use monoclonal antibodies. He says the data looks impressive and outpatient infusion with the treatment has been shown to drop the hospitalization rate in half in some places. He says while it looks hopeful, there won’t be enough for everyone at first. He called reports of a local school district allegedly encouraging parents to have “COVID parties” for their kids to help develop herd immunity, “a perfectly terrible idea,” that’s “immoral to even suggest.” He says that would overwhelm the healthcare system because people get much sicker than the flu. He described how the health system, and other hospitals, are managing the surge of COVID-19 patients, and reminded us that real hope is here. Drugs are on the way and we just have to “be good for a few more months,” and we’ll start to see a change for the better. He advises, “Stay alive and stay in the game.”
Wednesday, November 11 at 8:00 a.m. is the next morning media update. Tomorrow we pay tribute to Veterans. Justin Hoover, Executive Director of The Battle Within updates changes in the stigma around mental health due to COVID-19. Craig Crumpton also join us. Craig is a veteran, alumni of The Battle Within, firefighter and air national guardsman. He also recently tested positive for COVID-19.
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