The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 48 COVID patients today, up from 46 Monday. Other significant numbers:

• 34 with the active virus today, 36 Monday
• 8 in ICU, 4 Monday
• 3 on ventilators, 1 Monday
• 14 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 10 Friday

Key points from today’s guests:

Dr. Jessica Kalender-Rich, geriatrician, The University of Kansas Health System

• Older adults more susceptible to heat than most. As we get older our bodies work harder to keep us in normal temperature range
• Vital to keep hydrated and out of the sun. 8 glasses of water a day is normal but 12 is best in the heat
• Avoid drinks with caffeine such as coffee and soda that can make the body urinate more
• Best to check on elderly relatives or neighbors in person

Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System

• Increased number of patients in ICU is concerning
• BA.5 variant is now most dominant, causing third highest percent positivity rate of the pandemic, and continuing to rise
• Core four counties of the Metro area now in the red in the nationwide COVID heat map
• Data shows us we must take the BA.5 strain seriously and be prepared to take preventive measures, especially if we are at high risk

Vanessa Goldsberry, director of Volunteer and Guest Services

• Health system began first of its kind program in the Metro to give high school students a chance to see what it’s like to work in a hospital
• 51 students from all over the area participating
• Minimum age for students is 14 and all must submit an application, write a short essay, and have an interview. Process for next summer will begin next January.
• Students exposed not just to medical fields, but other areas of a hospital such as patient transportation and landscape design

Kayla Koenig, volunteer coordinator

• All students received CPR and defibrillator certification on their first day
• Students spend their whole day in both clinical and non-clinical areas seeing what it takes to run a health system
• They all got to hold an actual human brain as part of their time in the pathology department
• Incredibly thankful to staff who took time to open their areas and give this one of a kind experience to the students

Friday, July 22 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. The rate of autism has steadily grown over the last twenty years. It now affects 1 in 44 children. We’ll share the new research and the program that's helping train those with autism for their future.

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.