Wednesday Morning Medical Update: From Bad to Worse: Checking in With Chief Medical Officers

The University of Kansas Health System reports another record high number of COVID patients today. 123 with the active virus are being treated, the highest number of the pandemic. Yesterday it was 119. Only 18 of those patients are fully vaccinated. Two more patients died since yesterday, making 17 deaths since the beginning of January. 25 COVID patients are in the ICU, up from 23 yesterday. 20 are on ventilators, up from 16 yesterday. 47 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 45 yesterday. That’s a total of 170 patients, up from 164 yesterday.
In the week since 18 hospital chief medical officers reported on this Morning Medical Update how dire conditions are across the state, things have gotten worse. On today’s program, four of those CMO’s provided updates and explained how their facilities are coping with the unprecedented COVID patient surge. They are Dr. Kim Megow, Chief Medical Officer, HCA Midwest Health, Dr. Lisa Hays, Chief Medical Officer, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, Dr. Raghu Adiga, Chief Medical Officer, Liberty Hospital and Dr. Sam Antonios, Chief Clinical Officer, Ascension Via Christi Health.
Also on the panel were Doctor Catherine Satterwhite, Region 7 health administrator for Health and Human Services and Doctor Lewis Satterwhite, a critical care physician at the health system. They joined Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System and Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control to discuss how HHS is helping hospitals in the region and the tough conditions in area ICU’s.
Here are the key points from each of today’s speakers:
Dr. Hays
For the first time, had to find out hospital’s morgue capacity
One patient had to wait 48 hours in the emergency department for a bed
Almost ran out of ventilators but just received seven more
Almost out of monoclonal antibodies
Dr. Adiga
Record high number of patients being set every day
Hospital beds are at more than100% capacity
All hands on deck because of staff absences. Business office members making beds
“This is not a good time to slip and fall and come to the emergency department.”
Dr. Megow

The “COVID blizzard” continues in the Metro area
Only two ICU beds available in whole HCA system, closed to transfers
Extreme blood shortage affecting ability to handle trauma and regular surgeries
Disaster Medical Assist Team helping replace workers out sick with COVID
Dr. Antonios

Postponing many surgeries
Explained why the number of ventilators in use is not a good indicator of the severity of COVID
Staff getting COVID in the community and not at work
Testing and medicine supplies continue to be a challenge
Dr. Catherine Satterwhite

HHS has stockpiles of medical supplies and monoclonal antibodies being distributed in Kansas and Missouri, just not enough to go around
Omicron is different in various parts of the country. Expect a sharp decline in cases at some point in our region, just not sure when. Too soon to say if we’ve peaked. We’re in for a rough couple of weeks.
Boosters for 12 to 17-year-olds now available. Should have a big impact
Number of unvaccinated people will determine how long virus lasts
Dr. Lewis Satterwhite

It’s hard to get into an ICU these days and staff shortages compound the problem
Whether you test positive or negative, stay home if you’re sick
Dr. Hawkinson

If you have COVID symptoms and can’t get tested, act with an abundance of caution as if you are positive until you’re tested
Dr. Stites
The health system can normally take 65-70% of transfer requests, but are down to just 17%
“In a world of hurt, it’s best to be at our best. Put on your mask, try to take care of each other, and remember at the end of the day, love is more powerful than anger.”
Thursday, January 13 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. You may remember Anil Gharmalkar. We shared his story of survival from COVID in October 2020. This long hauler now has a permanent reminder of what he went through, something he can’t live without. This over-the-road trucker will join us live from the road, along with Dr. Leslie Spikes, a doctor who has helped him in the long-COVID clinic.

[laceybanter]

I live in a little town in KS. My husband went in the grocery store last night. He said it was pretty busy. He was the only one wearing a masks!

[bellalucia]

Thank you so much for this great report and for your outstanding work!!

[virtualreality]

I believe the lady on the panel is Dr Catherine Satterwhite the director of HHS Kansas City, MO.