The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 15 COVID patients today, same as Wednesday. Other significant numbers:
• 4 with the active virus today, 6 Wednesday
• 0 in ICU, 0 Wednesday
• 0 on a ventilator, 0 Wednesday
Key points from today’s guests:
Morning Rounds – Update on Current News
Dr. Ken Marshall, medical director, Emergency Department, The University of Kansas Health System
Recent renovations are improving the Emergency Department.
Before COVID, there were only about 45 treatment spaces in the ED and even now after just phase one, it has grown to 62 spaces and that’s going to continue to grow as construction goes on.
Patients will now be dropped off on 39th Street and there’s a new carve out for cars to drop off patients to actually come in on the ground level and enter by an elevator up to triage on the first floor. It will be a new arrival experience for our patients.
As part of phase two in November, the rooms will be bigger, with more natural light.
There will be larger resuscitation rooms and more space to take care of patients
Focus Topic
Dr. Jennifer McRae, internal medicine specialist, The University of Kansas Health System
When it comes to wellness, some of the basic things I will always say are if you’re smoking to quit smoking, and to stay active. These basics can do a lot to maintain your health and that’s going to then keep your heart healthy. It’s going to give your body a certain reservoir of wellness that if you do get sick, it you’ve got maybe more areas to get sick before you get really sick.
For men specifically, I think it’s paying attention to the risk factors for heart disease and stroke, which would be blood pressure, cholesterol, eating a heart healthy diet — those sorts of things will go a long way to keeping you healthy for a very long time
We can’t stop aging, but we can control habits.
Before COVID, is was very infrequent that men would appear for wellness exams, but after the pandemic, she is seeing more men getting these exams.
The more you see your doctor, the more there is a medical history and relationship built so they can better understand what you look like when you are healthy and when you are sick.
Jack and Becky Selzer, wellness exam patients
They have been married for 50 years and gets their check-ups together.
Jack has had issues with heart arrythmia, so being regularly screened is important.
Becky drives scheduling the wellness screenings and Jack is grateful for her being proactive to help them be healthier.
They stay active by biking and bird watching and Jack is working on doing some weight training.
The relationship with the doctor is important because they get to know you and you can feel more comfortable talking about any issues in a way that is easy to understand.
It’s OK to “shop around” for a doctor to feel comfortable or get a second opinion.
Monday, June 19 at 8 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. We will be re-visit the emotional journey with the team’s own Alexis Del Cid as she gives her father the care he needs as an Alzheimer’s patient.
Visit our website, www.kansashealthsystem.com or findadoctor.kansashealthsystem.com.
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