Month: October 2014

Dr. Maria Javaid, an interventional cardiologist in Kansas City, Kan., was one of three doctors killed in a plane crash Sunday night in the suburban Chicago area.

Dr. Javaid and two doctors from Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kan., were on board the Beechcraft plane when it crashed in Palos Hills, a suburban area of Chicago, according to a news release from Stormont-Vail. Dr. Javaid had been affiliated with Providence Medical Center.

Dr. Javaid’s husband, Dr. Ali A. Kanchwala, a pulmonologist, was one of the doctors who died in the crash, according to the news release. Dr. Tausif Rehman of Stormont-Vail also died in the plane crash. The plane was on its way from the Chicago area to Lawrence, Kan.

“It is with a heavy heart we have learned of the recent passing of Maria Javaid, M.D., a cardiologist on staff at Providence Medical Center and Saint John Hospital,” said Randall G. Nyp, chief executive officer, Providence Medical Center-Saint John Hospital.
“Dr. Javaid was a kind and caring physician on our staff who connected with her adoring patients with great listening skills and thoughtful input. Our deepest prayers are sent to her family and our employees, physicians and volunteers who worked closely with her in the Providence Cardiac Center and other departments at our hospitals. We thank you for keeping Dr. Javaid’s family and closest colleagues in your thoughts and prayers.”
A spokesman said chaplaincy and EAP services are being made available to assist staff at Providence and Saint John during this sad time.

Dr. Javaid, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, joined the Providence Medical Center Medical Staff in 2008. She was also a member of the Saint John Hospital Medical Staff.

The University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan., today reported an individual called and then came into the hospital early this morning with a high fever and other serious symptoms. Because the patient had recently worked on a medical boat off the west coast of Africa, the patient was immediately isolated on a special infectious disease unit and is undergoing tests.

Hospital staff met the patient wearing personal protection equipment and followed the hospital’s plan for this kind of illness, a spokesman said.

Tests are underway to determine a diagnosis, KU officials said. While the hospital cannot rule out Ebola at this time, Dr. Lee Norman, chief medical officer of The University of Kansas Hospital, said the patient is at low to moderate risk of Ebola. While Dr. Norman also notes there are many other diseases that fit the patient’s symptoms, the hospital nevertheless is following guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control.

Care is being provided by a dedicated team of nurses and other health professionals. These staff will not treat other patients during this period until diagnosis and treatment plans are completed, the spokesman said.
The hospital is in close contact with federal, state and local health officials.

Regardless of the diagnosis, the patient is in an isolated area of the hospital and does not pose a health risk to other patients, staff or visitors in the hospital, according to the spokesman. The area has its own ventilation system. All bedding and medical waste is being isolated from the regular hospital material under federal CDC and state transportation guidelines.

No other information on the patient is available due to federal privacy laws.

– Story from KU Hospital