Category: Health

UG Health Department opens COVID-19 testing site

An additional COVID-19 death was reported in Wyandotte County on Friday, and the current case number was 130 positive cases as of 12:50 p.m. Friday. (Graphic from UG Health Department COVID-19 website)
A graph on the UG’s COVID-19 website showed the rise of cases in Wyandotte County. (UG COVID-19 website)
A Zip Code map on the UG’s COVID-19 website showed the number of positive cases and where they were located. At 12:50 p.m. Friday, there were 35 cases in 66112; 29 cases in 66109; 28 cases in 66104; 16 cases in 66102; 6 cases in 66106; 5 cases in 66012; and 5 cases in 66101. (Map from UG’s COVID-19 website)

The Unified Government Health Department is opening a COVID-19 testing site today at the Health Department parking lot, 619 Ann Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.

Those Wyandotte County residents who are eligible for testing, according to a UG news release, will have to schedule a time to drive or walk-through for testing.

According to the UG’s COVID-19 website, there were 130 positive cases with one additional death reported in Wyandotte County at 12:50 p.m. Friday, April 3. There were a total of six COVID-19 related deaths in Wyandotte County.

The testing site will be open from 2 to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The testing site will be in a trailer in the parking lot at the Health Department and City Hall. Patients should use the self-reporting tool on the UG’s website first or call ahead to 311.

Some residents have had difficulty in getting tested for COVID-19, with a nationwide scarcity of test kits and supplies needed for the tests. Some local doctors’ offices are not offering the tests. Tests are available for those who qualify and had symptoms at the Dr. Sharon Lee Family Health Clinic on Southwest Boulevard, with patients calling ahead to see if they qualify.

Testing priority at the new testing site at the Health Department will go to those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, which include a fever of more than 100 degrees, shortness of breath and a dry, unproductive cough, according to a spokesman.

Dr. Erin Corriveau, deputy medical officer for the UG Health Department, in a news release acknowledged the importance of increased testing for Wyandotte.

“Ramping up testing capacity in Wyandotte means getting a better picture of what we are really dealing with,” Dr. Corriveau stated. “We felt it was a key part of our purpose as a local health department to help make this happen. More testing for our community will help us see where and how COVID-19 is spreading. This is crucial information to help us more effectively stop the spread of this disease in our community.”

To run the new test site, the UG Health Department Emergency Preparedness trailer will be stationed in the parking lot next to the Health Department and City Hall. The trailer is equipped with the appropriate supplies and technology for staff to operate outside of the building, according to a spokesman. Staff will have the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep them safe while they collect specimens from patients for testing, the spokesman stated.

Residents who think they may have COVID-19 should report their symptoms from home to see if they are eligible for testing, according to the news release. One way Wyandotte residents can report symptoms is through the UG’s online “Self-Report Your Symptoms” tool.

“We encourage people to use the confidential self-reporting tool if they are experiencing symptoms like fever, new onset cough, or shortness of breath,” Dr. Corriveau stated. “Once someone reports symptoms online, our Health Department staff will reach out to them to provide guidance on what to do if they’re feeling ill, and with details regarding how to get tested. Self-reporting symptoms online also gives our disease investigators more data to track the spread of COVID-19 in our county.”

The reporting tool is available in English and Spanish at wycokck.org/COVID-19. Residents who do not have access to the internet can call 3-1-1 to report their symptoms.

People with COVID-19 symptoms can also call their primary care provider to report their symptoms and be referred for testing. Health Department staff have worked closely with community clinics so that they are prepared to submit testing referrals to the new Health Department site, according to the news release.

The testing clinic will run from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. No unscheduled “walk-ups” or “drive-ups” will be accepted for testing, according to the Health Department. Location and hours are subject to change. Testing is offered for Wyandotte County residents only at this time.

For more information on COVID-19 in Wyandotte County, go to www.wycokck.org/COVID-19, or call 3-1-1.

The Kansas COVID-19 website is at
https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus.

The UG’s COVID-19 response website is at
www.wycokck.org/COVID-19.

COVID-19 information from the CDC is at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.

The Kansas COVID-19 website is at
https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus.

COVID-19 information from the CDC is at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.

KU Medical School to graduate 52 doctors early to help in COVID-19 crisis in Kansas

The University of Kansas Medical School, with one of its campuses in Kansas City, Kansas, will graduate 52 medical students early to help in Kansas with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The early graduation will come just at the time that COVID-19 is rising and may peak in Kansas, according to doctors at a University of Kansas Health System news teleconference Friday morning.

The announcement came as Wyandotte County reported 119 positive COVID-19 cases at 8:15 a.m. Friday, an increase from 108 positive cases here Thursday evening. Kansas had 552 positive cases on Thursday morning.

Many of the new doctors will be available to assist in areas where there may be a shortage of physicians, according to Dr. Mike Kennedy, associate dean for rural medicine at KU Med, who spoke at the news conference. The newly graduated medical students will work alongside practicing physicians in the program, called Kansas Pandemic Volunteer Health Care Workforce.

The new doctors are expected to serve in April and May in Kansas, before starting their residencies.

Dr. Jeff Colyer, former governor of Kansas, came up with the idea for the early graduation. Colyer is a clinical associate profession in plastic surgery at the KU Medical School, and frequently has participated in medical missions to war zones and epidemics. He currently serves as chair of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services.

“We are clearly going to need surge capacity,” Dr. Colyer said at the news conference. Sometimes medical students take a break between graduation and starting their residency, but this year, 52 students have volunteered for assisting throughout Kansas.

“They’re incredibly service-minded,” Dr. Colyer said.

The students will be available to assist practicing physicians and in hospitals in Kansas, doing whatever tasks they are assigned, such as seeing patients or doing tests.

Kennedy said the senior medical students wanted to help.

He also said they will not miss out on any of their education, and will complete all the requirements first. Those who have now completed all graduation requirements will be available for the program first, and those who have yet to complete some requirements will be available at the end of April, he said.

The degrees will be conferred early, and they will receive a special permit through the Board of Healing Arts to work temporarily under a supervising physician, he said.

Some Kansas counties have only one or two physicians, according to the doctors at the news conference.

While the discussion at the news conference centered on the new graduates helping rural communities in Kansas, they also would be available to help cities in Kansas with a surge in COVID-19 cases, according to Dr. Kennedy.

He said the new graduates will be matched to places of need. Groups including hospitals, the Kansas Medical Society and Kansas Academy of Family Physicians are being notified about the program and may offer the students a position. So far, the eastern portions of the state have the most requests, he said. There also are some areas in western Kansas that are beginning to feel pressure from COVID-19, he said.

Dr. Colyer said that nationally, the picture is shifting with some spread heading to rural areas and across the state. He said the new doctors might be used for seeing less acute patients, drawing blood, running an EKG or other tasks.

“They’re energetic and ready to go,” he said.

Dr. Kennedy thanked the Patterson Family Foundation, which donated $1 million for this program. The foundation originally was founded by the late Neal Patterson, Cerner Corp. co-founder, and Jeanne Lillig-Patterson in 2007. The foundation focuses on health care, education and rural communities.

The program is administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and is being coordinated through the Kansas National Guard, with Dr. John Alley, a surgeon at KU Health System, called to duty as director of the operational portion of the program, Dr. Kennedy said.

Dr. Stites thanked the Patterson foundation, and noted that there were many who also are helping in the crisis, including the medical students who are volunteering. In addition, he mentioned all health care workers, as well as Riegers, which donated hand sanitizer, and Design Innovation, which made face shields for the KU health system.

Dr. Steve Stites reported 33 positive patients on Friday morning at KU Health System, down slightly from Thursday. Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the KU Health System, said it is still too early to say if they are truly bending the curve.

Dr. Stites said 7 percent of all tests were positive here formerly, and now it is up to 10 percent, showing community transmission. If there is a surge, it could come at the end of April or May, he said.

The way to beat COVID-19, Dr. Stites said, is to stay home, stay 6 feet away from others, don’t touch your face, stay home when sick and cough in the crook of the elbow.

The Kansas COVID-19 website is at
https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus.

The UG’s COVID-19 response website is at
www.wycokck.org/COVID-19.

COVID-19 information from the CDC is at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.

More COVID-19 testing to open soon in Wyandotte County

More COVID-19 testing will open soon in Wyandotte County, according to Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer.

Dr. Greiner talked about the additional testing in an internet presentation with U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 1. Wyandotte County currently has more than 100 positive COVID-19 cases.

The Unified Government Health Department’s website at www.wycokck.org/COVID-19 has information and a self-reporting tool.

There is already testing for COVID-19 going on at the Sharon Lee Family Health Care at 340 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Kansas, (the former Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care), Dr. Greiner said. The requirements for testing are not as strict as they were formerly, he said. People may call 913-396-7070 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or visit http://www.swbfhc.org/ for more information.

Dr. Greiner said during the program with Rep. Davids that there are plans for an additional drive-through site on Friday in Wyandotte County.

Also, he said that St. Luke’s Health System is doing some testing for COVID-19 at some of its sites. St. Luke’s has announced its testing has been expanded to all first responders within the region who meet testing criteria. Those being tested have to have one or more of the symptoms, and need a referral. For more information, visit https://www.saintlukeskc.org/about/news/saint-lukes-news-saint-lukes-expands-covid-19-drive-through-testing-all-first-responders.

Dr. Greiner said the Johnson County Health Department also is looking at additional places for COVID-19 testing soon. This effort was approved recently through the Johnson County Commission, and the county is looking at sites.

Dr. Greiner encouraged Wyandotte County residents to visit the UG’s COVID-19 website at www.wycokck.org/COVID-19 or https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information. If they have symptoms, Wyandotte County residents can fill out a self-tracking form and a medical professional from the Health Department will get back to them with advice on what they should do. Those who are sick also may call their primary care doctor or their health clinic.

Rep. Davids encouraged residents to visit her COVID-19 website page at davids.house.gov/coronavirus, which has information and links about COVID-19, information about economic relief, unemployment benefits, stimulus funding programs including programs for small businesses, and other topics.

During the program, Rep. Davids also fielded questions about the small business relief that is in the financial stimulus package.

On Thursday she released a statement calling on the Small Business Administration and Treasury Department to make sure small businesses receive relief quickly and efficiently. About $20 million was allocated to SBA for small business disaster loans.

“Small businesses across the country, especially in the Kansas Third District, are suffering from the necessary public health measures put in place to combat the coronavirus outbreak. The CARES Act provides desperately needed resources for affected small businesses, which must be implemented immediately and without government red tape. Failing to do so will have enormous consequences,” Rep. Davids stated.

Several other topics were included in the Wednesday night presentation, including information about benefits, and health topics such as whether to wear a mask. To view the video of the Wednesday program, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N-kYmYItY0.