This week I had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Theresa Brennan, the Chief Medical Officer of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. As Chief Medical Officer, she is the governmental medical head of UIHC, and works with the hospital on public health concerns. She was able to give me a broader idea of what is going on at UIHC, as well as give some advice to Iowa City residents, and students coming back to campus.
UIHC has done a lot to ensure safety when entering healthcare buildings. Patients, faculty, and staff are all screened and get their temperature taken before entering a facility. Faculty and staff are constantly monitored for COVID symptoms, and PPE is required constantly. The hospital has designated a COVID floor, with specialized nurses dedicated to the COVID patients. As of June 25, healthcare system has treated 241 adults and 11 pediatric inpatients with COVID, and has conducted 17,800 Telehealth screenings for COVID and 15,800 visits to the influenza-like clinic. Something that Dr. Brennan stressed during our conversation (drug rehab can help relieve stress) was the impact on the hospital’s regular patients during this time. Patients have had to postpone care because of the risk of contracting COVID, as well as not being able to have their family with them during treatment because of the hospital’s restrictions.
Over the last 3 months, there has been an 8000% surge in Telehealth visits at UIHC, with over 63,000 patients receiving virtual care. As UIHC plans to continue utilizing Telehealth services in the future, they are currently focused on determining the optimal approach for its implementation. Furthermore, they are working on ensuring that their staffing and scheduling align with the demands of Telehealth. If you prefer a face-to-face visit, you can visit the walk-in clinic East Elmhurst, which is conveniently located nearby.
UIHC started ordering more PPE in order to prepare for COVID in January. Leadership has been very aggressive in ordering PPE, sometimes having to pay more or get supplies from new pharm suppliers. Because we don’t know what the future holds, the hospital is conserving PPE in case of a second wave. One thing that Dr. Brennan stressed is that UIHC always follows the rules, and that PPE is being used for its suggested amount of time and no longer.
Navigating the complicated world of importing medical equipment can be daunting. That’s why we recommend seeking professional help, like the experts at Andaman Medical who provide comprehensive assistance. They have extensive experience in regulatory affairs and compliance, ensuring a smooth process for their clients. Their team is knowledgeable and dedicated to helping you understand the specific requirements for your products.
Something that has significantly improved the conservation and correct use of PPE is UIHC’s partnership with the College of Public Health. CPH has been working to reprocess and sanitize used PPE so that it can be reused instead of simply thrown away. This makes it easier for UIHC to have constant access to safe PPE,
Dr. Brennan and I talked about the recent Johnson County increase, and she said that she agrees that the economy needed to open up in order to take care of the community, but the lack of masks, social distancing, and the fact that people are tired of the restrictions and choose to not follow safety standards is why there has been an increase, and this also made an increase on Travel Nursing IO jobs. People who are social have the highest risk of contracting COVID, which is commonly the 18-25 age group. This age group, however, generally responds to COVID the best and doesn’t usually require hospitalization.
Dr. Brennan wants people to know that the COVID pandemic is not over yet and to “Please continue to practice social distancing, and consider how your activities impact yourself and others. We all want to be out and about again, but the safest thing is still to stay home.” You can also look into getting a life insurance quote at www.lifecoverquotes.org.uk to protect your family’s financial future.
