Patient safety is our top priority. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have revised policies as needed to help stop the spread of infection. There have been policy changes that affect labor and delivery for pregnant patients. If you have patients who will deliver in the next month, please let them know of the changes…
In keeping with guidance from Gov. Andy Beshear, Norton Healthcare is resuming previously-postponed medical procedures, including elective inpatient surgeries. The health system gradually will add procedures such as outpatient surgery and limited inpatient operations. After that, if COVID-19 cases remain manageable and the Kentucky Department for Public Health agrees, all medical care will resume by…
Successful treatments for cytokine storms triggered by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) offer a road map for the most serious COVID-19 patients, according to Kenneth N. Schikler, M.D., a pediatric rheumatologist with Norton Children’s Rheumatology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. The overwhelming host response with the most serious COVID-19 cases…
In addition to wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) to avoid exposure to the coronavirus, health care providers should take steps to protect themselves from other risks of the COVID-19 pandemic — burnout and compassion fatigue. Burnout is a combination of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. Burnout is the result of…
Providers looking to learn more about the latest diagnostics and treatments for common pediatric and adolescent gynecologic and urological conditions can plan to attend the Pediatric Urogynecology Symposium. Sessions will be held Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. Continuing education credits are available. For more information, visit NortonHealthcare.com/CME or call (502) 446-5955. Norton Healthcare Learning Center 9500 Ormsby…
Physicians around the country are testing a possible treatment for COVID-19 using plasma taken from blood donated by fully recovered COVID-19 patients, called convalescent plasma. Locally, Norton Healthcare began offering this experimental treatment in early April and has transfused 21 patients who were critically ill with COVID-19. Of those, six have been well enough to be discharged…
Episode 14 of the “MedChat” podcast addresses diagnosing and managing affective disorders. This episode will help physicians become more aware of current trends in mental health diagnosis and treatment. Among U.S. adults 18 and older, about 9.7% had a mood disorder in the past year. Individuals living with serious mental illness face an increased risk…
Noninvasive diagnostic testing and procedures will resume April 27 in accordance with national and statewide guidance
Norton Healthcare pulmonologists have developed a protocol for treating COVID-19 patients with prone positioning before they need to be intubated. Using the prone position is common with intubated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The new protocol extends the treatment to those who are struggling for oxygen, but aren’t ready for a ventilator. For…
A screening guide for COVID-19 symptoms currently in use by the Louisville area’s largest health care system is now available for other health care providers to use on their websites. The unbranded template, available for download through GitHub, asks a quick set of questions, and based on the answers, offers suggestions such as: Monitor your…
Your patients can access a wealth of local information at NortonHealthcare.com and NortonChildrens.com to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus and learn what to do if they have symptoms of COVID-19. Many of these resources are also available in Spanish. Start with NortonHealthcare.com/COVID-19 or NortonChildrens.com/COVID-19
Health care settings are high-risk areas for COVID-19 infection. Here are some extra precautions that will help limit the spread of the virus. Before work Completing this checklist every day before coming to work helps maintain a clean and secure healing environment. Wear clean scrubs/clothing to work. Bring a change of clothes in washable bag….