News, System

Norton Healthcare, Kentucky Blood Center working to get plasma to COVID-19 patients

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…

Read Full Story
News, System

Norton Healthcare launches phased approach to safely resume services

Noninvasive diagnostic testing and procedures will resume April 27 in accordance with national and statewide guidance

Read Full Story
Infectious Disease, News, Research, System

Norton Healthcare physicians first in world to test cancer drug as COVID-19 treatment

A COVID-19 patient at Norton Healthcare is the first in the world to participate in a randomized Phase 2 clinical study using low-dose selinexor. This oral drug, manufactured by Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. and marketed as XPOVIO, is currently approved at higher doses by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for cancer patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma….

Read Full Story
News, System

COVID-19 symptom tracker available for health care systems’ websites

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…

Read Full Story
News, System

Coronavirus and COVID-19 resources for patients

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

Read Full Story
News, System

Steps health care workers can take to reduce coronavirus spread

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….

Read Full Story
News, System

Physicians’ answers to questions about the new coronavirus and COVID-19

Norton Healthcare’s Erica Coghill discussed the new coronavirus with two Norton Healthcare physicians, including our system epidemiologist. Here’s a COVID-19 Q&A with James M. Frazier, M.D., vice president, medical affairs and quality, Norton Healthcare; and Paul S. Schulz, M.D., infectious diseases physician with Norton Infectious Disease Specialists and system epidemiologist for Norton Healthcare. What’s the…

Read Full Story
News, System

Answers to some common questions about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19

James M. Frazier, M.D., vice president, medical affairs and quality, Norton Healthcare, answers some common questions about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. What is the coronavirus? Coronaviruses are not new. Like influenza, coronaviruses are a family of respiratory viruses with multiple strains. These strains have the ability to change over time, just like influenza. Coronaviruses…

Read Full Story
Addiction Medicine, CME, Provider Wellness, System

‘MedChat’ podcast episode 12 on DEA provider compliance and safeguards

Episode 12 of the “MedChat” podcast is provided in two parts to address provider compliance with guidelines of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as well as other safeguards when prescribing controlled substances. Part One of the “DEA Provider Compliance” episode discusses the latest guidelines related to administrative aspects of prescribing controlled substances to avoid any…

Read Full Story
Infectious Disease, News, Research, System

Norton Healthcare pharmacy recognized for speedy application of antibiotics for especially dangerous infections

The Norton Healthcare pharmacy department has been recognized with a prestigious award for its efforts to speed antibiotics to patients with bacterial infections that have spread to the bloodstream. The American Society of Health System Pharmacists awarded a Best Practices Award to the Norton Healthcare rapid bacteremia response protocol. As part of the Norton Healthcare…

Read Full Story
CME, News, System

‘MedChat’ podcasts reach 1,000 downloads

Norton Healthcare’s “MedChat” podcast provides continuing medical education (CME) for physicians and health care providers on-the-go. The monthly 30-minute podcast now has been downloaded over 1,400 times. Each episode dives into the key issues surrounding a particular medical topic. “MedChat” provides convenience and flexibility, keeping you up to date on relevant industry information. Topics are…

Read Full Story
News, System

Norton Healthcare asking for bond issuance for projects

By Kate Eller Norton Healthcare is asking Louisville Metro government to approve the issuance of $600 million in bonds that will be used on capital spending across the system as well as refinancing of existing bonds at a lower rate. These bonds are the sole responsibility of Norton Healthcare and do not burden the city…

Read Full Story