Physician-in-Chief's Message
April 15, 2020
Dear Colleagues,
Today, we had more video visits scheduled than phone visits. Thank you for this! We are continuing to work with the Virtual Care Center to improve efficiency.
UNC COVID Updates
Inpatient Care
Guidance for Consultations and Admissions for Patients Under Investigation
  • Patients for whom a COVID test is pending understandably generates concern.  It is imperative that indicated care proceed – evaluations should not be delayed solely due to a pending COVID test. Evaluations should be accomplished with the minimum number of team members entering the room (one should be the rule) wearing appropriate PPE.  Please use virtual options if engagement of other team members is needed. It is our hope that rapid testing will be available soon, which will help to address some relevant concerns.   
  • Related, it is not appropriate for a consulting team or other providers to require COVID testing before seeing a patient if the patient does not otherwise meet testing criteria.  We do not have the testing capacity to test all low-risk patients, and patient care is otherwise unnecessarily delayed.  
Ambulatory Care
  • Thank you to everyone transitioning to video visits! We realize these visits can be challenging. We are working on ways to make it more efficient for providers and patients. We are positive the video encounter process will get better the more we do it!
UNC Children's Wellness Initiative
If you have not responded to the Buddy Survey please do so as soon as possible so we can get folks paired up. I want to stress this buddy system is for EVERYONE in the department - staff, residents, fellow, faculty - so please sign up so we can help one another through these difficult times.
Attention PD Permit Holders
Manning Drive will close to through traffic between South Columbia Street and New East Drive beginning at 8p Friday, April 17, through 5a Monday, April 20, to facilitate the installation of a new pedestrian bridge at the UNC Hospitals Surgical Tower project site.
  • Access to the Cardinal Deck is available from West Drive via Mason Farm Road.
  • Bus stops #3238 and #3239 on Manning Drive at UNC Hospitals will not be serviced while Manning Drive is closed.
  • Please visit the Chapel Hill Transit and GoTriangle websites for additional details.
  • Pedestrians should remain alert to traffic changes and follow designated pedestrian detours.
Many Thanks to Dunkin’ on Franklin Street!
The new UNC model does show a flattening of the curve, which is great! However, this flattening indicates that COVID issues may continue well into the summer months. Additional good news is that we have had several hundred pediatric masks delivered.

Please take care of yourself and your families during this time of uncertainty.  

Gratefully,
919-417-3130 (cell)