Physician-in-Chief's Message
May 4, 2020
Dear Colleagues,

I hope everyone had some time to relax this weekend! We have several important updates below. Currently, there are 33 patients in-house with COVID. 
 
Non-urgent, emergent surgeries and procedures will be ramping up this week and there is a protocol in place to screen these patients for COVID prior to the procedure. I would like to thank Andrea Hayes-Jordan, Terry Noah and Melanie Dawes for leading this effort!
UNC COVID Updates
Inpatient Care
  • There is currently one pediatric inpatient who is COVID+. The patients is doing well.
Procedure Safety
  • Attached are procedure safety recommendations adapted for Pediatrics.
Your COVID-19 Questions & Answers
Response from Tom Belhorn

Q: Is convalescent plasma being used for treatment of COVID? Should we be asking patients who have recovered from COVID to donate plasma?
 
A: Many medications and therapeutics agents are being studied to see if they have any positive clinical efficacy for management of this infection. One modality is the use of convalescent plasma to give to patients with COVID. In theory, plasma obtained from individuals who have recovered from COVID will have high levels of antibody which may provide protection to another individual (i.e. passive immunity). In the past couple weeks additional articles showing promising results of this therapy have been published. These early studies are limited by small patient numbers and a lack of data to provide a full assessment of effect. Larger randomized controlled studies are underway to inform decisions on use of this modality for treatment. The current recommendation is to use COVID-19 plasma in the context of one of these clinical trials. If the results are promising, plasma donors may be solicited in the future.
Children's Wellness Yoga - Meeting Virtually Every Friday @ 6p
We had great attendance for last Friday’s Yoga session! Thank you to Cammie Pressler for leading these weekly lessons.

Gratefully…
919-417-3130 (cell)