coronavirus

February 18, 2021

Who is that masked man?

Frank Nix of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit finds a way to connect with patient families with his custom face covers

By Jessica Pasley
Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, talks about the many challenges VUMC has faced during the past year at this week’s Leadership assembly. (photo by Donn Jones)
February 18, 2021

Take care of you: 5 Takeaways from Leadership Assembly

In the 351 days since the COVID-19 Command Center opened to steer Vanderbilt University Medical Center through the pandemic, the workforce stepped up and contributed, keeping the health system on track to deliver care even as the landscape quaked with new challenges.

By Holly Fletcher
February 15, 2021

Patients’ stories motivate Lizzie Simonds, the only paramedic working in VUMC’s COVID unit

She remembers one man who was scared and couldn’t rest: “I spent 45 minutes…sitting next to him, holding his hand so he felt safe enough to try to sleep for a little bit.”

By Wayne Wood
February 11, 2021

Data mart speeds recruitment for COVID research

The arrival last March of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee presented challenges for the clinical research enterprise at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Prompt recruitment of patients newly diagnosed with COVID-19 into clinical trials was, and remains, a public health imperative with top-level backing from the federal government.

By Paul Govern
Ken and Kathy Hazelwood are among those who have received treatment at VUMC’s COVID Infusion Clinic.
February 10, 2021

More than 1,000 receive antibody infusions for COVID-19 at VUMC

As of Feb. 1,065 outpatients have received antibody infusions since the clinic opened on Nov. 18. Clinic officials estimated that the infusions have prevented about 70 patients from developing severe COVID-19 illness requiring hospitalization or emergency department evaluation.

By Bill Snyder
February 5, 2021

Convalescent plasma improved survival in COVID-19 patients with blood cancers

Treatment with convalescent plasma vastly improved the survival rate of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who also had hematologic malignances that compromise the immune system, according to new data released by the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19).

By Tom Wilemon
February 4, 2021

Grand rounds focuses on mental health, wellness

Advanced practice nurses, physician assistants and hospital leaders from around Vanderbilt University Medical Center gathered over Zoom on Jan. 19 for the kickoff of Advanced Practice Grand Rounds, the monthly educational series organized by the Office of Advanced Practice.
By Matt Batcheldor
January 28, 2021

Study’s findings may help eventually close the door on COVID-19

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston have discovered what may be the Achilles’ heel of the coronavirus, a finding that may help close the door on COVID-19 and possibly head off future pandemics.
By Bill Snyder
January 14, 2021

Residents, fellows step up to help care for COVID patients

Following a Thanksgiving surge that led to record numbers of admissions of patients with COVID-19, residents and fellows from multiple disciplines have come together under the direction and supervision of critical care attendings to provide the best care to critically ill patients in Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit.
By Nancy Humphrey
January 14, 2021

Vanderbilt Health Employer Solutions pivots during first year

In early 2020, several groups at Vanderbilt University Medical Center were busy planning an in-person event to announce the creation of Vanderbilt Health Employer Solutions, a team designed to provide workforce health and wellness services to businesses of all types and sizes. By March, it was clear that area employers needed a trusted source of information and support to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Jamie Roberts
January 14, 2021

Neurology survey reveals high satisfaction for telehealth

A post-visit outpatient survey from VUMC’s Department of Neurology, conducted under an ongoing departmental quality improvement initiative, has turned up additional evidence of high satisfaction with telehealth among both patients and clinicians.
By Paul Govern
January 8, 2021

Large study finds higher burden of acute brain dysfunction for COVID-19 ICU patients

COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care in the early months of the pandemic were subject to a significantly higher burden of delirium and coma than is typically found in patients with acute respiratory failure. Choice of sedative medications and curbs on family visitation played a role in increasing acute brain dysfunction for these patients.
By Paul Govern
December 29, 2020

Medical student addresses food needs during pandemic

“Families being affected by the financial impact of the coronavirus made the subject of food insecurity more important than ever. Children seemed to be a vulnerable population that would benefit from a project like this."
By Emily Stembridge
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