In the News
Minnesota’s broad COVID-19 testing under microscope
Doctors don’t receive cycle thresholds with positive test results but can call labs to discuss how the data could affect complex cases, said Dr. Glen Hansen, medical director for clinical microbiology and molecular diagnostics at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis.
Promising COVID-19 vaccine trials put on hold, more than 1,000 Minnesota patients already enrolled
“It could still move forward, they just have to sort out what the actual issue was,” Dr. Stacene Maroushek says.
Why COVID-19 isn’t the only cause listed in CDC’s death numbers
Dr. David Hilden, who serves as the Vice President of Medical Affairs at Hennepin Healthcare, explained why so many people are misinterpreting what this new report is truly all about.
Some perplexed by CDC guidelines, seeming to shift to less COVID-19 testing
“A lot of us are surprised. It just sort of happened and came out of the blue,” Hennepin Healthcare physician, Dr. Caitlin Eccles-Radtke, said.
New study suggests children may be COVID-19 “super spreaders” despite showing little to no symptoms
“It’s unfortunately, a bit of a perfect storm,” Dr. Stacene Maroushek says. Maroushek is a pediatric infectious disease expert at Hennepin Healthcare.
University of Minnesota heads federal COVID-19 antibody trial
Locally, HCMC is participating in the first trial and enrolling patients, who must be admitted to hospitals for COVID-19 and be taking the antiviral drug remdesivir. A separate U.S. clinical trial group is studying the use of antibody therapies on an outpatient basis.
University of Minnesota launches stem cell trial against severe COVID-19
“It’s very much not ready for clinical implementation and clinical use,” said Dr. Jason Baker, a Hennepin Health doctor who is part of the NIH review team. “There is potential, but it very much needs to be proven.”
St. Hubert Catholic Church collects thousands of items for those in need
“Our food bank closet was nearly empty,” said Ryan Erdmier, East Lake Clinic Manager. “When Firefighters for Healing called with the news of their community’s collection — it was great news. We serve many patients in need of these very basic essentials.”
UnitedHealth Group studies COVID-19 risks with sickle cell
A study on potential COVID-19 risks with sickle cell trait is needed, said Dr. Douglas Rausch, division director for hematology/oncology at Hennepin Healthcare. Rausch pointed to a report from a medical journal in June that also speculated on a connection between carrying the trait and suffering serious illness from the coronavirus.
Mayo’s plasma program shows first signs of COVID-19 benefit
“We’re all kind of waiting for more standard products to come out where you know how much antibody that someone is getting,” said Dr. Anne Frosch, who is leading HCMC’s COVID-19 convalescent plasma program.
Why it’s more important than ever to get a flu shot this season
“We don’t want to burden the healthcare system that’s already really stretched to its limit,” said Nan Lomen, clinical supervisor of Worksite Wellness at Hennepin Healthcare.
Relief from administrative burdens must remain after pandemic ends
Published in the peer-reviewed journal Health Affairs, “Practice and Policy Reset Post-COVID-19: Reversion, Transition or Transformation?” was written by Christine Sinsky, MD, vice president of professional satisfaction at the AMA, and AMA member Mark Linzer, MD, director of the Institute for Professional Work Life at Hennepin Healthcare and professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Health and economy experts worry about long-term impact of COVID-19 fight
“We really have to be thinking marathon, not a sprint,” Hennepin Healthcare pediatrician Dr. Stacene Maroushek says.
These mothers are fighting for their families by occupying vacant homes
Housing functions as an “anchor that families require to build security in terms of shelter, food, education, childcare, and employment,” Dr. Diana Cutts, a pediatrician and co-lead principal investigator for the research group Children’s HealthWatch, told Rewire.News.
Mobile vaccine clinic meets patients at home during pandemic
Hennepin Healthcare is hitting the road to make vaccination appointments easy and accessible amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “The last thing we need right now is an outbreak of measles or whooping cough,” said Dr. Dawn Martin.
To mask or not to mask while working out
“If you’re going to way it out between getting COVID-19 or exercising try to choose a place where you can exercise without being around people so you don’t get COVID-19,” said Physician Assistant Natalie Ikeman, with Hennepin Healthcare.
Fifth annual Dawson Strong ride is Saturday
Originally postponed from the third week of June due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will raise money for the HCMC Extraordinary Kids fund, which helps provide a “child and family-centered environment,” according to HCMC.
With Walz’s Decision On School Looming, Local Pediatrician Weighs In On COVID-19 Child Impacts
Doctor Krishnan Subrahmanian is a pediatrician at Hennepin Health Care.
Months into pandemic, Minnesota’s COVID-19 death rate still elusive
Hennepin Healthcare contributed findings from 150 patients to a national study looking at recovery rates after COVID-19 symptoms emerged. Published by the CDC on Friday, the study showed that 35% of patients who received only outpatient treatment had not returned to usual health two to three weeks after they were diagnosed. Among patients ages 18 to 34, about one-fifth still reported problems.
Top Doctors Special Report: Pivoting in a Pandemic
“One of our biggest goals is to keep COVID-19 patients separated from trauma patients,” Dr. Rob Reardon, ER doctor at HCMC, says.
