Researchers at UTMB have determined that it is possible to disinfect single-use surgical masks and N95 filtering masks, allowing health care workers to reuse the PPE. UTMB’s Miguel Grimaldo and his team used an autoclave to clean the masks. Even after a third cleaning, the masks were still found to be 99 percent as effective as new masks. Houston’s 93.7 The Beat radio also published this information along with other iHEART stations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has health care professionals dealing with long hours and many unknowns. In this local story, UTMB’s Shawn Nishi and Susan McLellan discuss what their lives have been like as they treat patients battling the illness One of McLellan’s patients who participated in the Remdesivir drug trial was also interviewed for the story.
Personal protective equipment, and in particular masks, have been a topic of much concern for front-line health care workers and first responders dealing with spread of the new coronavirus. The global spread of the disease has strained supplies and disrupted supply chain, making the needed masks harder to come by.
A $2.5M donation from The Moody Foundation will help UTMB continue making advances in core mission areas: research, patient care and education. “These generous gifts come at a crucial time for the medical branch and will help us to continue making progress in many different and important fields while also dealing with a worldwide pandemic,” said president ad interim, Dr. Ben Raimer. The Houston Business Journal also reported the Moody Foundation’s donation.
In this interview with the Brazoria County newspaper, Katrina Lambrecht discusses UTMB’s reopening of non-COVID related clinical services. “We understand now that we are going to be living with COVID for some time to come,” said Lambrecht. “We just want to make sure that people are also taking care of their other regular health care needs – that they aren’t afraid to get care.”
Brazoria County residents quickly gathered to show their appreciation for all of the hard work and care provided by nurses, doctors and first responders at UMTB’s Angleton-Danbury Campus, by participating in a parade at the campus. “We wanted to do something special,” said UTMB’s Tonya Visor, who helped organize the parade. “This is about honoring our heroes.”
UTMB’s Thomas Ksiazek is one of the experts providing advice in this story. Ksiazek recommended hand washing as one of the best tools to prevent illness, and noted that commuting on a packed train during rush hour is the antithesis of social distancing. MSN also distributed the tips.
In the midst of the pandemic, there has been an increase in single-use disposable items, but experts say those items are not always safer. Some are even questioning sanitation procedures in their own home, but UTMB’s Vineet Menachery says that is an unnecessary concern, as plain old soap and water does the trick.
In his weekly column, Victor Sierpina provides readers with an overview of efforts taken at UTMB to make sure patients seeking non-COVID related health care are safe. Sierpina notes that while the pandemic is not over, readers should also focus on care of acute and chronic medical problems and can feel safe doing so in UTMB clinics.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of Americans in many ways. UTMB’s Sally Robinson writes that there has been a concern that children may not be getting their well-child care. In her column, Robinson explains efforts UTMB has made to make sure parents can feel safe bringing children in for care as the health care system slowly and carefully opens up services.
The local paper’s deputy managing editor discusses the role of personal responsibility in the continuing fight against COVID-19. She tells readers they are lucky to live in an area that is home to some of the greatest science minds in the world, UTMB and The Galveston National Laboratory. She also notes that the county’s success in testing more people than other counties is due to their relationship with UTMB.
UTMB’s Julia Poritz provides readers with advice on how to take care of themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this story from the Rio Grande Valley, UTMB’s Laura Rudkin says public behavior right now is key while experts start to focus on what is called, “test, trace, isolate”. Find a full video of the interview here.
The use of telemedicine has expanded as the nation fights COVID-19 on multiple fronts. Many health care leaders expect the trend to continue. According to UTMB’s Mike King, patients who are now used to the convenience of telehealth are unlikely to want to go back to face-to-face interactions with doctors for routine purposes. MSN also posted the story.
UTMB’s Katrina Lambrecht recently spoke with the local newspaper outlining steps taken by the health system to keep patients visiting ambulatory care clinics safe from COVID-19. “We want you to feel comfortable and safe,” Lambrecht said.
The popular magazine looks at research efforts in the state focused on finding treatments or a vaccine for COVID-19. In the story, they state there may be no other institution in the world throwing as much brainpower at COVID-19 as The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, where they spoke with Scott Weaver.
President ad interim, Dr. Ben Raimer talks about the $3.35 million grant from the Sealy & Smith Foundation that will support COVID-19 research. During the interview, Raimer covered many subjects, including testing efforts in the county, drug trails at UTMB, and living with a novel illness reflecting back to life during the polio epidemic. “If anyone can find a way to defeat this virus, it’s UTMB’s top-notch researchers,” Raimer said. ABC13 Houston acquired the online interview for a report on their morning news.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many supplies have been hard to find, but UTMB’s Chris Toomes tells the Brazoria County newspaper how UTMB Health has managed to stay on top of demand. This is good news for Beth Reimschissel at UTMB’s Angleton-Danbury Campus. “PPE supply orders are now taking about a day or so to arrive at the hospital, thankfully,” Reimschissel said.
A gift to UTMB from the Sealy & Smith Foundation will be put to good use in the fight against COVID-19 by supporting a collaboration of UTMB scientists to work together concurrently on a broad range of studies to develop promising vaccines and therapies. “We are extremely thankful for the Sealy & Smith Foundation’s generosity,” said Dr. Ben Raimer.
The Sealy & Smith Foundation of Galveston has awarded a $3.35 million gift to the University of Texas Medical Branch to support research focused on a portfolio of studies to develop medical countermeasures to fight the COVID-19 virus.