Trauma Experts Aim to Reduce Deaths by Providing Blood-Clotting Agent Dec. 21, 2020 A study found that tranexamic acid, commonly used in cardiac surgery to help stop bleeding, improved the odds of survival for some trauma patients. Read more Image
ACA Enrollment Uptick a 'Pleasant Surprise' After Years of Declines Dec. 21, 2020 Dr. Daniel Derksen, University of Arizona Health Sciences associate vice president, said he encourages every Arizonan to “take a look, shop and compare” coverage plans available through the ACA. It is especially important to do so in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. “This could be a devastating, bankrupting experience when you need care, and you don’t have coverage,” he added. Cronkite News
Trouble Sleeping This Year? You’re Not Alone, Arizona Researchers Say Dec. 21, 2020 Paulina Ochoa never had a problem sleeping until the COVID-19 pandemic began in March and life dealt her a series of serious setbacks. Michael Grandner, who runs the Sleep and Health Research Program in the UArizona’s department of psychiatry, said he has seen a great number of people with sleep problems this year. “With everything going on during the day, they have a real hard time disconnecting,” he said. Cronkite News (Arizona Focus podcast)
UArizona Claims Contact-Tracing App Reduced COVID-19 by 12% Dec. 20, 2020 Since launching its COVID-19 exposure notification app in August, the University of Arizona claimed Thursday that its high usage rates have reduced “the average number of people infected on campus” by as much as 12%. “A 12% reduction in transmission doesn’t just mean you have a reduction in that next wave of cases but every subsequent wave of cases,” Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health professor Kacey Ernst said in a press release. “If one in eight can benefit from this, that’s pretty good.“ KPNX-TV 12 News (Phoenix)
UArizona 'Freezer Farm' Capable of Storing More Than 1.6 Million Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine Dec. 18, 2020 The University of Arizona has created a so-called 'freezer farm' to help store COVID-19 vaccine doses. The freezer farm has the capability of storing more than 1.6 million doses of the vaccine, according to David Harris, the executive director of the University of Arizona Health Sciences Repository. KGUN-TV (ABC) Tucson
We Asked Doctors and Researchers for Their Top Face Masks That Balance Comfort and Safety Dec. 18, 2020 Four doctors and one mask researcher told Business Insider the masks they recommend for situations outside of hospitals and clinics. Dr. Ricardo Correa, an endocrinologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, said a simple surgical mask is a good low-cost option. During procedures, Correa said, he wears an N95 mask, which contains tangled fibers to filter airborne pathogens. Business Insider
Once You Get The COVID-19 Vaccine, Can You Still Infect Others? Dec. 18, 2020 Americans began receiving Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine this week. Many await their turn at what they see as a ticket to normalcy. Some are hesitant still. The question: If someone is protected from COVID-19 symptoms, can they still spread it? Hypothetically, it’s biologically possible, said Deepta Bhattacharya, UArizona College of Medicine professor of immunobiology. Still, he’s confident in the vaccine. "Until the data was released, I was hesitant, too. It lends credibility to the vaccines when, as scientists, we call it like we see it. The Pfizer and Moderna trials have been outstanding in their transparency and scientific rigor," he said. FiveThirtyEight
Implementing Rapid Care Guidelines for Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Dramatically Improves Survival Dec. 17, 2020 An evaluation of emergency medicine guidelines showed proper care on the scene of a brain injury is critical to survival and ongoing brain health. Read more Image
30,000 Health Care Workers Opt for COVID-19 Vaccine as Maricopa County Dispensing Sites Open Dec. 17, 2020 Tens of thousands of health care workers in Maricopa County have signed up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health, prevention and health promotion with the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, is interviewed. Arizona's Family (3TV/CBS 5) Phoenix
'Fauci Effect’ Boosts Medical School Applications, Motivates Students Dec. 17, 2020 University of Arizona’s College of Medicine in Phoenix had a double digit increase in the number of applications compared to last year and it could be influenced by the nation’s top infectious disease expert. KTAR-AM (Phoenix)