Weekly Announcements

Hem/Onc team closure - Reminder that the last day of the Hem/Onc ward team will be Sunday 10/3. In the afternoon on 10/3, the chiefs and Dr. Held will work to distribute these patients among GIM teams prior to long call. We have assigned residents to the new Swing team and will hold a town-hall on Friday 10/8 to discuss how things are going. New signout sheets have been distributed throughout the workrooms to reflect new coverage and this is depicted below.

PPE - see the recent UC Health email outlining the PPE policy which requires airborne precautions (N95, eye protection, and gown) for COVID+ patients AND all PUI. PUI includes all patients with a pending test. Thus, all patients seen in ER should be considered PUI and seen with these precautions. You can get new N95’s at all nursing stations. Please try to get N95’s from floor units prior to going down to ER as they run out quickly when everyone is using the ER supply.

Upcoming Education

Monday:

UC: Spooky Board Review

VA: Let’s Talk About PEX (Physical Exam), Baby

Tuesday:

UC/stream VA: Pharmacy Diabetes Management Overview

Wednesday:

UC/VA: MGR

Thursday:

AHD - AKI

Weesner - Anemia

Friday:

UC: town hall/check-in

VA Mock Code (3rd floor Sim Lab): Team 5, 1pm-2pm

COVID Vaccine Update

Have you been trying to figure out the difference between booster and third dose?

This is how I (Michelle) have been explaining and thinking about boosters versus third dose:

Booster – assumes you were fully vaccinated (full immune response to fight COVID) after the first two mRNA doses but responds to the concern that your immunity may wean over time

 Third dose – as these patients have been classified as “immunocompromised” these patients likely did not have a robust immune response to the first two doses and therefore need a third dose to get a full immune response and be protected

The third dose is similar to the higher doses we use for flu shots whereas the booster concept is similar to that of TDAP after 10 years to increase the immune response a second time around.

 Additional information here.

Resident Photos

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend yesterday’s AHD on Implicit Bias and the first discussion of the DEI modules. We really appreciate all your amazing discussion and interaction with the modules. As mentioned during the session, I am including some additional resources.

Resources: 

• The great Dr. Awosika’s grand rounds on Implicit bias

• A video series on implicit bias through the Kirwan institute at OSH

• Anti – Racism task force through University of Cincinnati: resources

• Article: Professionalism - microaggression in the healthcare setting (discussion on microaggressions and techniques on how to be an Upstander during these situations) – also attached

• See recording from a recent noon conference, “Exploring our Patient’s Context: A History of Anti-Black Racism in Cincinnati” with Dr. Goroncy hosted by MedCARES.

Recent references related to worsening health inequities due to COVID:

• Racial Disparities In Excess All-Cause Mortality During The Early COVID-19 Pandemic Varied Substantially Across States https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.02142

• Covid-19 Disrupts Years of Health Progress in U.S. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-disrupts-years-of-health-progress-in-u-s-11621522803

• Racism in Medicine resources - google drive of various resources Michelle Knopp has developed over time with help from FM faculty and residents. Please feel free to send resources to add!

Books recs: 

• How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith (great audiobook also)

• Medical Apartheid by Harriet A Washington

• The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee (thanks Dr. Warm for this reminder!)

• Profiles of BLM mural artists (featured in the last slide)

If you are interested in learning more and getting involved in these efforts please join the MedCARES e-mail list here. 

Shout Outs!

To Trung for recognizing that things were not going well for a patient and that taking on that patient he would be able to provide better care than that patient was receiving at that moment in time.

To George Ceballos for being the undisputed GOAT.

To Operation Phoenix for everyone who has thought, worried, and planned for the changes in the Heme/Onc wards. It might not be perfect, but we will continue to learn and improve.

To Ish, for rallying the troops to help out with coverage for a co-resident.

To Austin Von Axelson for being a jeopardy champion!

To Tony Casillas, Bi Awosika, Stephanie Thomas, and Derek Kwakye for helping guide us through challenging conversations about DEI and implicit bias so that we may better serve our patients and fellow residents!

Things to Do in Cincinnati

Official Resident’s Guide to Cincy Food and Drink is here!

Donauschwaben Oktoberfest - Most authentic Oktoberfest in the area. There's onsite parking and convenient shuttle parking from ABC Daycare and St. John Dry Ridge School. Donauschwaben Oktoberfest runs from 6 p.m.-midnight Friday (car show from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.), 1 p.m.-midnight Saturday, and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday at 4290 Dry Ridge Road, Colerain Township. Admission is $5 per person. cincydonau.com.

Sunflower Festival - hosted by historic Gorman Heritage Farm (10052 Reading Road, Evendale). Features live music, hayrides, pumpkins, a craft marketplace, a corn maze and a sunflower maze, farm animal meet and greets, mule-drawn carriage rides, food trucks, the High Grain beer garden and cut-your-own sunflowers ($1 per stem). The festival takes place from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine. Admission is $10, $5 ages 3-17 and ages 60-up. Advance tickets are required, no tickets will be sold at the gate. gormanfarms.org.

Tri-State Antiques Market - The final market of the season. Sunday at the Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds (351 E. Eads Parkway). 200 vendors selling antique, vintage and retro merchandise from a variety of time periods. Early bird admission is at 6 a.m., with regular admission from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is $4. lawrenceburgantiqueshow.com.