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Third COVID-19 Surge Stressing Healthcare Workers, Hospitals

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As the number of COVID-19 patients rises in Central and Northern Arizona hospitals, healthcare officials say they are able to manage the situation for now, but that could change quickly. At the time of publication, Yavapai Regional Medical Center West (YRMC) was treating 16 COVID-19 patients, YRMC East was caring for nine and Verde Valley Medical Center (VVMC) reported 16.

VVMC Chief Administrative Officer Ron Haase says the hospital is just five patients away from its highest number. “We could get to 21 overnight. We are very concerned,” he said in a media briefing Nov. 18. “We have been doing this for a while and we are ready for what may come, at least to the degree that we can be.”

At Flagstaff Medical Center, where 36 COVID-19 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit, and 10 are on ventilators, Chief Medical Officer Derek Feuquay says FMC is seeing more cases now than at the end of June, during its second surge. The first surge was marked in March and April. “We still have patients from the Navajo and Hopi Nation, but we definitely have more in Flagstaff than we have ever had.”

“It’s been very clear that the surge is coming again,” said Chief Administrative Officer Josh Tinkle. “We are taking appropriate steps to heighten visitor restrictions again for the safety of patients and staff members.”

Healthcare officials in the Verde Valley and Flagstaff say they are seeing a spike in the number of people testing positive between the ages of 20 and 40. They also are seeing positive tests in children. However, those in the ICU continue to be primarily elderly patients. “Obesity and diabetes seem to be a big contributing factor for those hospitalized,” said Feuquay.

Meanwhile, the number of positive cases is rising in 48 out of 50 states, including Arizona, although so far, rates here are not increasing as fast as they are elsewhere. Nonetheless, Northern Arizona Healthcare CEO and President Flo Spyrow says the medical community continues to be concerned about Yavapai and Coconino counties and the effect on the communities.”

“The biggest challenge here and across the country is finding the staffing to take care of those patients,” said Tinkle, noting that nurses are leaving the profession and 20,000 nursing requests have been submitted throughout the U.S. “Everyone is looking for caregivers. We’re okay, but if we see spikes up to 50-60% positivity rate that we’re seeing in other states, that would be a challenge for us.”

The media briefing came in the wake of news that 905 Mayo Clinic employees in the Midwest have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Most of the exposure is said to have happened in the community, not at work.

“I’m more concerned about our employees than a significant surge of patients,” said Spyrow. “The first time [there was a surge], the incidence rates where our employees lived were very low. Those incidence rates are going up. We’re now concerned about staffing and the ability to care for patients in critical areas.”

However, recent vaccine announcements by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca offer hope. With efficacy rates reported up to 90% or better, FMC Chief Quality Officer John Mougin calls the news “very, very encouraging.” He says healthcare leaders around the state currently are reviewing the safety data and details about potential side effects.

“The vaccine will be distributed in phases,” Mougin said, noting that medical and essential workers and high-risk individuals will receive the vaccine first. “We may see as many as 30 million patients vaccinated by the end of January. This could change the landscape around COVID for the whole country.”

The great unknown is what will happen during the holiday season. Healthcare officials urge people to avoid gatherings – especially large ones, eat outside, sterilize high-touch areas, get tested, be especially careful around the elderly, continue masking and washing hands, and stay home if they are sick.

“With the trajectory we are on now, December and January would be the peak,” said Tinkle. “We are asking the community to social distance, wash hands, wear masks. That will help us out more than anything. Predicting the peak will be [determined by] how the community does over Thanksgiving. If everyone social distances, we may be able to push that [peak] out further. If we are not successful, if there’s a massive surge like is happening elsewhere, staffing will be extremely challenging for every hospital across the country.” QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Governor Ducey Extends Enhanced Surveillance Advisory Tracking COVID-19, Health Care Capacity

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Governor Doug Ducey today issued an Executive Order extending the Enhanced Surveillance Advisory that requires hospitals, testing laboratories and other health care facilities to report detailed information about COVID-19.

To help public health officials and local communities make data-driven decisions to fight the spread of the virus, Arizona’s Enhanced Surveillance Advisory, established by Executive Order 2020-13 in March, requires reporting about COVID-19 cases, health care capacity, and more. Today’s order extends the advisory for 60 days.

“As we see cases spike around the country, containing the spread of COVID-19 remains our top priority and Arizona is on high alert going into the winter months,” said Governor Ducey. “Extending this advisory will continue to provide the public health professionals at the Arizona Department of Health Services with the real-time information they need to make informed decisions and allocate critical resources while keeping the public informed.”

“The Enhanced Surveillance Advisory has been critical to the state’s awareness of and response to COVID-19 throughout the pandemic,” said Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ. “It also helps keep Arizonans up-to-date through the ADHS Data Dashboard that we update daily. I’m grateful to our partners from our hospitals, labs, care settings and more for their diligent work to ensure timely information.”

The advisory has required hospitals and health care facilities in Arizona to report daily statistics on staff resources, ventilator availability, intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability, inpatient bed availability, personal protective equipment (PPE) supply levels, medical supply levels, and more. Additionally, testing laboratories will continue to report the results of all COVID-19 tests.

In September, the advisory was expanded to include data on influenza, including positive patients, number of intensive care unit beds and ventilators used by influenza patients, and number of influenza patients seen in emergency departments.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit azhealth.gov/COVID19.

View the Executive Order HERE.

Not All CBD Products are Created Equal

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The focus at A Valley of Vitality Wellness Studio is on education. We want to inform our clients on what they can do to help with their own wellness regimen after their massage service and educate them on how they can live a healthier and happier life with less pain and discomfort.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound in Cannabis that is reported to have medical effects. CBD is produced from Cannabis Sativa L (industrial hemp). While related to marijuana, it is distinctly different in many key areas, most notably in its complete lack of psychoactive function. CBD, classified as a dietary supplement, is completely legal in all 50 states and harmless as well as an effective beneficial dietary supplement. CBD oil must be extracted from a legal Cannabis sativa plant, known as hemp. In short, hemp CBD oil and cannabis CBD oil are the same. CBD is CBD. The difference is that CBD derived from the hemp plant is federally legal, whereas CBD derived from cannabis is not and will have much higher levels of THC. You are required to have a medical marijuana card to purchase CBDs from cannabis.

CBD has a myriad of uses and has been proven in countless studies to have many applications in supplementary treatment for conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s and Rheumatoid Arthritis, to name a few. We have received many phone calls and emails thanking us for CBD products and CBD infused massages, saying that they have changed lives for the better.

CBD products at our wellness studio range from high milligram, decarboxylase (chemical free extraction) sublingual oils to capsules, and from vaping to pain relief salve. Most CBD oil consumers will be buying products made with hemp-derived CBD. There are a lot of companies offering it, and the quality control unfortunately isn’t always the best. The main challenge in buying CBD hemp oil is finding a reliable company that makes pure, high-quality products.

Once the endocannabinoid system is supplemented in this way, it is able to function more efficiently, optimizing the body’s performance each day. Studies have shown that hemp CBD oil helps with the treatment of seizures, leading the American Epilepsy Society to confirm that CBD helps to stop them.

As you explore the multitude of cannabinoid products on the market, ask these important questions to ensure that you’re only consuming the safest and highest quality products.

 

Where are the plants grown?

All forms of cannabinoid-producing plants are bioaccumulators, which means they absorb compounds and substances from the soil. While this is beneficial for the plants to grow dense and tall, it can allow contaminants, metals or pollutants to seep from the soil into the plants and eventually make their way into cannabinoid products. Before buying a cannabinoid product, ask whether the plants are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. It’s also a good idea to ask where the plants for the cannabinoid product were grown. If a dispensary or retail store workers can confidently answer the question, it’s a sign that they understand and care about the products they’re providing.

 

What type and potency of cannabinoids does the product contain?

It is important to know the potency of the cannabinoid product that you’re going to incorporate into your health care routine. Products can contain all different levels of cannabinoids. Some products contain higher amounts of the psychoactive cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which has shown to provide an array of therapeutic benefits but will also cause a user to experience a high. Others may have more cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive cannabinoid that won’t cause a high but has shown to offer neuroprotectant and antioxidant properties.

 

Does the cannabinoid product undergo strict testing?

It’s extremely important that cannabinoid products are tested for any outside contamination. Because of the plant’s identity as a bioaccumulator, toxins like microbes, mold, heavy metals and other possible contaminants can make their way into cannabinoid products. Always ask whether an independent accredited lab has tested the cannabinoid product for safety and quality before you buy or consume it.

What, if any, are the other ingredients used in the product?

 

While some people prefer to consume pure cannabinoid products, some products, such as edibles and tinctures, include other ingredients beyond the cannabinoids and other natural constituents themselves. Cannabinoid products are designed to encourage homeostasis, so you don’t want to tamper with this balance by selecting products that contain artificial ingredients. Be sure to ask whether any additional ingredients that are added to products are all natural and not synthetic. QCBN

By Amanda Barnett, RN, LMT

 

We offer CBD presentations. Please check out and like our Facebook page at: facebook.com/MassagePrescottAZ/and to learn how cannabinoids naturally interact with the body’s systems and become familiar with the array of products available.

 

CBD’s are a legal non-psychoactive product line widely recognized for the ability to support and sustain wellness.
*Please remember** No one at A Valley Of Vitality Wellness Studio is a medical doctor and will not be able to make any recommendations on CBD.

PET/CT is a Winning Combination

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LaBenzWhen it comes to high-tech imaging and tracking of cancer, nothing matches the amazing capabilities of today’s PET/CT machine. The technology combines positron emission tomography (PET) scanning with computed tomography (CT) scanning. PET uses small amounts of radiation to show how well various organs are functioning; CT provides detailed images of organs and tissues. The combined result is highly detailed 3-D images of the function and structure of various parts of the body.

The first PET/CT prototype was unveiled in 1998 at the University of Pittsburgh, and it was first introduced into clinical use in 2001. PET/CT has emerged as one of the fastest growing modalities worldwide according to the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology.

The vast majority of PET/CT imaging is for cancer (oncology) diagnosis and treatment. Oncologists use PET/CT scans to determine how fast a tumor is growing and to track how well chemotherapy or radiation therapy is working. If a cancerous tumor or mass needs to be surgically removed, a PET/CT scan can help a surgeon plan how to best treat or remove the cancer, while leaving as much healthy tissue as possible.

PET/CT has been shown to have a major impact on how patients are treated. For example, a study in the July 2012 issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine showed that more than 40 percent of lung cancer (non-small cell) patients had their course of treatment changed when physicians had PET/CT information as opposed to only conventional imaging.

PET/CT imaging may also be used to diagnose and treat heart disease as well as brain disorders, including dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, brain tumors and seizure disorders.

The procedure itself is painless and completely non-invasive. Upon arrival at a hospital, cancer center or imaging center, the patient is given an IV injection of the radioactive tracer and asked to rest quietly. The radioactive tracer can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes to make its way to the part of the body being scanned. Once the tracer has reached its destination, the patient is asked to lie on the PET/CT scanner table for 30 to 45 minutes as the machine goes to work. Once the scan is complete, the patient is free to resume normal activities.

Today’s PET/CT scanners are more comfortable and faster than previous technology. Future developments promise even more accurate detection and diagnosis of disease at earlier, more treatable stages and with less radiation. QCBN

Michael J. LaBenz, M.D., is a radiologist at Northern Arizona Radiology.

 

 

YRMC Offering IceCure

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YRMC-logoYavapai Regional Medical Center is among the first hospitals in Arizona to introduce IceCure, a procedure to remove benign (non-cancerous) breast tumors without surgery.

“Breast fibroadenomas, as they are called, are not life-threatening, but they can be physically disfiguring, uncomfortable and cause women emotional distress,” said Nancy K. Ledoyen, RN, Director, the BreastCare Center at YRMC. “IceCure allows our breast surgeons to treat those benign tumors with minimal scarring.”

Benign breast tumors up to four centimeters – about the size of a grape – are best for IceCure, but larger tumors may also be removed using the procedure.

“IceCure has many advantages over traditional surgical excision for women with benign breast tumors,” Ledoyen said. “Some of the pluses include a minute incision, local anesthesia, and virtually no down time following the procedure.”

 

During an IceCure treatment, YRMC physicians use an ultrasound monitor called the IceSense3™ console to guide a probe to the center of the benign tumor. Once there, the tip of the probe is cooled to extremely low temperatures. This turns the tumor into a small ball of ice and eliminates it. Typically, this takes about 15 minutes.

To learn about IceCure treatment, contact Nancy Ledoyen at (928) 442-8647.

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