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As we approach Easter weekend – another important, family-oriented holiday weekend, University Health would like to note that there is a consistent correlation between holidays where families tend to gather, and an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. “There tends to be a two-to-three week lag between the increased exposure to COVID-19 and the illness that puts people in the hospital, and these data make that clear,” said Dr. Jason Bowling, University Hospital...

Today marks one year since University Hospital admitted its first patient infected with the COVID-19 virus. He was a 67-year old passenger from the Grand Princess cruise ship who was quarantined at Lackland Air Force Base. To date, the dedicated frontline workers at University Hospital have cared for 2,369 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Nearly half that number – 1,173 – were treated in one intensive care unit, known as Sky 5. The medical team in that unit has fought for the...

This afternoon, a University Health pharmacy team will be drawing up the 100,000th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Recommendations for pregnant women on the COVID-19 vaccine have been confusing, but Dr. Patrick Ramsey, medical director for inpatient OB services, explains the science behind it, how the vaccine is made, and why pregnant women should get the shot.

University Health has completely filled the more than 24,000 appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations that we opened to people in the Phase 1B group - people 65 and older, and those 16 and older with chronic medical conditions. As a testament to the incredible desire in the community to get the vaccine, many thousands of people had registered to receive notice when we reopened appointments, and we filled all 24,240 available slots in three hours and 45 minutes. We will schedule appointments...

University Health is not able to open 1B scheduling to the community next week due to the quantity of vaccine doses we will receive relative to the extremely high interest among those in the Phase 1B group. Because of the limited number of doses available, vaccine will be provided to some of University Health’s current patients from underserved areas of the community who have pre-existing conditions or are at least 65 years of age, as well as some existing patients who are especially...

Visitation Guidelines Due to the record numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, we once again will be tightening visitor restrictions, beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday. To ensure a safe care environment, University Hospital will not permit visitors with the exception of individuals deemed necessary to the patient’s care. Visitors deemed necessary to the patient’s care include: 1-2 parents or guardians for pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients 1 support...

Updates about several aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic as the surge worsens, but also as we continue to vaccinate healthcare workers, first responders and the Phase 1B community members.

As if schools didn’t have enough to think about this year, here’s a message for the school nurse: stop using nebulizers. Dr. Mandie Svatek, a University Hospital pediatrician, associate professor with UT Health San Antonio, and a member of the citywide COVID Enforcement and Education Task Force and the K-12 Schools Coalition Team, told a group of 476 nurses and health assistance at a Region 20 meeting this week that they need to switch to delivering inhaled medicines through...

University Health System and UT Health San Antonio have begun enrolling their first patients for the third phase of a clinical trial studying the effectiveness of the drug remdesivir in treating patients hospitalized with COVID-19. In this portion of the fast-moving double-blind study, some patients will receive remdesivir plus interferon beta-1a, a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis. Other patients will receive remdesivir and a placebo. Interferons are proteins that strengthen the...