While Dry January is coming to a close, the topic of drinking alcohol is still making headlines.

Heavy drinking habits among adults that started during the COVID-19 pandemic haven’t slowed down, according to a study.

The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that alcohol use among adults ages 18 and older increased by 4% from 2018 to 2020, with heavy alcohol use increasing by a whopping 20%. Researchers say the increase continued in 2022.

The pandemic caused plenty of stress for people – working from home, remote learning for children and just plain boredom. Experts say alcohol can start as a habit and then become an addiction. It’s also a way to cope with problems and issues that are impacting our daily lives. 

“COVID was a very stressful time for a lot of people,” says Jessy Mathew, MD, a primary care physician for OSF HealthCare. “There was a lot of social isolation, and a lot of emotional turmoil. People lost their friends; they lost family members. There were no outdoor activities, and alcohol became a relief from all these problems.”

The study defined heavy drinking as five drinks a day or 15 drinks a week for men and four drinks a day or eight drinks a week for women. The increase was seen in all age groups, genders, races and regions in the U.S. except for Asian Americans and Native Americans. Adults in their 40s had the biggest increase in consumption.

“It depends on the type of alcohol and your rate of metabolism, which might be different for each person,” says Dr. Mathew. “It also depends on how much you're drinking at the time. Are you binge drinking? Are you mixing it with other drinks? Are you mixing it with other substances or other drugs? There's a variety of reasons.”

There are many risks with heavy drinking. Among the potential health problems include heart disease and cancer, as well as anxiety, depression, the risk of accidents, and social, family, legal and behavioral issues. “Alcohol affects everything, basically, from head to toe, every single organ can be affected by alcohol,” says Dr. Mathew.

The earlier people start drinking, the greater the risk of developing health issues later in life. And women are more prone to get sicker from alcohol, according to Dr. Mathew. “There's a study that says that if you have one extra drink a day, it puts you at a risk of five to nine times more likely of getting breast cancer,” she says. “It also increases your risk of infertility, menstrual problems, osteoporosis or weakening of your bones, which leads to fractures.” 

Dr. Mathew offers several ways to reduce alcohol consumption, including:

·         Avoiding triggers such as people, places or activities that lead to heavy drinking

·         Create ways to deal with stress such as exercise, walking and reading

·         Limit the amount of alcohol you have in your home

·         Find hobbies that don’t involve alcohol

·         Seek support from friends and family or co-workers

Dr. Mathew adds that if you start feeling guilty about drinking, find yourself becoming easily agitated, or drinking at odd times of the day, it might be time to seek professional help. For more information on behavioral health services, visit the OSF HealthCare website. 

 

Interview Clips 

You’ve likely heard of bronchitis, an illness that impacts the larger lung airways and leaves you feeling short of breath and just generally yucky.

This fall and winter, here’s another respiratory illness with “bronch” in the name to be aware of, especially if you have young kids: bronchiolitis. It’s an ailment that Awad Alyami, MD, an OSF HealthCare pediatrician, sees often this time of year.

The basics

Dr. Alyami says bronchiolitis is an infection of the bronchioles, or the small airways that branch out in the lungs.

“When they become infected, there is a lot of mucus. It makes it harder to breathe,” Dr. Alyami explains.

Other symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and dehydration. Bronchiolitis is “easily spread,” Dr. Alyami says, through respiratory droplets, like when you cough. The illness is most common in children, especially kids under two. Other high-risk groups include babies born prematurely, with chronic lung disease, with heart disease present at birth and with immune system deficiencies.

“There are also environmental risk factors, like babies who are exposed to smoke and babies who attend day care,” Dr. Alyami adds. Attending day care, he explains, will expose a child to illnesses, no matter how clean the place is.

Cause, diagnosis and treatment

Dr. Alyami says other viruses like influenza and COVID-19 can cause bronchiolitis, but respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause.

“You need to see a doctor if your baby has trouble breathing at any time,” Dr. Alyami advises. “Or if your baby is younger than three months and they have a fever. Or if they are older than three months and they have a fever for more than three days. Or if the child has signs of dehydration, like if they are making fewer wet diapers than normal.”

Unlike the flu and COVID-19, there is no test for bronchiolitis. But, a health care provider may swab your nose anyway to see if you have another virus. Other tests like a chest x-ray may be done. And the provider will also examine you and ask about your health history to come up with a diagnosis.

Treatment involves making you feel comfortable until symptoms resolve.

“One of the most important things is nose suction as needed,” Dr. Alyami says. “When we suction the nose and keep it clean, it’s easier to breathe.”

A bulb suction is the most common device to do this. When you’re really stuffed up, you can use nasal spray or drops to make the secretion thinner. Then, use the suction. You can also use a humidifier if your home’s air is dry. Dr. Alyami says these devices and medicines are widely available in retail stores.

You can treat the fever with over-the-counter medication. Drink fluids to stay hydrated.

“Typically, day three to day five are the peak of symptoms,” Dr. Alyami says. “After five days, they start to improve. Symptoms can last seven to 14 days. And typically, the cough lingers for a little longer.”

In serious cases, your child may have low oxygen and need to be admitted to the hospital. There, doctors will use an oxygen tube inserted into the nostrils to help breathing. In rare cases, a doctor will put a breathing tube down the child’s throat.

Prevention

Want your child to avoid all this? Preach healthy habits, especially in fall and winter when respiratory illnesses peak. Wash your hands thoroughly. Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. If you’re sick, stay away from others.

Dr. Alyami adds that since RSV is the main cause of bronchiolitis, you should look into the RSV vaccine. This cold weather season, the vaccine is available for certain groups, like older adults, infants and pregnant women. Talk to your primary care provider if you have questions.

Interview clips

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With temperatures cooling, Awad Alyami, MD, an OSF HealthCare pediatrician, says we’re approaching the peak season for sore throats. Many cases have time-tested treatments, but some can have serious complications.

Dr. Alyami says a sore throat is an infection that causes inflammation in your throat. They’re annoying and painful, bringing symptoms like difficulty swallowing or talking and swelling of glands and tonsils. Causes can include tonsil stones, heartburn and allergies. But most commonly, causes break down into two groups: viral and bacterial.

Viral infections

Dr. Alyami says many viruses can cause sore throats – the common cold, influenza, coronavirus and others. Dr. Alyami says if your sore throat comes with coughing or a runny nose, that’s a sign it’s a viral infection. You can start treatment at home with over-the-counter medicine like Tylenol and ibuprofen. You can also gargle salt water and, generally, stay hydrated. Water is good for all ages, and Pedialyte can help hydrate kids.

If your symptoms include fever and neck swelling, it’s a more serious situation. You should see a health care provider.

Bacterial infections

The main bacterial infection that causes sore throats is group A streptococcus (commonly known as strep or strep throat). Strep throat may bring the hallmark sore throat symptoms, but you should also watch for fever and white patches toward the back of your mouth.

“This is a bacterial infection that’s common in kids,” Dr. Alyami says of strep throat.  “About 30% of sore throats are strep, and about 70% are viral. It’s a big deal. We need to treat to prevent complications.”

The most common complication is dehydration, Dr. Alyami says.

“The sore throat is so bad, the child doesn’t want to eat or drink,” he explains.

Other times, untreated strep throat can lead to abscesses, or pus pockets.

“If that abscess gets big enough, it can go toward other structures in the body that are very important. That infection can spread and progress very quickly,” Dr. Alyami says. Life-threatening conditions like difficulty breathing can result.

Dr. Alyami says providers can diagnose strep throat with a throat swab. They treat strep throat with 10 days of antibiotic medication, either injected or taken orally. He says most kids will take the medicine orally unless that’s troublesome. For example, some kids have a tough time swallowing pills due to throat pain.

Prevention

It’s advice you’ve heard before, but it’s worth repeating. Dr. Alyami says good hand hygiene goes a long way to preventing sore throats. Wash your hands thoroughly, and keep them away from your face.

Early detection is also key.

“If the child is sick, especially with symptoms that could be strep, it’s better to get them to a health care professional early,” Dr. Alyami implores. “They can get checked and isolated for 12 to 24 hours before they start antibiotics.

“If you’re sure about what they have, it’s better to just bring them in and get them checked,” he adds. Or, a virtual visit is an option.

Interview clips

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects the upcoming fall and winter respiratory disease season in the United States will likely have a similar number of combined peak hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza, and RSV compared to last season.

As the respiratory virus season arrives, OSF OnCall is also reminding parents that it offers an at-home monitoring and support program for babies and toddlers 5 and under who have an infection from a respiratory virus. Those include: the flu, rhinovirus, croup, pneumonia, and others including RSV, the number one reason for hospitalization of children under age 1 in the United States. It can lead to other infections including bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs), especially in babies.

The digital health arm of OSF HealthCare will provide support for patients with a pediatric respiratory virus and caregivers in the comfort of their own homes. Enrollment offers a connection to OSF OnCall care teams 24/7 and monitoring tools that will aid in proactive response to worsening respiratory virus symptoms, keeping infants and toddlers out of the hospital.

Mary Stapel, MD, lead physician for Community Care for OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center says RSV and other respiratory infections can often be managed at home.

“For the more common cold type symptoms, we can recommend the conservative treatments at home nasal saline with some suctioning, a cool mist humidifier you know, just kind of frequent, small feedings to optimize keeping that child hydrated.”

Clinical Digital Care Supervisor Rose Smith, RN, says OSF OnCall was able to implement its 24/7 digitally enabled, at-home support program for RSV so quickly two years ago because of its experience with similar monitoring to help patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart failure. Smith says parents and caregivers have loved it.

How it works

“They love having support anytime in the day, however they want to do it – text message, phone call, anything. They can send us pictures. We've really kind of taken that to tailor what parents need to feel comfortable taking their children home, you know, from a clinic; from the hospital during the scary time.”

An OSF OnCall software application provides education and notifications to report relevant signs/symptoms over 10 days. Smith says upon enrollment, parents or guardians receive a care kit for at-home use from their provider following a visit or a digital community health worker can deliver one.

“So we have a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen levels and their heart rate and then we have a thermometer, and we also provide saline spray, and then a bulb syringe. A lot of parents, when their babies are born, they use them in the hospital, but they might not know that they can use them to help relieve any secretions especially before feeding their children.”

Smith adds, it’s also important to clear the nose before a nap or bedtime. Parents also receive step-by-step written instructions as well as a video demonstration for how to use what’s provided in the kit.

The OSF OnCall respiratory illness RPM program is for anyone in Illinois or Michigan. Patients must have a positive test or diagnosis of a respiratory infection to qualify. Referrals can be made by providers in a hospital emergency department, OSF OnCall Urgent Care, OSF PromptCare, medical offices, or following hospital discharge.

Smith says parents who have a child in the program can request a video visit at any time. The OSF OnCall nurse will also recommend a video visit if needed.

“If they think their child looks off, we just have another set of eyes. The providers will look at it (to see if they need a higher level of care). Sometimes our nurses can tell the parents you know, ‘We think they need to be seen. Can we do a video visit just before you take your child out, especially now that it's colder out?’ You know, we don't want them if they're having trouble breathing to go outside, but we really just focus on what works best to still get them the care that they need.”

Last season, the remote monitoring program for pediatric respiratory viruses enrolled a total of 717 babies and toddlers from September through April.

At OSF HealthCare and across the country, there is concern a return to school and more activities moving indoors this fall could accelerate the transmission of RSV, the flu, COVID-19, and other viral illnesses. Dr. Stapel advises making sure you and everyone around you practices good hand hygiene, coughs into the inside of their elbow, and stays home from parties and other obligations if you are sick.

If you suspect your child has symptoms of RSV, the flu, or some other respiratory virus that don’t appear life-threatening, you can reach out to your pediatrician, primary care provider or OSF OnCall Urgent Care which also has a virtual visit option anytime.

Video clips with Dr. Mary Stapel and Rose Smith, RN

B-roll for RPM for pediatric viruses

We’re approaching the late summer-early fall period when respiratory illnesses begin their annual upswing. The latest news from federal health officials concerns a new variant of COVID-19, NB.1.8.1. Some people impacted have reported severe sore throats, almost like there’s a razor blade in there.

Fred Burke, MD, an emergency medicine physician who sees patients at OSF HealthCare, says illnesses like COVID, RSV and the flu will always be around. It’s just a matter of taking precautions to avoid serious illness. So, what’s the level of concern with this new COVID variant as we begin to make fall plans?

The razor’s edge

Any sore throat is an annoyance. But Dr. Burke says you should monitor severe cases closely.

“You’re less likely to want to eat or drink, which can lead to further dehydration,” he says.

You can manage sore throats at home with Tylenol or ibuprofen, chloraseptic spray, warm tea and throat lozenges. Dr. Burke says if you have trouble keeping food or fluids down, feel lightheaded or dizzy or have trouble breathing, see a health care provider right away.

COVID precautions

Dr. Burke says this new COVID variant isn’t linked to as much severe illness as other variants. But, he says it’s more easily spread.

“The average healthy person might get through it with some [figurative] bumps and bruises and little to no symptoms. For people with comorbidities or who are immunocompromised, the virus might be a little bit more detrimental,” Dr. Burke says.

Getting vaccinated and practicing good hygiene are two big tools to avoid serious illness, he adds. Wash your hands and high touch surfaces, like doorknobs, often, don’t cough or sneeze into the open air and stay home and away from others when you don’t feel well. If you’re in a crowd, especially if you have a comorbidity like diabetes, Dr. Burke says you should consider wearing a mask.

“If you’re going to have a gathering, whether at home or somewhere else, you can also recommend people take a home test to make sure they don’t have COVID prior to going,” Dr. Burke suggests. Those at-home tests can usually be found over the counter at a pharmacy.

For vaccines, recent preliminary guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends the shot this fall for people 65 and up. For others, the shot is recommended for people who have a compromised immune system or a comorbid condition like obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, lung disease or depression. The website for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, has a broader recommendation. When in doubt, Dr. Burke says to talk to your primary care provider.

Learn more

Explore other resources to keep yourself safe from COVID on the OSF HealthCare website, blog and newsroom.

Interview clips

Humans are well-equipped to bounce back from most cases of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, RSV and the flu. But in some cases, the impact on your lungs can be long-lasting, leading to chronic symptoms like difficulty breathing, fatigue or brain fog. You can also be at a higher risk for a blood clot or infection in your lungs.

“There’s damage to the lungs in the form of cellular damage, as well as immune system dysregulation and prolonged inflammation,” says Yiran Gong, MD, a pulmonologist at OSF HealthCare. “These can be the drivers of post-COVID syndrome, or extensive and persistent symptoms after the resolution of the viral illness.”

Dr. Gong admits the outlook can be daunting. But health care providers have several ways to attack the problem.

Pulmonary rehabilitation involves breathing exercises to “retrain your body on how to breathe,” Dr. Gong says. For people with post COVID-asthma, a provider may prescribe an inhaler to reduce inflammation in the lungs’ small airways.

“There are medications to slow the progression of pulmonary fibrosis [scarring]. However, these medications have not really been researched for COVID specifically just because of how short of a time COVID has been around,” Dr. Gong says. “People who do have extensive lung scarring will require referral to a transplant center.”

Staying on top of your health, such as being up to date on vaccines and practicing good hygiene (like washing your hands thoroughly and often), is a good way to avoid the illnesses that cause lung issues. But if you are dealing with chronic lung symptoms, Dr. Gong says you shouldn’t lose hope.

“See a physician. Make sure there’s not an underlying cause that hasn’t been treated,” he says. “Then you’ll work on optimizing lung function. Take it one step at a time.”

Read more about how to keep your lungs in top shape on the OSF HealthCare website.

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Flu remains the dominant virus

“We're seeing a lot of patients be positive with the flu. It makes you feel really bad with headache, body aches, chills, cough and fevers to name a few,” says Sarah Overton, chief nursing officer of OSF Medical Group, Home Care and Employee Health. “But we're also seeing some COVID-19 and RSV. RSV attacks very young children and older adults."

All the viruses spiking at the same time have been "somewhat crippling" for healthcare providers, Overton says OSF HealthCare hospitals are seeing high inpatients counts, with many people coming in sick with respiratory illnesses through the emergency department.

Across Illinois, nearly 20% of emergency department visits were for acute respiratory illness, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). 7.8% of those visits are attributed to patients with the flu.

"From Chicago and Rockford down to Alton, we're seeing a large number of respiratory illnesses. And I think the country is seeing it overall," Overton says. "The SIREN notifications from the IDPH show that other health systems in Illinois, not just OSF, are seeing this."

Illinois’ respiratory activity level, calculated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) moved up to High in late December, dipped to Moderate in January, and has now returned to High to start February.

“These viruses can kill”

The IDPH has reported five flu deaths this respiratory illness season. Along with three people dying from RSV, and one person dying from RSV and COVID-19.

"There's a little bit of complacency or feeling like the COVID-19 pandemic is done. But these viruses can kill, and they can lead to major medical complications and hospital admissions. I've talked to some of my colleagues who are the nursing leaders in the hospitals, and patients coming in are indeed sick. If you can manage at home, we recommend you do so," Overton says. 

For those who are immunocompromised or chronically ill, Overton says you should consult with a medical professional in person if you are sick, but if you’re a fairly healthy individual who is mildly ill, consider staying home and rest. OSF Medical Group and OSF OnCall offer Urgent Care services for many outpatient appointments, including visits with primary care providers and specialists.

For those caring for themselves at home, there are several over-the-counter medications to help alleviate symptoms. Additionally, a health care provider may prescribe antiviral medication.

“Antiviral medication is most effective is initiated less than 48 hours after your symptoms begin,” says IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra.

Flu vaccine rates down

"We've got ample flu vaccine. We are behind our influenza vaccine rates of where we've been in years past," Overton says. "It's not too late to get your flu shot, it's not too late to get your pneumonia shot. If you get it at a retail pharmacy, that's great. You can also get it at OSF or another healthcare provider. We just want you to get vaccinated.”

Flu vaccines are offered at OSF primary care and many medical specialty offices, along with commercial pharmacies. The CDC’s Flu Vaccine Finder allows you to type in your zip code and find options closest to you. Overton also recommends speaking with your healthcare provider about the recently-approved RSV vaccine available for some.

Respiratory illnesses impacting care teams

"Unfortunately, we have had some experiences with respiratory illnesses in our staff," Overton says. "We need to do everything we can to protect them. OSF Mission Partners (employees) have started masking in those areas we know exposure is likely." Respiratory cough stations with hand sanitizer, tissues and masks are available at all OSF facilities.

How health systems being overloaded impacts patients

"When we overwhelm the health system, it could lead to delays in other critical illnesses that need to come to the emergency room or urgent care to receive adequate management," Overton says.

To protect yourself and others, Overton recommends regularly washing and sanitizing your hands. Also make sure to cover your cough to decrease the spread of respiratory droplets, which is a major way the flu and other respiratory illnesses spread.

When to head to the emergency department

“Those hallmark signs of when to see care is when a fever isn't responding to medications after 24-48 hours. Or when you’re extremely uncomfortable and experiencing respiratory impacts like shortness of breath that you are struggling to breathe,” Overton says.

Warning signs look different for kids and adults. The CDC breaks down symptoms to keep a close eye on:

In children

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish lips or face
• Ribs pulling in with each breath
• Chest pain
• Severe muscle pain (child refuses to walk)
• Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying)
• Not alert or interacting when awake
• Seizures
• Fever above 104 degrees Fahrenheit that is not controlled by fever-reducing medicine
• In children younger than 12 weeks, any fever
• Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions

In adults

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse
• Seizures
• Not urinating
• Severe muscle pain
• Severe weakness or unsteadiness
• Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen

Video Interview Clips

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be available at pharmacies around the country in the coming weeks. 

The mRNA vaccine is not a booster, says Doug Kasper, MD, an infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare. He says it's recommended  for a much broader portion of the population, everyone six months and older, as a one-time, once a year vaccine. 

This vaccine does not prevent you from getting COVID-19, but the goal is to prevent severe illness from the virus. 

Dr. Kasper says it's totally fine to get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines in the same appointment.

"There's no issue with timing on getting the COVID and influenza vaccines. The RSV vaccine is recommended to be given separate," Dr. Kasper says. "Most of that has to do with the fact they weren't studied together, there's not an adverse issue with it. For the population, COVID and influenza are recommended across almost all age groups. RSV is for our older population, so we recommend spacing that out by a week or two."

Dr. Kasper says for those 65 and older with respiratory conditions, it might be recommended they receive a second booster in six-month increments.

Health Highlights Video Version With Chyrons

Health Highlights Video Version Without Chyrons

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be available at pharmacies around the country in the coming weeks.

The mRNA vaccine is not a booster, says Doug Kasper, MD, an infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare. He says it’s recommended for a much broader portion of the population.

"The vaccine is now recommended for everybody 6 months and older as a one-time, once-a-year vaccine," Dr. Kasper says. “The vaccine has been updated. For people who are at really high risk, those 65 and older or with respiratory conditions, they may get a second shot. This would be in a six-month interval in the springtime.” 

Does the vaccine prevent me from getting COVID-19?

The quick answer? No, much like you find with the annual influenza vaccine.

"The vaccine seeks to protect severe outcomes associated with COVID-19. It doesn't protect you from getting COVID, it tries to decrease the severity of how sick you would get," Dr. Kasper says. 

While there has been an uptick in COVID-19 cases recently, Dr. Kasper says there has not been an increase in COVID hospitalizations. He attributes this to robust natural immunity in the population and adding this COVID-19 vaccine is just another way to protect yourself from severe illness.

FDA’s “What to Know” sheet

The 2024-2025 formula has been updated to protect against the Omicron variant KP.2.

• Unvaccinated individuals 6 months through 4 years of age are eligible to receive three doses of the updated, authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or two doses of the updated, authorized Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
• Individuals 6 months through 4 years of age who have previously been vaccinated against COVID-19 are eligible to receive one or two doses of the updated, authorized Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines (timing and number of doses to administer depends on the previous COVID-19 vaccine received).
• Individuals 5 years through 11 years of age regardless of previous vaccination are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated, authorized Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines; if previously vaccinated, the dose is administered at least two months after the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
• Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated, approved Comirnaty (manufactured by Pfizer BioNTech) or the updated, approved Spikevax (manufactured by Moderna); if previously vaccinated, the dose is administered at least two months since the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
• Additional doses are authorized for certain immunocompromised individuals ages 6 months through 11 years of age as described in the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine fact sheets.

Commercial retailers are the way to go

As the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna become available, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) will publish a pharmacy lookup website at https://www.vaccines.gov/en/vaccines.gov to help people find the nearest vaccine locations.

Dr. Kasper says the best bet at getting a vaccine appointment for COVID-19 or influenza, is through pharmacies at local commercial retailers like Target, Walgreens, CVS or Walmart.

Free COVID-19 home tests are coming back

“The U.S. government will make the at-home COVID testing available for free again this year. You can request up to four home tests that will be delivered to your address for free,” Dr. Kasper says. That gives people another option for testing if they think they're developing signs of COVID even after receiving a vaccine, which can be another way to avoid wait lines at urgent cares, ERs or primary care clinics, and to keep themselves isolated until symptoms have resolved.”

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reports that COVIDTests.gov will be the website to order from once the website is active.

Status of the Novavax vaccine

A third manufacturer, Novavax, makes a protein-based vaccine similar to influenza vaccines. While it hasn’t been approved by the FDA, Dr. Kasper suspects it will be soon.

"It likely will be approved, and Novavax has been a prior manufacturer of COVID-19 vaccines. That is a third option that will be coming that isn't mRNA based for people to consider if they had an adverse reaction with Pfizer or Moderna in the past,” Dr. Kasper says.

Can I get the COVID-19 and flu vaccine at the same time?

"There's no issue with timing on getting the COVID and influenza vaccines. The RSV vaccine is recommended to be given separate," Dr. Kasper says. “Most of that has to do with the fact they weren't studied together, there's not an adverse issue with it. For the population, COVID and influenza are recommended across almost all age groups. RSV is for our older population, so we recommend spacing that out by a week or two.”

For all vaccine questions, Dr. Kasper recommends speaking with your primary care team to go over options.

Video Interview Clips

A return to school comes with a return to activities.

But no matter if it’s fall sports, extracurricular activities, or just hanging out with friends, there comes the increase spread of viruses, according to Doug Kasper, MD, an infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare.

“Not only are children, but the family unit as a whole is starting to do much more. They’re going to be exposed to each other much more than they have been over the next few months,” Dr. Kasper says.

The three main viruses remain the same as the past few years: Influenza (flu), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). But others will arise as well, including adenovirus, rhinovirus/enterovirus (common cold) and more.

When viruses tend to peak

“Influenza in Central Illinois starts to appear around November, and peaks in January,” Dr. Kasper says. “RSV, particularly in young children, starts to show up in September or October. COVID-19 has been a bit more seasonal each year, but we start to predict peaks in October. What you’ll notice is that all of those will start to overlap.”

How vaccinations play a role

As millions of kids are returning to school, Dr. Kasper says it’s time to start scheduling checkups with their pediatrician and discussing back-to-school vaccinations.

“Vaccination now has more of an effect of protecting the individual so they can remain in their activities, school or job as long as possible,” Dr. Kasper says. “We know in most situations there is more than one person in the household and more than one child at home. It's also helping decrease spread within the family unit when these things are brought home."

The flu vaccine, Dr. Kasper says, is recommended for anyone 6 months or older. Whereas the RSV vaccine is only available to certain people.

"RSV is most severe in our younger populations, ages 2 or younger, or in those 60 and older. While vaccination is only offered in select age groups, including pregnant women, there is still benefit to the family unit for the family to make sure those who can be vaccinated against RSV do get those at the appropriate time,” Dr. Kasper says.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have come and gone, but the recommendation for yearly vaccination is starting to resemble the same strategy as the flu vaccine.

"COVID-19 guidance will be a little different,” Dr. Kasper adds. “We're expecting an updated vaccine that will come out in the fall, probably October. We'll have unique recommendations for different age groups or those with medical conditions. But I'd expect the recommendation of one additional COVID-19 vaccine or booster for the fall into winter season.”

Respiratory virus symptoms

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists a dozen symptoms you may potentially experience if you become sick with one of the abovementioned viruses.

-          Fever

-          Chills

-          Fatigue (tiredness)

-          Cough

-          Runny or stuffy nose

-          Decrease in appetite

-          Sore throat

-          Vomiting

-          New loss of taste or smell

-          Headache, muscle or body aches

-          Diarrhea

-          Weakness

If you have trouble breathing or chest pain, seek emergency medical care immediately.

The CDC’s current recommendation is to stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after you are fever-free, and your symptoms are improving. Remember to wash your hands and improve airflow by opening windows and bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air or spending time outdoors. Make sure to routinely change your central heating, ventilation and air conditioning system filters every few months.

Video Interview Clips

It’s no secret there is a nursing shortage across the country. About 100,000 registered nurses left the workforce over the past two years due to stress, burnout and retirements. Another 610,000 have stated a plan in leaving by 2027, according to a study done last year by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. 

To stem the tide, some healthcare organizations are offering sizeable sign-on bonuses to new nurses and retention bonuses to current staff.

But there’s another approach that is proving successful – enticing more students to enter the nursing profession.

Dr. Charlene Aaron is the president of the OSF colleges of nursing – Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing in Peoria and Saint Anthony College of Nursing in Rockford. In her first year as president, the OSF colleges of nursing experienced a 42% increase in enrollment in the fall 2023 semester. Most of the enrollment has been into the graduate program, with approximately 15% in the undergraduate program.

“We have more and more calls and inquiries about coming to our colleges," she says. “Enrollment is on the way up, because people are understanding that a nursing career is a solid career. They will always have a job and are learning more and more about the variety of how they can spend their career in nursing.” 

Dr. Aaron calls the next wave of experienced nurses retiring a ‘silver tsunami.’ And not just in hospitals, but medical groups, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities are also hiring additional staff. Of course, she says, the COVID-pandemic contributed to many of the stressors that nurses face daily. But the pandemic spurred others to choose a career in nursing as well - many of whom persevered during a global crisis. 

“It just showed the strength, stamina, and savvy that nurses have because they were able to do what nurses do, which is show up for duty on time and provide holistic care to every patient they cared for," she says. "They were there to provide care and support for families and get them through that process as well. And that is impressive.”

Dr. Aaron says nursing colleges need to think outside the box when recruiting students. And that includes finding more male students.

According to the American Nurses Association, the percentage of male nurses is about 13%. While that number has risen over the years, Dr. Aaron says it’s still an area of untapped potential for any medical facility.

“There are so many different ways that a nurse can practice, and it does not have to be at the bedside – things like informatics which means using data working from a computer,” she says. “Insurance companies employ registered nurses and want to hire nurses who are fluent with technology. So that's just one opportunity for men to practice as nurses.”

Dr. Aaron plans to introduce a program called nursing pipeline preparatory program (NP3). It’s a program that takes nursing schools like OSF into area high schools to introduce the students to a potential nursing career. The high school students can tour the colleges of nursing, shadow faculty members, and get an up-close look at how nursing students learn their craft.

“It’s just fascinating,” says Dr. Aaron. “The students love it, and it allows them a chance to have hands on activities just like nurses do, so that they can begin to imagine themselves working in a nursing role.”

OSF HealthCare now offers a 12-month accelerated nursing program which may also entice future students. The program started at Saint Francis Medical Center in October 2023 and will be available at Saint Anthony College in the fall. At the completion of this program, the student will receive a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) and will sit for the NCLEX (nursing boards) exam shortly after graduation and become a registered nurse.

Dr. Aaron says the options are endless when it comes to a career in nursing.

“It's so exciting because there are so many different types of nursing that you can do,” she says. “If you want to practice in one area, but if you get a little restless you might try something different. You can do that. It’s just a wonderful profession. You'll never be bored. Never.”

For more information on a career in nursing, visit the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing or the Saint Anthony College of Nursing. 
 

Interview Clips 

B-Roll

The viruses have come and gone in waves. In the late fall, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was spreading quickly through younger children and older adults. Fast forward to the present day, COVID-19 is once again the main antagonist, while influenza remains in the community as well.

“RSV cases have steadily down trended over the last month ago. Concurrently, we’ve seen an increase in influenza activity. Influenza activity is also seasonal, and was expected to happen during this period,” says Douglas Kasper, MD, infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare. “Influenza cases have also taken a downturn over the last two weeks. Typically, we will see a second spike of flu cases in March and April, so it’s not too late to get your flu shot.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Tracker indicated that Illinois was at a medium level for COVID-19 hospitalizations through the week ending January 13^th.

Dr. Kasper is also the section head of infectious disease at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. He says COVID-19 cases are making the rounds throughout OSF hospitals across the communities OSF serves, in large part due to holiday gatherings, travel and kids going back to school.

“When we talked about COVID-19 in the beginning, we were worried about very severe infections,” Dr. Kasper says. “Fortunately, that has diminished significantly. We still do see people in the hospital, particularly those who are the most vulnerable, that can have difficult times clearing COVID infection. But for the majority of the population who are getting infected, most people are on their second, third, or even more number of times being infected. The severity of symptoms seems to be less than prior infection, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t disrupt their life.”

Dr. Kasper says the best way to protect yourself against severe infection is still the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Vaccination remains the best tool. We know you can still become infected after becoming vaccinated, but the benefit of the vaccine is lessening the severity of symptoms and returning to whatever activity you have planned,” he says.

The current COVID-19 vaccine is not a booster, as some may think. It’s a reformulated vaccine that’s considered to be separate, as far as the COVID-19 strains it covers, according to Dr. Kasper.

“If you’ve received a few COVID-19 shots in 2021 or 2022, you got a booster and you felt like this was a reiteration of that, it’s a little different. That’s the benefit of at least one more COVID vaccine,” Dr. Kasper says. “It adds to the library of immunity in our population. Something that’s different than just boosting over and over again.”

Another tool available to stop the spread of COVID-19 is testing. Free tests are available at COVID.gov. At least four tests can be shipped to your home, free of charge. Dr. Kasper says this is a great way for people with mild symptoms to have peace of mind, and not spread the virus to others if they are positive.

“Testing for COVID-19 is unique. It can be done rapidly; it can be done at home. It does lend some information, as well, if you’re going to be hosting people or traveling where you may want to make others aware if you tested positive,” Dr. Kasper says. “If you’re feeling ill, and you take a test, try to rest and stay at home from work until you’re feeling better. Then, whatever period of infectiousness you’ve had will have passed by that point.”

For more severe cases of COVID-19, Dr. Kasper says Paxlovid has become a widespread option for patients.

“Paxlovid is a combination of two antiviral medications,” Dr. Kasper says. “They work to kill the virus. They terminate the virus from replicating, that’s all they do. They don’t modify your immune system or do anything to your blood cells or modify any other part of your body.  When you have a viral infection and you want to take an antiviral medication, you want to stop the virus from creating new copies of itself. Also, you want to do that as early as possible.”

Dr. Kasper says Paxlovid, and other antiviral medications, are available for positive COVID-19 patients through OSF PromptCare, OSF OnCall Urgent Care, and primary care locations so you don’t have to visit the emergency room. He adds that Tamiflu is often used when people are having a more severe flu case.

OSF HealthCare offers telehealth options that are available by phone or computer. You can talk quickly to an OSF OnCall medical provider at osfoncall.org/virtualvisit. They can walk you through your symptoms and provide a treatment plan and medication if needed.

Video Interview Clips

The success of the OSF OnCall Digital Hospital in Peoria has paved the way for expansion to Rockford, Illinois.

OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center is preparing to launch OSF OnCall Digital Hospital – an option to receive hospital-level care at home for some patients such as those with heart failure, COPD, COVID, infections, pneumonia, or other illnesses. Patients who qualify have been admitted through the emergency department or referred for admission directly by their provider.

Courtney Dahnert, MSN, RN, supervisor of Clinical Digital Care for OSF OnCall Digital Hospital in Rockford, says the care team at the OSF OnCall Command Center in Peoria will identify patients aged 18 and older who could be enrolled. Criteria to be enrolled includes their diagnosis, condition stability, they live within 30 minutes of OSF Saint Anthony, and have an insurer that covers hospital care at home. Medicare is among the payers willing to support home-based acute care.

OSF OnCall Digital Care Manager Melissa Meier, MSN, RN, says patients are also screened to make sure their home environment is safe and that they have the ability to be cared for at home. Once enrolled, a tech kit, providing 24/7 instant connection, is set up in the home before a patient arrives.

“A tablet, which is how we do our video visits, as well as Bluetooth enabled biometric equipment for us to be able to do vital signs remotely. We also bring a backup power source as well as a backup internet source and a device which is a personal emergency response system, which functions much like a Life Alert button.”

For potential candidates worried they’re not tech savvy, Pam Anderson, a patient from Morton enrolled in the program through OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria says everything is so easy to use.

“The phone … you don't dial it. You just pick it up and it rings directly to the (digital health) center. And once you do that, then somebody will appear on the iPad. So, if you do need something, you're actually speaking to someone (you can see). You're not just talking on the phone. And they're extremely prompt in answering. So there really isn't, in my opinion, a lot of technology involved. Thank heavens,” Anderson gladly reports.

There is a minimum of two visits from a nurse each day. Patients receive three meals a day and individuals can live alone or with family members. Costs are the same as for a hospital stay.

Meier says OSF OnCall Digital Hospital helps both the health system and the patient.

Research also shows patients in digital hospital programs recover faster, fewer are re-admitted to the hospital and they avoid hospital-acquired infections.

OSF is currently recruiting and training nurses for the digital hospital program in Rockford with special curriculum developed by OSF Innovation. It includes simulation for real-life scenarios, so nurses are prepared for any challenges. Dahnert says most nurses enjoy this new way of caring for patients that harkens back to the days of house calls.

“It takes us back to being able to provide that really good care; getting to know someone even though we're only caring for them for two or three days and making their health relevant to them. And it gives us time to breathe. So it's an amazing opportunity for both the patient and the provider.”

For patients concerned about their care and safety at home, the first-ever digital hospital patient for OSF, Jim Stickelmaier, says being at home was the best medicine.

“I would say definitely try it. I think they’ll find out that it was a lot easier and a lot nicer to be at home than in the hospital.” 

OSF OnCall has cared for nearly 370 patients in the Peoria area since launching its digital hospital program in August of 2022. The first digital hospital patient at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center could be admitted after the program launches for Rockford area patients on February 27.

Melissa Meier and Courtney Dahnert

OSF OnCall Digital Hospital Peoria-area patients Pam Anderson and Jim Stickelmaier

B-roll OSF OnCall Digital Hospital

It can boost your health!

OSF HealthCare Family Medicine Physician, Dr. Alina Paul, sings and plays guitar for patients. 

She says benefits include pain reduction, better lung capacity, more confidence and a sense of belonging. It even helps with dementia.

“Don’t take it as an exercise. Don’t do it because you have to. Do it because you want to do it. Anybody can sing. Make a point to sing. It’s like meditation. It’s very beneficial," Dr. Paul says.

 If singing causes your throat or chest to hurt, take a break. 

Another pesky thing that may bother your throat or chest? That lingering cough.

It's common with all of the upper respiratory illnesses going around including colds, COVID-19, flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

If you treated your symptoms and you're feeling better, but the cough is sticking around, Dr. Juanbosco Ayala, a Pulmonologist with OSF HealthCare, has some reasons why.

“A lot of times it’s due to the local inflammation that persists. There’s not much to do for it, we typically recommend antihistamines, and sometimes you’ll have to cycle those," Dr. Ayala says. "It’s usually something that subsides with time. But if it doesn’t, then obviously that may need to be looked at.”

Among the over-the-counter meds that may help clear you up include Claritin-D, Benadryl, Allegra and Mucinex.

Health Highlights Video Version With Chyrons

Health Highlights Video Version Without Chyrons

'Tis the season of sharing. Both gifts and germs. 

Right now, your child may be writing Santa Claus for gifts, some of which may include battery-powered items. 

However, these can pose health hazards to young children. 

An Illinois family issues a warning after their child swallowed a tiny lithium battery.

“She was struggling with something that was stuck in her esophagus and starting to show signs of discomfort and pain," says Joseph Mumbu, father of Liana Mumbu who swallowed a tiny lithium battery.

“Time is of the essence." emphasizes Dr. Daniel Robertson, a surgeon with OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois.

Quickly, Joseph rushed Liana to a hospital of Canton, Illinois. The team there quickly contacted the OSF Care-Hub, who alerted Dr. Robertson. 

An ambulance ride and a trip to the operating room at OSF Children's Hospital led to Dr. Robertson operating and saving Liana's life. 

Dr. Robertson emphasizes that saliva can cause an electrical current, burning the esophagus within two hours. Quick removal is crucial to prevent irreversible damage.

A year ago, an early season start to respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, prompted OSF OnCall to launch an at-home monitoring program for infants to 5-year-olds with the virus. 

RSV is the leading cause of hospitalizations for infants and children. 

Now, OSF has expanded the program to include remote monitoring and 24/7 support for all pediatric respiratory viruses.

“They love having support anytime in the day, however they want to do it – text message, phone call, anything. They can send us pictures. We've really kind of taken that to tailor what parents need to feel comfortable taking their children home, you know, from a clinic; from the hospital during the scary time," says Rose Smith, Clinical Digital Care Supervisor with OSF OnCall.

A medical provider must confirm a diagnosis and make a referral to the program. Call or visit your child's pediatrician to get started.

The National Safety Council says each year, more than 3,500 people swallow lithium batteries. 

Another big warning, don't induce vomiting but instead get to your nearest hospital emergency department.

Health Highlights Video Version With Chyrons

Health Highlights Video Version Without Chyrons

As many viruses are circulating around our communities, it is paramount to monitor your symptoms and know when the right time is to seek medical care in person. Sarah Overton, the Chief Nursing Officer for OSF Medical Group, Home Care and Employee Health, stresses the importance of virtual care when your symptoms are mild.

“That way we’re not exposing you to anyone in the public and you’re not exposing the health care worker to illness,” Overton says. “Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in health care worker illness where our nurses and doctors have to stay home because they are being exposed to illness.”

Hospitals across the OSF Ministry have been seeing a spike in COVID-19 patients. If you suspect you have COVID-19 but your symptoms are mild, take an at-home COVID-19 test. The federal government has another stockpile of at-home tests that are free to order on COVID.gov. Every household can receive four free rapid tests. Dr. Brian Curtis, Vice President of Clinical Specialty Services with OSF HealthCare, says taking tests at home will help free up space at medical facilities.

“Coming in just to get tested takes up spots for the people that are really sick or are high-risk,” Dr. Curtis says.

“The Emergency Room is reserved for those true emergencies,” Overton adds. “We have patients that have heart attacks and lung issues with their COPD. Additional patients overflowing the Emergency Room takes away precious time from assessing those patients who shouldn’t be exposed to those viruses while being in our waiting rooms.”

But COVID-19 isn’t the only virus making the rounds in our communities right now. Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and others are being seen often as well. So how can we stop the spread of viruses?

·         Stay home when you aren’t feeling well.

·         Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer regularly.

·         Cough or sneeze into your elbow.

·         Wipe down high-touch surfaces with disinfectant wipes.

·         Don’t share glasses or silverware with others.

·         Receive the flu shot.

For treating mild symptoms at home, Dr. Curtis offers some guidance for using over-the-counter options.

“You can take Tylenol or Motrin for fevers and aches. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest,” Dr. Curtis says.

Overton says to make sure you read the labels on any over-the-counter medication you buy. If you have any questions, you can ask a retail pharmacist, or send a message through MyChart to your OSF care team.

When is the right time to be seen?

“If you have a super deep cough that’s hanging on for quite a while or have a fever that lasts for several days,” Overton says. “Or if you have high-risk factors and may benefit from some of our medications for COVID, like Paxlovid, which are readily available in our retail pharmacy locations. We also have COVID-19 boosters able to be administered in our primary care offices.”

“There is a medication for influenza, but if you have a mild case, you’ll have more side effects from the medication than you are having from influenza itself. As far as RSV goes, there’s really no treatment for it except for supportive care.”

If you are sick and plan to visit a medical facility, please cover your face with a mask to decrease exposure to the health care workers.

Below you will find data about patient volumes in both the Peoria and Bloomington markets. The 7-day period covers November 28-December 4, and the 30-day period is for November 5-December 4.

Peoria Primary Care visits:

7-day period: 8,302 (1.6% increase from same 7-day period last year)

30-day period: 32,639 (4% increase from same 30-day period last year)

Peoria OnCall Urgent Care visits:

7-day period: 2,643

30-day period: 10,672 (13% increase from month before, 8.1% increase from same 30-day period last year)

Peoria PromptCare visits:

7-day period: 1,743

30-day period: 7,190 (14.3% increase from month prior)

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center Emergency Department - Peoria

7-day period: 1,625 (11.1% increase from week prior)

30-day period: 6,729

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center - Bloomington

Bloomington Primary Care visits:

7-day period: 2,897 (41.5% increase from week before)

30-day period: 11,608

Bloomington OnCall Urgent care visits:

7-day period: 848 (16.8% increase from week before)

30-day period: 3,508 (10.3% increase from month prior)

Bloomington PromptCare

7-day: 1,517

30-day: 6,176 (16.2% increase from month prior)

Sarah Overton Video Interview Clips

Dr. Brian Curtis Video Interview Clips

The COVID-19 pandemic taught the healthcare industry many things when it comes to delivery of care. One of the biggest lessons was the need for telehealth medicine.

“We know that telehealth became a necessity during COVID, but even after COVID it was a way that we could increase our access, to give people care and to try to keep them healthier at home,” says Dawn Mosher, assistant professor, OSF Saint Anthony College of Nursing. “And we really need to make sure that our healthcare professionals are being educated on how to provide care that way.”

Telehealth connects patients to health care services through videoconferencing, remote monitoring, and electronic consultations. And it’s becoming more popular for patients and providers. According to the American Hospital Association, 76% of U.S. hospitals connect patients and medical providers using video and other technology.

The Saint Anthony College of Nursing has added a telehealth simulation laboratory to its curriculum that will help educate nursing students for the future.

In 2020, the College of Nursing created two scenarios that were first used by graduate students. Scenarios were then written for the undergrad nursing students to provide them with telehealth experiences. The telehealth lab was built thanks to a grant from Community Health Advocacy (CHA), a partnership between the Jump Simulation & Education Center at OSF HealthCare and the University of Illinois Chicago.

Mosher says telehealth is going to become the norm for providers – some patients will be seen in person and others will be seen over telehealth. And the simulation lab will prepare today’s students as they enter the workforce.

“Their confidence will be better when they do these things out in the healthcare field and their knowledge will be better,” says Mosher. “And hopefully they'll see that their patients are more satisfied because they’ll feel like they're heard and cared for.”

The simulation-based training allows students to get firsthand experience with possible healthcare scenarios, with actors playing their patients. The actors are trained in how to respond to the follow-up questions from the students.

The scenarios vary. For example, some students complete a mental health follow up appointment for a patient who was hospitalized for depression and later discharged. Other students follow up with a patient admitted for with a seizure or stroke. Professors oversee the sessions and provide feedback.

For students like Lauryn Eitenmiller, the simulation provided an opportunity to interact with a patient, something, she says, will help her confidence when she becomes a full-time nurse.

“It was interesting because you got to see what kinds of questions they asked, what was of a concern, what they needed from you and what you needed from them,” she says. “It was the fostering of that communication with them that was really eye opening.”

Eitenmiller knows that nurses are faced with many daunting tasks, whether it’s COVID or some other challenge. She says she’s ready, thanks to her educational experience.

“It just prepared me for taking over, accepting an assignment and really just caring for your patients as best as you can in those sorts of conditions,” she says.

Students can expect more educational offerings using the telehealth simulation lab. Students at the Saint Anthony College of Nursing will team up with medical and pharmacy students from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford in future sessions.

For more information, visit the Saint Anthony College of Nursing.
 

Dawn Mosher Interview Clips 

Lauryn Eitenmiller Interview Clips 

B-roll

That’s why the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is leading a nationwide initiative called Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery, or RECOVER, to understand long COVID better.  In Illinois, the program is called the ILLInet RECOVER study and is led by the University of Illinois Chicago. OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria was chosen as one of the ILLInet RECOVER clinical trial hosts.

John Hafner, MD, is one of the principal investigators for the study at OSF HealthCare. He’s also a clinical professor of emergency medicine with the University of Illinois College of Medicine and an Emergency Medicine doctor for OSF HealthCare in Peoria.

“Long COVID is a series of very diverse symptoms that people develop after they’ve been sick with COVID,” Dr. Hafner explains. “It’s different for everyone. We think somewhere between 10%-20% of people that develop COVID will end up with long COVID symptoms.”

Dr. Hafner says to be able to treat long COVID, you first need to be able to understand it. He hopes this study does just that.

“We’re able to characterize exactly what the symptoms are of long COVID, be able to discuss how we would diagnose that, as well as enroll patients in future trials to try and improve long COVID symptoms,” Dr. Hafner says.

This is the hope for Keith Hanson, MD, another investigator on the ILLInet RECOVER study. Dr. Hanson has kept in touch with many of the patients treated for long COVID and says the responses have been very positive.

“A year from now we’d like to see clinical trials with treatments in this population. Because right now we see the symptoms and try to define it. The next stage is seeing if there are treatments that can be effective,” Dr. Hanson says. “Maybe the patients we’ve enrolled will be interested in the treatment to see if it will alleviate their symptoms.”

The program began in August of 2022, and since then 166 patients have been enrolled in the Peoria area, and 717 people in the Chicago area. Dr. Hafner says OSF HealthCare, the Peoria City/County Health Department, Carle Health and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria are working together to make the program a success.

“OSF Saint Francis has a wonderful population here for the trials,” Dr. Hafner says. “We have rural and urban, and we span a great distance throughout Central Illinois.”

Thanks to a $22 million investment from the NIH in ILLInet RECOVER, study participants can be compensated for their time. The goal of the nationwide effort is to gain as much information from different people in different locations to understand the lingering symptoms of long COVID, Dr. Hafner adds.

Not everyone enrolled in the program is a current COVID-19 patient. Rather, Dr. Hanson says it has been a way for people to learn more about their overall health.

“Patients that have had chronic fatigue or headaches from COVID and they want to know if this is related to COVID. They might wonder if it’s just related to them getting older or if something else is going on,” Dr. Hanson says.  “A lot of people are figuring out they have high cholesterol or low vitamin D and they didn’t know about it.”

Nearly 14,000 adults and more than 9,500 kids have been enrolled in the NIH RECOVER study across the United States.

Dr. John Hafner Video Interview Clips

Dr. Keith Hanson Video Interview Clips

B-Roll

After more than three years of shut-downs, mask mandates and physical distancing, COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency.

The U.S. COVID-19 public health emergency declaration was first issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on January 31, 2020. It officially expires May 11, 2023.  The World Health Organization also recently declared an end to the international public health emergency, although it still classifies COVID-19 as a pandemic.

The end of the state of emergency means the U.S. government is scaling back its approach to COVID-19, which means prevention, care and treatment are about to become more expensive. In addition, some telehealth options that were made available during the public health emergency are going away, so check with your provider about your options.

The COVID-19 response plan changed drastically over the past three years. For three-quarters of the first year of the pandemic, no vaccine was readily available.

“During the time that no COVID-19 vaccine was available, the whole population was at risk of contracting COVID,” says Douglas Kasper, MD, section head of infectious disease at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria and an infectious disease specialist for OSF HealthCare. “There was no banked natural immunity. People had not had infection yet. We saw much different outcomes in that period. People of all ages became ill, people of all ages were in the hospital, and it was much more difficult to predict who would become sick.”

Dr. Kasper says the rollout of vaccines helped protect people against the virus.

“People were also able to achieve natural immunity which works in concert with the vaccine. We’ve seemed to provide long-lasting protection,” Dr. Kasper says.

But COVID-19 vaccines weren’t the only answer to the medical community’s Pandemic response. Dr. Kasper says medical providers have refined their approach to offering therapeutics to people with COVID.

“We know which people are at-risk of becoming quite ill, and when they become ill we know how to treat them. We’ve seen much better responses,” Dr. Kasper says. “Now we’ve had consistently low COVID hospitalizations for around six months.”

But where do we go from here? COVID-19 cases haven’t magically disappeared, and people are still getting sick with the virus. Dr. Kasper says this new era of COVID response must become much more individual.

“Your ability to receive a booster is going to be based on your age, the prior shots you’ve received, and your chronic medical conditions,” Dr. Kasper says. “These broad constructs of requiring vaccine for travel or employment have been removed because it’s no longer seen as a broad group, it’s seen as an individual decision.”

Dr. Kasper says these past three years will help health care providers communicate emergency response more efficiently. He hopes the communication systems that are now in place help avoid any delay in testing, access to care, therapeutics and vaccines.

“Worldwide surveillance and information sharing is something that’s developed very quickly in COVID. Some has been through social media, some has been through rapid development with public health departments and national groups,” Dr. Kasper says.

While the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration is ending, many resources like COVID tests and vaccines are still available. Dr. Kasper recommends speaking with your health care provider on which options are the best for you.

Video Interview Clips

While society adjusts to the new normal of work, family, social interaction, along with an easing of health and safety protocols post-pandemic, behavioral health leaders say the residual impact on increasing loneliness among all age groups and populations can’t be ignored.

Research has found that social isolation significantly increases a person's risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.

For example, a study, published by Jama Network Open establishes a link between social isolation and blood-clotting protein levels which can contribute to stroke or heart attacks in older women.  Being lonely could trigger flight and fight stress levels of fibrinogen which usually spikes in case of blood loss and injury.

Most of us understand that getting older can mean a loss of friends and a greater feeling of loneliness but in recent years, researchers have found millennials are feeling lonelier than Baby Boomers.

According to a study by Cigna, young adults are twice as likely to be lonely than seniors. Seventy-nine percent of adults aged 18 to 24 report feeling lonely compared to 41% of seniors aged 66 and older. This is consistent with earlier research.

Morgan Hurtado of Bloomington, Illinois is in her early 30s and has three younger boys. She works days. Her husband works second shift. Weekends are spent with her oldest boy’s travel soccer team. But Hurtado lives where she grew up and has longtime friends nearby. However, she says at least one other millennial friend has moved and feels very disconnected.

“I see him a lot on social media just doing things by himself or maybe on Snapchat just sitting at home, watching TV, not really going out and having face-to-face interactions in a large group setting where there, being a metropolitan area, there’s plenty of opportunity to do that,” she shared.

 OSF HealthCare Behavioral Health Director Cheryl Crowe says many millennials are focused on developing and advancing in their careers which often takes them away from their family and friends.

“We’re now a very mobile workforce. Previously the kids who came back home, worked and they were near family, and they still had their high school friends. That dynamic is fading quite a bit,” she suggested.

Crowe points out loneliness is not about being physically alone, but it speaks to a loss of feeling connected through meaningful relationships. Other studies have decisively linked heavy social media and internet use with both loneliness and depression. Crowe says it’s certainly a contributing factor with an age group which tends to spend more time on the internet and social media.

“When you are on social media, a lot of what you’re seeing is not reality. What we post are our best situations, our best self, our best opportunities and often when we look at that, we may not measure up to what our friends are doing or what our acquaintances are doing,” according to Crowe.

As Hurtado began reflecting, the mom realized she mostly relies on her family for intimate discussions and support. She is challenging herself to get out of her comfort zone and make more in-person connections.

“Something I’m trying in my personal life as sort of an experiment if you will, is to limit my social media interactions or just limit my time as a whole on social media, forcing me to have those in-person interactions more often and maybe leading to new relationships, friendships.”

Pandemic effect on older seniors in nursing homes

Newer research from the AARP Foundation  showed the consequences of isolation and loneliness on nursing home residents’ quality of life are alarming: 50% increased risk of developing dementia, a 32% increased risk of stroke and a nearly fourfold increased risk of death among heart failure patients. That study was conducted in 2020, the first full year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Denise Dechow (pronounced DECK-oh), DO, a psychiatrist at OSF HealthCare who specializes in geriatric care, says long term care shutdowns left a lasting impact. Patients who had trouble hearing and seeing really struggled with the technology that allowed virtual visits with family, friends or medical providers.

Some nursing homes with COVID-19 outbreaks required patients to remain in their rooms, so residents experienced even more isolation than usual. That, in turn, affected their physical and mental health, Dr. Dechow says.

“Feelings of loneliness can lead to increased risk of depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, aggression, impulsivity and suicidal thoughts.”

AARP Foundation analyzed federal data and found 1 in 8 nursing home residents passed away from COVID-19. At the same time, the pandemic prevented many people from gathering and holding funerals. That was particularly hard on older seniors who saw their fellow long term care residents, or in some cases, lifelong friends pass away.

Dr. Dechow says grieving is more challenging without access to the rituals that might make it more bearable. There is a condition called Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD). In complicated grief, painful emotions are so long lasting and severe, individuals have trouble recovering from the loss.

“And this has to do with prolonging symptoms of anxiety, depression, sadness and sleep disturbance. What we notice is that we can’t not participate in these rituals. These are important and must take place, even if it’s a year after someone has passed.”

The risk of PGD is higher in older adults and those with a psychiatric history. Dr. Dechow says health care providers are going to have to recognize symptoms of this relatively newly defined disorder and make proper referrals.

Are you at risk for loneliness and social isolation? Check out this National Institutes of Health infographic for a list of risk factors and 5 ways to stay more connected.

OSF Silver Cloud is a free online tool and phone app to help manage the feelings and causes of depression, anxiety or stress. OSF HealthCare also offers free behavioral health navigation services to help understand all resources available to you.

Video clips with Morgan Hurtado 

Video clips with  Cheryl Crowe

Video clips with Dr. Denise Dechow, (pronounced DECK-oh), DO

Every year Merriam-Webster adds new words to the dictionary, often those that have made their way into everyday language and pop culture.

While it’s not officially on the list, the term “tripledemic” is certainly a strong contender. The word was coined to describe the near simultaneous increase in COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, cases. Millions across the country have been getting sick at an alarming rate earlier than normal, particularly for flu, putting increased pressure on health care systems across the country.

Young children, those under two-years-old, are particularly susceptible to RSV, as well as those with other chronic health conditions. Children typically develop anything from cold-like symptoms to a more severe cough or even trouble breathing.

Dr. Keith Hanson, a pediatrician with Peoria, Illinois-based OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, says RSV is doing what RSV has done for decades, but we have become a little bit complacent because kids weren’t really sick for the last couple years due to COVID-19 lockdowns, limitations and mask-wearing.

“It definitely is more severe than other years, more patients, but every three to four years we kind of have a busy year anyway, whether it's from RSV or flu or other viruses. So it's not unusual by a five-year trend to have a lot more patients,” says Dr. Hanson.

One of the challenges from an infectious disease perspective is that what may start as RSV or the flu, whether it be a child or an adult, can get a lot worse because of secondary bacterial infections.

“So the bacteria is taking advantage of going down to deep in your lungs. Going to the sterile sites better – ears, sinuses and other soft tissues. You don't think that the viral infection(s) are only some of the problem but the complications are also the problem,” explains Dr. Mustafa Bakir with OSF HealthCare.

As a pediatric infectious disease specialist, Dr. Bakir wants to reassure parents that – for the most part – they should not be overly concerned about the increase in cases of COVID-19, flu and RSV in kids, unless their child has other conditions that affect their immune system.

But both he and Dr. Hanson agree parents DO need to be attentive to any symptoms their child might have because there isn’t a magic pill that can cure any of them.

“It's not like an antibiotic you can take and be better in two or three days, they may shorten your illness, maybe a little bit less severe, but it's not going to make you feel a lot better very quickly or necessarily prevent transmission. There's not much we can do for all these viral illnesses besides supportive care and contain the spread,” says Dr. Hanson. “Do they have a fever or trouble breathing? Or are they not drinking enough? Those are the same kind of things that you would have watched for anytime. And it's the same now. So even though these things are in the news, we are seeing more cases, the average person, especially if you don’t have any other medical conditions, doesn't have to do anything that you would be doing otherwise as a parent and just kind of watch out for those common things.”

With the winter respiratory season far from over, and in the wake of holiday get-togethers and travel, and with schools set to get back into session, a few of the COVID-era prevention strategies that have fallen by the wayside are recommended by both doctors.

Dr. Bakir stresses “Don't go to public places if you're sick, if your kid is sick. Don't take your kid to public places. This is going to protect your kid as well. He needs to be a home and take some rest. And sanitation of your hands. Please, please use a mask. It's a very simple, cheap and very effective way to prevent the disease.”

Adds Dr. Hanson: “Vaccination can't be emphasized enough for influenza, for COVID, if eligible depending on the age. Unfortunately there isn't one for RSV, though. It's been under researched for many years. The benefits of vaccination greatly outweigh the risks, not just for yourself, because it’s going to reduce transmission, reduces various illness, but also preventing continued spread in our communities.”

If your child or any family member is running a high fever or is having difficulty breathing, you are encouraged to contact your primary care physician or seek urgent/emergency care if necessary. OSF HealthCare has also established a remote monitoring program for infants and toddlers with RSV through OSF OnCall Digital Health.

Dr. Keith Hanson interview clips

Dr. Mustafa Bakir interview clips

Nick Cannon is a busy man. 

The comedian, TV host and rapper, is also a father of 11, a lupus survivor and now he's battling another illness. Cannon recently posted on social media he was hospitalized with pneumonia. 

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), viruses, bacteria, and fungi can all cause pneumonia.

In the United States, common causes of viral pneumonia are:

• Influenza viruses
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19)

“COVID is kind of a wild card," says BreAnne Gendron, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), for OSF HealthCare. "It does create symptoms of shortness of breath. People can have fevers, it is a viral illness. It’s seven to 10 days where people will have a day where they start feeling better. If you have shortness of breath, no matter what your diagnosis is, you want to seek treatment. The concern with COVID isn’t so much pneumonia as blood clots in your lungs causing shortness of breath. We would want to make sure that you're safe in regards to that side of it.”

Most of the people affected by pneumonia in the United States are adults. CDC data shows more than 47,000 people died from pneumonia in 2020.

“Pneumonia is an infection that gets the travels through your lungs for one reason or another," says Gendron. "Whether you are prone to infection because your immune system is suppressed. Smokers are more prone to pneumonia, people with COPD or asthma or other lung conditions. If you work in a place where there's lots of people in one place, you're more likely to be sick and that can lead to pneumonia.”

Symptoms of pneumonia include high fever, fatigue, chills, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath and headache. Walking pneumonia is a nonmedical term which refers to a milder case of pneumonia.

“If you have a fever greater than 101, or if you are a person that has any of those high risk factors, you have COPD, you’re immune compromised, any of these things that would make you higher risk for pneumonia, and you should seek treatment," says Gendron.  "It’s better to be safe than sorry; it's easier to treat you when you're less ill than when you're struggling to breathe and we have to send you to the emergency room.”

Gendron says people who have pneumonia are prone to getting it again. Treatment options include antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia and rest and fluids are in order for viral pneumonia.

The CDC recommends children younger than age five and adults 65 and older get the pneumococcal vaccine, along with children and adults who are at a higher risk due to other health conditions.

“Your health care provider may recommend that you get the pneumonia vaccine younger than 65, but everybody over the age of 65 should have a pneumonia vaccine because that’s when people are at high risk for developing it," says Gendron. "As we age our immune systems are generally less effective than they were when we were young. So it’s good to get the vaccine after 65.”

Gendron offers other tips to help stay healthy this winter – avoid people who are sick, wash your hands often, quit smoking and manage conditions like diabetes, asthma and heart disease.

“When you’re wondering if it’s pneumonia or walking pneumonia, it doesn’t really matter which one it is," she adds. "You need to go by your symptoms and if you’re having high fevers, shortness of breath, you’re coughing so much you can’t sleep at night that you feel like you need help. You should be seen so that we can make sure you’re safe.”

For more information on pneumonia, visit OSF HealthCare.

Interview Clips 

One of the most common symptoms found in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic was the loss of smell and taste.

While many people rebound quickly from the loss of smell (most recover within 30 days), others have not. In fact, according to a recent study in the BMJ, (the medical journal of the British Medical Association), about 27 million people in the world are experiencing long-term effects of loss of smell or taste.

“There is a subset about 5%, where we're seeing the loss of smell and taste remaining longer than six months," says Angela Vezzetti, PA, a physician's assistant at OSF HealthCare, specializing in otolarynogology (the study of the ear, nose and throat). "Some studies have looked at different gene mutations in patients where they're seeing certain mutations impact the sense of smell and the recovery rates. There are a lot of studies going on right now to determine why these patients are not recovering their sense of smell and taste. One other study did note that there was a loss of tissue in the olfactory bulb of the brain that could potentially be causing this prolonged sense of loss of smell.”

The study also revealed that women were less likely to regain their sense of smell and taste than men, which Vezzetti attributes to women having a higher perception of smell than men. People who suffer from nasal congestion were also slower to recover from the loss of smell and taste.

The loss of smell has also been shown to have a significant impact when it comes to emotional and psychological well-being, especially among older people. Loss of smell can cause many emotions. It can make people feel disoriented, detached, anxious or worse. 

“I don't think a lot of people really realized the impact of loss of smell and taste, the sense of smell in general, people kind of took for granted to an extent and a lot more people have seen the really importance of smell when it comes to just taste in general," says Vezzetti. "Without the sense of smell and taste you can have aversions to certain foods, which for elderly people can lead to either a lack of desire to eat, or nutritional deficiencies, even malnutrition, because they're not getting those vitamins that they need because the food either tastes bad, or they just can't taste it at all.”

As time goes on, the medical community has developed a better understanding of how COVID-19 impacts the sense of smell and taste. That includes treatment options which have provided relief for some patients.

“The number one protocol that we recommend is something called olfactory or smell retraining, which we recommend patients take some essential oils which are a nice concentrated scent," says Vezzetti. "There are four of them that we recommend. They are a lemon, clove, eucalyptus and Rose and they smell those scents for maybe 15 seconds a day, once or twice a day and we've have seen some patients regain some of that loss of smell or diminished smell, retraining their sense of smell with these essential oils.”

This is just another reminder about the importance of getting the COVID vaccine. Medical experts believe that the vaccine may protect people from losing their sense of smell even if they get infected.

“I think people can be reassured to know that the good majority of patients with loss of smell or taste from COVID do recover either completely or partially," says Vezzetti. "And there are some things that can be done in the meantime while they're experiencing their symptoms to try to help such as smell retraining, maybe trying intranasal steroid spray to try to relieve some of that inflammation and hopefully bring back those senses. But I think that the fact that the good majority of patients have improved and are improving is a really good thing.”


 

Interview Clips 

Nikki Delinski, DNP, RN, director of Educational Operations for OSF Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center in Peoria, Illinois, is among Training magazine’s 2022 Top 25 Emerging Training Leaders in the nation. Delinski was further recognized as ranking among the Top 5 Emerging Training Leaders based on her nomination submitted by a colleague.

Training magazine, a leader in professional development and training news, is a magazine and online website advocating for training and workforce development as a business tool. It annually recognizes training professionals who inspire and engage their organizations with exceptional leadership skills, business acumen and innovation. The winners have been in the industry for two to 10 years and demonstrate stellar leadership skills, business savvy and training instincts.

Delinski started as a critical care nurse scholar, product education specialist, then served as director of Clinical Professional Development for OSF HealthCare. She’s been in her current role since February of 2020, and has direct oversight of the 13-member Educational Operations team, and the 40+-member Standardized Participant Program of specially trained actors for simulations. The teams engage in project development, scheduling, delivery and evaluation, and support all on-site simulation-based events as well as the “in situ” (on site) events across the health care system.

In addition to leading Jump’s educational operations, Delinski also represents the simulation center on multiple task forces and workgroups in the advancement of education and training for the OSF HealthCare Ministry. Her nominator, Lisa T. Barker, MD, points out, “The pandemic limited in-person training and Delinski responded by revitalizing the ‘in situ’ program and leveraged teleconferencing platforms to deploy virtual communication training opportunities across the system, keeping all participants safe.”

Dr. Barker applauds how Delinski collaborated with system leaders and educators to champion the use of Jump’s simulation resources and technologies to maximize impact.

Delinski also streamlined the process for submitting proposed educational simulations to be more supportive of clinical educators and to be more responsive to the training needs of the organization. During Fiscal Year 2021, there was a 128% increase in project intake over the prior year that’s credited to process change. Fiscal Year 2022 is on track to increase an additional 37%.

Throughout her career Delinski has been a champion for innovative solutions to problems facing the health care industry and the communities served by OSF HealthCare. The Peoria, Illinois-based integrated health system operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis employs nearly 24,000 Mission Partners in 150 locations, including 15 hospitals throughout Illinois and Michigan.

“I am so honored to receive this recognition among peers who represent well-respected organizations such as Verizon and AAA Motor Club,” says Delinski. “I feel blessed to contribute to advancing the education and training of care teams, support staff and community responders who are among the many who turn to OSF HealthCare for facilities, curriculum and immersive experiences that contribute to their knowledge and development in the medical community and other organizations.”

While honored to be recognized as a Top 25 Emerging Training Leader, Delinski also gives credit to the teams around her and the partnerships formed with other organizations that have allowed her to grow opportunities for OSF Mission Partners (employees) and other medical providers, schools, businesses and non-profits.

“Achieving this is really a reflection of those around me who embrace our culture of innovation. They are excited to explore new ways of presenting information and I credit all the partners that have been willing to trust us with their training and professional development and contributed to where we are today,” adds Delinski.

Lorri Freifeld, editor/publisher of Training magazine, says, “Despite continued turbulent times, the 2022 Emerging Training Leaders steered their organizations to optimal employee performance and business success.  Their ability to navigate under pressure, adapt and respond to change and inspire their learners, direct reports and colleagues is impressive.

“We salute these leaders who put their hearts and souls into training and charting new courses for learning and development,” she adds.

The award winners will be profiled in the March 2023 issue of Training magazine and online at trainingmag.com. They also will be honored at an awards ceremony on February 13, 2023, at Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort during the Training 2023 Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida.

A year ago, 84-year-old Jim Stickelmaier of Metamora almost died from a series of heart attacks. His wife Karen, a former nurse, had to talk him into going to the emergency department at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. It was a close call but doctors were able to save him. In late July, Stickelmaier had another scary health threat. One morning, his breathing became so labored that he didn’t resist when Karen called an ambulance to rush him to the hospital.

Stickelmaier had COVID-19-related pneumonia. X-rays showed fluid on both sides of his lungs, a telltale sign of congestive heart failure. But, with treatment, Stickelmaier responded well and was quickly stabilized.

It turns out he was a perfect candidate for the new OSF OnCall Digital Hospital program that provides supportive hospital-level care, but at home. Stickelmaier was the first patient admitted to the recently launched program and he’s a believer.

“I had my own bed to be in. I have my easy chair to sit in. I have my wife and my daughter with me to keep me company and they didn't have to worry about driving through all the traffic. It was really a good deal.” 

Paul Moots, MD, medical director of OSF OnCall Digital Hospital, says the program currently only involves select patients seen in the OSF Saint Francis Emergency Department (ED). Candidates have to be 18 or older, live within 30 minutes of the hospital and have Medicare as their insurer.

Dr. Moots explains patients will typically have conditions that might require a three or four day hospital stay, such as heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – nothing that would require a lot of medical interventions.

Think of it as a return to the house call – only with a lot more equipment and meal delivery. A special team outfitted Stickelmaier’s living room with portable oxygen (in case he needed it), a tablet for video calls and electronic bracelet he wore for safety and instant contact with his care team. There were also Bluetooth devices to monitor vital signs that sent data automatically into his electronic medical record.

Equipment is set up based on the patient’s unique needs. Dr. Moots says the standard set-up offers safety and comfort through constant connectivity.

“The patient will have a personal safety device that will allow them to contact the command center, even if they’re not able to reach the phone. We’ll have a back-up electricity device in their home and we’ll have internet connectivity provided by the digital hospital.” 

Software at the OSF OnCall Digital Hospital command center in downtown Peoria can identify potential candidates so ED doctors at OSF Saint Francis don’t have to. Cassie Worrick, an advanced practice provider (APP) who helped screen Stickelmaier in the ED and cared for him at home, says she uses screening tools to evaluate a patient’s ability to manage the in-home care instructions, and to know whether they have some type of nearby support.

“They do not necessarily have to have someone living with them, absolutely not. Of course, we take into account if there’s any cognitive impairment and what that might look like. Mobility issues and what that might look like. But, it’s all on an individual basis and what makes sense.” 

Before the program launched August 2, Digital Hospital operations and care teams were given a stress test of sorts during five weeks of training at Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center. Worrick says the effort simulated various scenarios using specially-trained actors filling in as patients.

“OSF has done a wonderful job, setting us up for different situations, knowing how to tackle everything, so that when we had our first patient, it was really smooth which, I think was from practicing all the ‘what ifs.’”

Each patient’s personalized schedule outlines days and times for in-home visits from the care team, such as a physical therapist, a nurse to deliver IV fluids and when needed, a night nurse to check on the patient. Worrick says APPs try to accommodate the patient’s lifestyle so, when possible, the care team schedules visits around a patient’s sleep schedule and favorite activities.

Karen Stickelmaier felt relieved not being entirely responsible for her husband’s care. Instead, OSF OnCall caregivers provided an IV and other medication, and they made sure Jim received breathing treatments as prescribed. The couple welcomed the frequent visits from his care team members who called before they came in-person and who made sure it was a good time for a virtual visit with the physician overseeing Jim’s care.

“I'm pleased to say that we had such a remarkable group of people that come in here and they were so happy. You know, and we were happy. We were looking forward to (sic) … if they said they were going to come at 2:30, they were out here changing into their, you know, everything (protective clothing). So they could come in here and we really enjoyed just having them here. They did a wonderful job.”

How hospital care at home began

The early work for the Digital Hospital program started as part of a Trailblazer challenge for OSF Mission Partners (employees) who researched more advanced home care as an idea to improve a patient’s experience and recovery. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and OSF Innovation used that research to quickly set up and scale a program to reduce the stress on hospital capacity and medical providers. It also allowed monitoring and treatment for people in their homes. In the first three months, OSF was among the few health systems in the country with a program that leveraged technology and cared for more than 100 patients without forcing them to seek treatment for COVID-19 at a medical clinic or hospital.

Suzanne Hinderliter, director of Digital Care Development for OSF OnCall, said that rapid rollout provided valuable insights.

“We learned a lot about taking care of patients in the home and how valuable it was to meet the patients in their home and give them care where they were, make them feel comfortable and safe and provide a really good experience, help them manage their care because in the end, these patients are going to need to manage themselves and manage their care and their chronic diseases and medications throughout the rest of their life. And so we're there to help make that possible in their home to ensure that we're decreasing any barriers that they have.” 

Later in the pandemic, the federal government recognized the benefit of offering hospital-level care at home and designed regulations and reimbursement for the services provided under Medicare. OSF eventually paused its novice program to allow OSF Innovation to research and validate the best technology and support service providers such as Boston-based Medically Home – a leader in care-at-home programs. Innovation teams worked with OSF OnCall leaders to coordinate pharmacy needs, meal service and delivery, imaging and transportation, along with diagnostic tools and monitoring.

Looking to create a high-tech, high-touch effort, OSF designed a robust Digital Hospital initiative to meet or surpass new regulations and launched the reimagined program.

Hinderliter says telehealth leaders continue encouraging federal lawmakers to support legislation to ensure the program’s future. Meanwhile, OSF OnCall leaders continue planning to extend Digital Hospital care to other patients, including those recovering from surgery, as it also considers expanding a Digital Hospital program for other hospitals within the OSF Ministry.

“I think we've invested in this as a program moving forward and knowing that this is going to be valuable in the way of the future,” says Hinderliter. “We always have to be looking at the next thing and how can we make the care better for our patients? How can we take care of patients in a different way?”

Research shows patients recover faster, and there are fewer hospital re-admissions and hospital-acquired infections with Digital Hospital programs. Plus, its estimated hospitals can save up to 30% in costs, which could translate to lower bills for patients. At the very least, individuals who qualify can receive the same high-quality care and better sleep than in a hospital.

Jim Stickelmaier agrees and says being at home is the best medicine he could receive.

“I would say definitely try it. I think they’ll find out that it was a lot easier and a lot nicer to be at home than in the hospital.” 

Jim and Karen Stickelmaier, the first Digital Hospital patient

Dr. Paul Moots, medical director of OSF OnCall Digital Hospital, Cassie Worrick, APP Digital Hospital, Suzanne Hinderliter, director of Digital Care Development for OSF OnCall

Digital Hospital B-roll

When Le Ann Galbraith, a nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare, came down with COVID earlier this summer, she knew exactly what she needed to do. Stay home and self-medicate.

“Overall, I was able to manage my symptoms at home, pushing lots of fluids, Tylenol and Motrin as needed and I did take some over-the-counter allergy medicine," says Galbraith. "In general, I feel okay. I still have some fatigue and can work and do my job; it just feels like a have a lingering cold.”

Galbraith isn’t alone. Hospital ERs and urgent care facilities are being overwhelmed with people experiencing COVID-like symptoms including runny nose, sore throat, headache, persistent cough and fatigue.

Galbraith works in an OSF Prompt Care at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois. She says people coming in to be seen for mild COVID symptoms can bog down the system that needs to be agile to respond to patients with stroke, heart attack and broken bones.

“What we see right now with the current COVID infection is your symptoms are typically mild like you would see with a common cold or a mild case of influenza," says Galbraith. "You can stay home as long as you’re able to manage your symptoms with over-the-counter remedies with things like Tylenol and Motrin, you can use over-the-counter flu medications as long as you are able to take them and have no problems with that. The point is for you to stay home. And we’re not just seeing that.”

But that’s not the case for everyone. Anyone who has a chronic condition should pay close attention to their symptoms and contact their provider with any questions or concerns.

“It can still cause complications," says Galbraith, "it can still affect people especially those with chronic conditions; we’ve seen patients here who’ve had kidney transplants, organ transplants, heart problems, they’ve had open-heart surgery or maybe they’ve had a chronic condition like COPD or asthma, those are the types of things that in the back of your mind ‘is this affecting my every day life with my chronic disease and is it becoming worse, or is it something that I should continue to monitor and continue to treat as I would at home?”

For home treatment, Galbraith recommends over-the-counter medications like Tylenol and Motrin for fever, body aches and pain. For sinus issues, congestion, ear or facial pain, try a decongestant or allergy medication. And for a persistent cough that produces mucus, Galbraith says Mucinex is a good option. And continue to rest and consume plenty of fluids.

Medical experts continue to urge the public to follow several recommendations:

·         Get vaccinated

·         Get a booster if you're eligible

·         Choose outdoor activities over indoor activities whenever possible

·         Wash your hands often

·         Avoid close contact with others

·         Wear a mask in public places

·         Stay home if you're sick or have symptoms of COVID-19

 Galbraith says the goal of any health care facility is to always give the best care to every patient no matter their condition.

“If you feel like your symptoms have reached a point where you’re not able to manage it, we definitely want to see you," she adds. "We’re going to get through this, and we’ll do it together.”

For more information on COVID, visit OSF HealthCare.

Video Interview Clips 

B-Roll 

Shield CU, a partnership between OSF HealthCare and the University of Illinois, is highlighting its efforts to keep east central Illinois safe from COVID-19 through the quick and free administering of tens of thousands of saliva tests.

The university developed the saliva COVID test before the start of the fall 2020 semester. The COVID-19 resources OSF HealthCare also offered to the community proved to be a good match, and the Shield CU partnership was unveiled in March of 2021. As of June 12, Shield CU has conducted 77,703 tests. OSF HealthCare Mission Partners (employees) staffed the community testing sites each day. Nursing students from the U of I and Parkland College also assisted at the sites while obtaining clinical hours. OSF HealthCare was proud to partner with these local stakeholders to serve the community and slow the spread of the virus.

Aside from the general public, multiple school districts and employers used the Shield CU tests. Testers used a smartphone app to track results.

"MTD was grateful to partner with OSF and the U of I to bring a testing site to our employees,” said Karl Gnadt, managing director of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District. “We were even able to open the testing to employees' household members. OSF Mission Partners made our site easy to manage, and we never had to ask twice for anything."

“The partnership between the University of Illinois and OSF HealthCare has helped to meet the needs of COVID-19 testing for our community members during the pandemic,” said Wanda E. Ward, University of Illinois executive associate chancellor for public engagement. “Our collaborative work has been guided by the university’s land-grant mission of education, scholarship, service and engagement. It is essential we continue to serve as an anchor for the community working toward enhancing overall health. ” 

“In the past couple of years, COVID-19 has put the world and our community to the test,” said Cristina Romero, supervisor of OSF digitally-enabled Community Health Workers. “Even though COVID kept us socially distanced, it has been heartwarming to see our community coming together to find ways to keep everyone safe and to combat the effects of COVID-19 through this program. We are honored that members of the community trusted us to provide them with the greatest care and love throughout this pandemic.”

As previously announced, Shield CU testing sites have closed at the end of June to correspond with the end of state funding. Residents are advised to check with their local public health department or primary care provider for COVID-19 testing options. The federal government also continues to offer free at-home tests. The latest COVID-19 information from OSF HealthCare can be found online.

B-Roll