Patient Care

UI pediatric experts save toddler’s life after cardiac arrest
Nov. 22, 2023 | uihc.org
“We were told to call our families to come say goodbye.” For 45 minutes, Quinn Anderson’s care team at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital tried to re-start his heart. Doctors placed the 3-year-old boy on an advanced form of life support called ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), which does the work of the heart and lungs when they aren’t strong enough.
Meet Kid Captain Nathan McDonald
Nov. 17, 2023 | uihc.org
Nathan McDonald and his family are used to overcoming difficult odds and medical challenges. Nathan was transferred to University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital shortly after birth when skeletal deformities and a hunch in his back were detected. He was diagnosed with infantile myofibromatosis, a rare tumor that grows in the skin, muscles, bones, and sometimes the organs of the chest or…
Tips for staying safe during respiratory virus season
Nov. 10, 2023 | uihc.org
Respiratory viruses are with us all year long but tend to spike in fall and winter. There is no official start date, which mean that now is the right time to make sure you are ready for when the three most common viruses (flu, COVID-19 and RSV) are at their peak. Make sure you and your loved ones are up-to-date on flu and COVID-19 vaccine. And see if the RSV vaccine is right for you.
Nurse’s compassionate care inspires patient to prioritize mental health
Nov. 08, 2023 | uihc.org
Only two years into her career, Karlee Carey, BSN, RN, has developed the type of compassionate touch that makes a pronounced difference to patients being cared for in the Burn Treatment Center. Her attitude proved to be a blessing for one particular patient who was under Carey’s care after suffering severe burns. “I was hospitalized in the middle of the night,” the patient recalls. “As someone…
Vaccines during pregnancy protect moms and their babies
Nov. 06, 2023 | uihc.org
Pregnancy is a time when people tend to focus intently on what they are putting into their bodies and how that might affect their baby’s growth and health. There are many recommendations on what constitutes a healthy pregnancy diet – eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, lean protein, and whole grains, avoid too much fat or sugar, and take a folic acid supplement. There are also guidelines for what…
Where a COVID-19 vaccine clinic succeeds for kids with sensory issues
Nov. 03, 2023 | uihc.org
Protecting children from illness is a priority for any parent. But some children have extra challenges when it comes to preventative care. This past year, members of the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital launched a clinic to overcome sensory disorder issues to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations to nearly 30 children—something they plan…
Emergency care strengthens locally with launch of new eCPR program
Nov. 01, 2023 | uihc.org
After years of rigorous testing and planning, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is launching an extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) program for patients experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. “We are uniquely equipped to be the first to launch this program in Iowa,” says Pete Georgakakos, DO, emergency medicine physician. “To launch a successful program like this, you need…
UI orthopedics researchers aim to improve long-term outcomes after ACL injury
Oct. 31, 2023 | uihc.org
Twist. Pop. Pain. It’s a combination that any athlete—young or old, professional or weekend warrior—knows and dreads as a likely indication of a torn ACL. Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which stabilizes the knee joint, is an extremely common injury, affecting between 100,000 to 200,000 people in the U.S. every year. It is also a significant injury, often requiring surgery and…
Complex procedure helps young athlete with heart condition
Oct. 19, 2023 | uihc.org
Keeli Frerichs had her sights set on her soccer team at St. Ambrose University repeating as conference champion and returning to the NAIA national tournament, until a disturbingly slow heart rate derailed her career—and threatened her life. How fortunate for her, though, that less than an hour from her school in Davenport, Iowa, was a University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics cardiac…
Building a rural health care pipeline
Sep. 18, 2023 | medicineiowa.org
The Carver Rural Iowa Scholars Program is preparing doctors to serve the smaller-size communities where they are needed most, closing health care gaps in Iowa. It’s no secret. In rural America, physician demand continues to outweigh physician supply. The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians across the U.S. by 2034, with some of the hardest-hit…