Patient Care

New eCPR program helps save Iowa man’s life
Oct. 09, 2024 | uihc.org
After waking up in the middle of the night with chest pain on March 9, 2024, Ken Platt was taken by ambulance from his Muscatine home to University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City. When his wife, Kaitlynn Platt, arrived at the hospital, she was told that Ken’s heart had stopped twice despite health care professionals performing CPR and using a defibrillator to deliver an electric charge to try…
What to do if you're worried your Afib medicines have stopped working
Oct. 09, 2024 | uihc.org
Atrial fibrillation (Afib or AF) is a condition in which the heart sometimes fails to beat at a steady rhythm, causing episodes of irregular and rapid heartbeats. This is caused by faulty signals from the electrical currents that control the heartbeat. The condition is more common in older adults, says E. Michael Powers, MD, MBA, cardiac electrophysiologist. “The atria, the heart’s two upper…
When should I get a cortisone shot?
Oct. 09, 2024 | uihc.org
Cortisone shots are often used to reduce pain and inflammation from musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis and tendinitis. Cortisone is a naturally occurring hormone. In its synthetic form, it can be injected as a potent but generally safe anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing agent. “In simple terms, cortisone injections reduce inflammation,” says Britt L. Marcussen, MD, a family medicine…
University of Iowa Health Care and Mission Cancer + Blood to join forces to fight cancer in Iowa
Oct. 07, 2024
University of Iowa Health Care and Mission Cancer + Blood today announced an agreement to create a comprehensive cancer care network uniquely positioned to tackle Iowa’s elevated cancer rates. Mission is expected to become part of UI Health Care in the coming months and will bring the most advanced oncology care closer to home for more Iowans, particularly in rural areas. A cornerstone in cancer…
Tiniest surviving baby in U.S. celebrates her first birthday
Oct. 07, 2024 | uihc.org
Evelyn Eilers’ first birthday party had a lot of what most first birthday parties have: cake, balloons, presents. But Evelyn isn’t like most 1-year-olds. Born Sept. 9, 2023, she weighed just 8.46 ounces, making her the tiniest surviving baby in the United States. She came 17 weeks early and was in the neonatal intensive care unit at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital…
Meet Kid Captain Jackson Casteel
Oct. 07, 2024 | uihc.org
Jackson Casteel’s parents were given a bleak outlook after he was born at their local hospital in central Iowa: “Enjoy him for as long as you can.” Jackson’s parents had prepared for the worst, that Jackson might not survive birth, but as his mother Sara tells it, she knew from the moment he was born that Jackson was a fighter. So, the first-time parents put the heartbreaking moment behind them…
What you can expect from respiratory virus season
Oct. 02, 2024 | uihc.org
As respiratory virus season looms, understanding the potential impact and taking preventive measures to protect yourself and others in your community is important. Regardless of what this year’s respiratory season is predicted to look like, the best way to prepare is getting vaccinated. To understand better what this year’s season could bring, we talked to infectious disease specialist and…
When and what type of doctor should you see for your sports injury?
Oct. 02, 2024 | uihc.org
Sports medicine focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing sports-related injuries. Doctors in this field merge medical and exercise knowledge to help people of all ages and competitive backgrounds, whether treating an injury or helping them prevent injuries and meet fitness goals. But how do you know if you should see a sports medicine specialist in the first place? “If you have an acute…
Meet Kid Captain Haidyn Ulrich of Cedar Rapids
Sep. 30, 2024 | uihc.org
Sixteen-year-old Haidyn Ulrich is many things. She’s an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan, a performer, a top student, an aspiring nurse, and a survivor of pediatric cancer. Haidyn had been healthy until she was 7, when she experienced neck pain and began sleeping for 22 hours at a time. Numerous tests finally led to a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia – a cancer of the blood and bone marrow – and…
5 lifestyle changes for patients with atrial fibrillation
Sep. 30, 2024 | uihc.org
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is one of the most common kinds of arrhythmias (irregularities in heartbeat) and can put patients with the condition at an increased risk for other heart problems, including high blood pressure, coronary artery disease (CAD), and heart attack. Following a heart-healthy lifestyle and limiting AFib triggers can reduce your symptoms and risk of heart disease.