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Dr. Ewend shares updates on COVID-19.


Dear UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine Teammates,

I’ll start with the good news – we are starting to see some improvements in our COVID-19 numbers across UNC Health and across North Carolina. But while our system-wide numbers are improving, several of our hospitals still have their highest-ever inpatient COVID census.

Even if the situation continues to improve, the catch – as you know from previous surges – is that we are exhausted and will continue to feel the impact of this surge. Please check-in with your peers, check-in with yourself and ask for help if you need it, and take advantage of our Well-Being resources.

I also want to share three other brief updates:

  1. I encourage all physicians and advanced practice providers to review our COVID Treatment Guidelines Intranet site, and especially the information about our COVID Therapeutics at this link or in this video featuring Dr. David Wohl.
    Of note, Paxlovid is 89% effective in preventing hospitalization and death. This medication and Sotrovimab infusions will help our patients avoid hospitalization and help our hospitals maintain critical services for all patients.
  2. We’ve talked a lot about our One Great Team, and I’m incredibly proud of your response through our Helping Hands programs at UNC Medical Center and UNC REX. We’ve filled many of the available shifts, though there are still some opportunities available. I especially want to thank our many Shared Services teammates who are pitching-in to help at our hospitals.
  3. We’re very close to a major vaccine milestone – we are on pace to provide our 500,000th COVID vaccine dose in the next few weeks. Please help us cross this threshold by getting your booster or encouraging your friends and loved ones to get vaccinated and boosted.

There will still be some tough sledding ahead (even if it doesn’t snow this weekend), but I am proud to work beside each of you as we move forward together. Thanks for all you do.

Sincerely,
Matt Ewend, MD
Chief Clinical Officer, UNC Health
President, UNC Physicians