Explore UAB

On Wednesday, an expert panel from UAB Medicine shared updates on clinical protocols designed to address the recent outbreak of COVID-19. Drs. Steve Stigler, Rachael Lee, Sarah Nafziger, and Jeanne Marrazzo (pictured above) presented information about UAB Medicine's strategy for containment to minimize the spread of this virus. Key precautions include active stewardship of protective equipment, focused triage and evaluation, and clear pathways for diagnosis and testing. While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama as of Thursday afternoon, we continue to monitor the situation as it evolves. Watch the presentation here.

Patients living with HIV and opioid use disorder can more easily find appropriate and compassionate treatment in the UAB's new Outpatient-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) Clinic, located within the 1917 Clinic. Infectious Diseases faculty Drs. Ellen Eaton, Orlando Turner, and Jim Raper have led the implementation of this clinic to provide access to the full spectrum of care specific to patients’ underlying medical issues, such as HIV and other infections, as well as specialized treatment for their opioid use disorder.

UAB Healthcare Epidemiologist Rachael Lee, MD, and Infectious Diseases Division Director Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH, are at the forefront of the novel coronavirus outbreak that has been widely reported in the news media. These experts have consolidated UAB policies and resources online and they continue to work with UAB Health System leadership, the CDC, and the Alabama Department of Public Health to address concerns. To date, UAB has had no cases of COVID-19. Experts agree that the best method of preventing the spread of viral infections is frequent hand-washing and covering your cough. We continue to monitor the situation closely and have patient care policies in place if local cases are identified.

Ronit Elk, PhD, (Professor, Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care) and colleagues have collaborated with community members to develop a culturally appropriate approach to palliative care. Their study will compare the culturally-based intervention to standard protocols to determine its impact on patient quality of life and the burden of care for caregivers. Enrollment began last month in three rural hospitals in Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina. We look forward to learning more about this exciting research!

The “good news” is that the state of our department is tremendous!

We gathered on Wednesday to celebrate our accomplishments together and share our stories of how we move medicine forward. The slide deck is available for download here, and the presentation was recorded. Watch the video here.