Ucsd Jacobs Medical Center

If you need another reminder to stay home for the holidays, here it is. Make it the most wonderful time of the year by spending the holidays with your household and committing to your physical health and by doing your part to stop the spread of COVID-19. More information from the CDC: https://bit.ly/3nvDYEU

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time, and we know that you are ready for relief. We have been working hard to keep everyone safe during the coronavirus pandemic. We are finally turning a corner with the news of a COVID-19 vaccine, one of many important tools to help us stop this pandemic. We will keep updating our COVID-19 vaccine webpage as we get new information. https://health.ucsd.edu/coronavirus/Pages/vaccine.aspx

Here's a simple way you can help stop the spread of COVID-19: Add your phone to the California exposure notification system. The program was piloted on UC San Diego campus and is now available for all Californians. Imagine your phone being able to tell you that you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 or better yet that you can anonymously alert others, even strangers, of a potential exposure so they can get tested, said Christopher Longhurst, MD, chief information officer a...nd professor of biomedical informatics and pediatrics, UC San Diego Health. Learn more: canotify.uchealth.edu/ #CANotify

Just arrived! We received the first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine this morning. "These are momentous days, though too often darkened by rising rates of COVID-19 transmission, reports of overstressed hospitals, increasing sickness and mortality. But now, we are in a moment, one infused with hope. We are turning a corner: the beginning of the end of the pandemic. This week, the first allocation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrived at UC San Diego Health, just as ...similar shipments are appearing across the country. The first inoculations at UC San Diego Health are slated to begin this week as well. Per guidance for the Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration and public health experts, these first doses will go to health care workers at UC San Diego Health who are deemed at greatest risk of exposure to COVID-19, such as emergency department staff, critical care staff, trauma staff, respiratory therapists and personnel with face-to-face patient care in urgent care clinics. Our goal is to vaccinate as many employees as quickly as possible, depending upon supplies and evolving circumstances. With subsequent vaccine shipments from Pfizer and as other vaccines, such as Moderna, come online, we will expand the opportunity to vaccinate to all health system employees, our patients and communities beyond. We are determined to do this as safely and effectively, as rapidly and methodically, as we can. But even with actual vaccinations starting, we must continue to follow all current measures designed to slow viral spread and infection, from masking and distancing to hand washing and signing up for #CANotify. Some may ask why rush to vaccinate if these other measures are working. The simple answer is that they are only partial measures; the only way to completely end this pandemic is to widely distribute safe, effective vaccines, minimizing the costs to society, already so dear. To that end, we have begun." - Patty Maysent, CEO, UC San Diego Health #UCSDCares #EndCOVID19 #InThisTogetherSD #UCSDHealth

Researchers determined that COVID-19 transmission risk via Halloween candies is low, even when they are handled by infected people, but handwashing and disinfecting collected sweets reduces risk even further.

This morning, employees starting and ending their shifts at UC San Diego Health were greeted by a friendly face therapy dog Casey! These volunteers from our Tender Loving Canine program haven’t been able to visit patients or staff for safety reasons since March, and this morning we coordinated a special visit for our team members who are on the frontlines of this pandemic. Social distancing and hand hygiene were followed during this special moment to protect our staff, Casey and her volunteer mom Karen. #UCSDCares

Why is it important to get a flu shot? Getting the vaccine decreases the number of flu infections, hospitalizations and death. As we head into an unprecedented flu season, it's important to remember that the more people who get the flu shot, the more people will be protected against influenza. As part of the CDC National Influenza Vaccination Week, do your part and help #FightFlu season by getting your flu shot today. Make an appointment with UC San Diego Health here: https://go.ucsd.edu/2Nxvm0m

After clocks turn back an hour Sunday, November 1, David K. Welsh, professor of psychiatry, suggests going outside to take advantage of the extra hour of sunlight earlier in the morning to boost alertness and help synchronize circadian rhythms.

Retired Navy Lt. Norlan Reyes, who is now in cancer remission and on liver transplant list, is an example of how translational research at UC San Diego School of Medicine leads to life-saving approaches and treatments. go.ucsd.edu/3oAoK2e

Christopher Longhurst, MD, chief information officer and professor of biomedical informatics and pediatrics at UC San Diego Health, tweeted this information Saturday. Breaking more records today... >35K new cases in California... >13K hospitalized in California >1000 hospitalized in San Diego County (!!!) Please... #MaskUp physically distance wash your hands Enable #CANotify (canotify.uchealth.edu/) ---- Our #HealthCareHeroes are staying at work for you, please stay home for them. #FlattenTheCurve

U.S. News & World Report named University of California San Diego School of Medicine a top global university and ranked the divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology #1 in the world for research. go.ucsd.edu/3oAoK2e

COVID-19 has amplified instances of injustice facing communities of color across the nation, and our doctors, nurses and staff members are on the frontlines addressing these disparities. By collaborating with regional hospitals to share knowledge, best practices and advanced safety protocols, our team is hard at work to #StopTheSurge and advocate for justice in these vulnerable communities. Learn more about our commitment to stopping the spread and supporting members of San... Diego's diverse communities. Important information for UC San Diego Health patients and visitors: go.ucsd.edu/39OCXUi

When will a COVID-19 vaccine be ready? Susan Little, MD, professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine, shares when a vaccine may be approved and how they are designed to produce antibodies.

Podcast : Around the world, at least 53 COVID-19 vaccines are currently undergoing clinical trials. Four of the largest and most promising have reached the final Phase III stage, and UC San Diego is a testing site for three of the big four: Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson. In our latest podcast episode, we spoke with Susan Little, MD, principal investigator for two COVID-19 clinical trials in San Diego that are focused on finding a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2. Dr. Little discusses the science behind vaccines, how they will work to address the current pandemic, and when a potential COVID-19 vaccine will be ready.

Thanks to San Diego Padres for putting smiles on our patients and staff at the Comprehensive Breast Health Center. They delivered flowers in recognition of breast cancer awareness. + =

Pretty much all of us love someone who's had breast cancer. That’s why our team encourages you to be pro-active against breast cancer. Schedule your screening today go.ucsd.edu/2fZK9SK Our breast specialists are leaders in their field and members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, helping to set standards for cancer detection and treatment. go.ucsd.edu/317vAlK

If you undergo surgery as part of a breast cancer treatment plan, you may experience side effects that affect your arm or upper body mobility and quality of life. Rehabilitation with a certified lymphedema therapist, like Resie Collins, OTR/L, may help you regain range of motion quickly and safely and return to normal activities of daily living. At UC San Diego Health, patients who undergo breast cancer surgery are seen the day after surgery. Why is rehabilitation necessary? Resie explains go.ucsd.edu/3lSaFv1

UC San Diego Health geriatric emergency department earned a Level 1 accreditation from American College of Emergency Physicians - ACEP, the only geriatric emergency room in California recognized for providing this level of comprehensive care to senior patients. All older patients who arrive at our La Jolla ER's geriatric emergency department are treated by a team specializing in geriatric medicine, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists and social workers. They have expertise in fall risks, mobility challenges, cognitive and memory problems, and medication interactions. To learn more about how we're making a difference for our seniors, visit go.ucsd.edu/38gkGfs

Annette Whalen saw a TV interview about breast cancer awareness last October and it reminded her to schedule a mammogram. Good thing she did. A couple months later, her screening detected ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS, meaning the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast had become cancer. I was ‘fortunate’ that it had not spread into the breast tissue, said Whalen. The team at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center discussed her diagnosis and treatment plan options. Wha...len decided to have her breast removed and get breast reconstruction with free flap surgery. This technique utilizes a patient’s own tissue, usually from the abdomen, to form the shape of a breast. This creates a natural looking breast and because it is their own tissue, it will age and change naturally. Whalen understood that the procedure would require a more extensive surgery in the beginning, but would eliminate the need for future surgeries related to having instead used implants. Essentially, it's reconstruction that lasts a lifetime. She stayed at that hospital for three nights and after a couple weeks she felt back to normal. I thought recovery would be complicated and painful. It was uncomfortable at times, but the process was straightforward and the outcome was fantastic, she said. I made changes to what I eat and am in the best shape of my life. I feel better about myself and I'm grateful for my surgeon. Whalen was pleased to find a surgeon in San Diego who performed the free flap surgery. Dr. Christopher Reid is a plastic surgeon with expertise in microsurgery, breast reconstruction, complex reconstruction, and cosmetic surgery of the breast and body. He can perform every type of breast reconstruction, and encourages patients to decide for themselves. Learn more about Dr. Reid go.ucsd.edu/37dIySN Whalen wants women to get their mammogram and if they need breast reconstruction to consider the flap procedure. It doesn’t take long to get the screening. If cancer is detected early, you can take care of it before it spreads, she said. To learn about breast reconstruction options, visit go.ucsd.edu/3dy1rkF.

We are excited to announce the opening of our new plastic and reconstructive surgery clinic in La Jolla, located at 4520 Executive Drive. The state-of-the-art facility offers comprehensive reconstruction with the expansion of microsurgical breast reconstruction, lymphedema reconstruction and lower extremity reconstruction, as well as cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures. To learn more about our plastic and reconstructive surgery services, visit go.ucsd.edu/37pQkZW

It is rare, but according to the Centers for for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 out of every 100 breast cancer diagnoses occur in men. The most common type of breast cancer in men is the same as those in women. Although the cause of breast cancer in men is not well understood, several factors increase a man’s risk including genetic mutations. National guidelines recommend that men who carry a BRCA2 mutation have annual breast exams and undergo prostate cancer screeni...ng. Some families with a BRCA mutation may consider joining a high-risk pancreatic cancer-screening program, like the one available at UC San Diego Health. Questions about BRCA or other testing? Our Family Cancer Genetics Program can help go.ucsd.edu/2Q6rYcL

To keep your baby safe while sleeping, experts recommend practicing the "ABCs" of sleep. Eustratia Hubbard, MD, director of newborn services, discusses ways to significantly decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). bit.ly/3k7M70x