Now that elective procedures, organ transplants, and surgeries are being performed again, UAB Medicine saw the need for more intensive care unit space for non-COVID 19 patients. In response, the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) provider team and the Blood and Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy (BMT) nursing staff worked together to open a temporary 12-bed ICU.

Licensed medical social worker Vivian Richards helps UAB Medicine patients make the transition from hospital to home. 

During the corona virus pandemic, arranging events and gatherings for social distancing can make getting involved a challenge, or even limit the number of participants. However, that is definitely not the case for the virtual version of Birmingham Heart Walk. Participation in this fundraising event can take place anywhere you can move.

UAB Medicine now offers an express online check-in service that allows patients to pre-register for scheduled outpatient clinic appointments through their smart device, laptop, or desktop computer. This option is safer, faster, secure, and more convenient than checking in using the electronic kiosks that were in the clinics previously.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that COVID-19 can live on copper for up to 4 hours.

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized room or tube. It is thought that when bodily tissues are damaged, HBO therapy can increase the amount of oxygen in the body and promote healing.

With lockdowns mostly lifted and summer heat already bearing down, many people are looking forward to a relaxing beach vacation.

Viruses can spread between people who are close together, so any mask that covers the nose and mouth should help protect against getting or spreading COVID-19.

It is too soon to know if different strains of COVID-19 would behave like influenza, which is fought with multiple vaccines that change every year. COVID-19 vaccine development is based on the idea that vaccines would be effective against different strains.

In a laboratory setting, elderberry extract has been shown to have possible effects against some viruses. However, no large studies have proven its effectiveness in humans when sick. Cooked elderberry fruit is safe, but raw elderberry may cause nausea, vomiting, or severe diarrhea.

True. Researchers identified a human antibody (a protein in the blood) that prevents the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus from infecting cells in a lab. This is the first step toward understanding immunity in patients who have had COVID-19.

Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil (ibuprofen), and Motrin (ibuprofen) are safe to take for COVID-19 symptoms as long as you follow the recommended dosage and do not have a condition that indicates you should not take these medications. Please consult with your health care provider if you are concerned whether these medications are safe for you to take.