12 minute read
COVID-19 pioneers
from July 2020
Researchers help develop testing protocols that assist health care workers on the coronavirus front lines • By Dana Jennings
Venu Varanasi
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Sara Peper
As health care workers have fought on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, they simultaneously have been rapidly investigating how best to detect and treat the disease. Efectively evaluating this sea of information in a time of heightened care and precautions can be a challenge.
That’s why The University of Texas at Arlington partnered with the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston (UTHealth) to help health care providers make the best decisions to protect themselves and their patients.
Simon Young, UTHealth School of Dentistry assistant professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, needed help developing COVID-19 testing protocols to assist health care providers in making informed decisions during the re-opening of outpatient surgery and services at the university and its partner hospitals. So he turned to long-time collaborator Venu Varanasi, associate professor in the Bone Muscle Research Center at UTA.
“As health care workers are faced with regularly testing themselves and widely testing all patients, I understood that people on the ground were unaware of the types of testing and the pros and cons associated with each,” Young says. “I knew I could count on Dr. Varanasi and his team to help me create something that would be easy for health care providers and their assistants to digest on a tight deadline.”
The result is an infographic outlining the current COVID-19 testing strategies with the pros and cons associated with each. Young and Varanasi say the project distills a host of complicated information to protect health care providers and help them identify the best testing strategy for their practice and service.
Varanasi, who holds a dual appointment in UTA’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation and in the College of Engineering, saw the collaboration as an opportunity for his team of students to understand an often unexpected aspect of health care work.
Photos: UTA
“It is critical to be able to communicate with health care providers in an efective way, and I believe we’ve demonstrated that here,” Varanasi says. “Having our nursing students graduate with an understanding of this as an important element of service is invaluable.”
As the pandemic unfolded, Sara Peper, a bioengineering graduate student in Varanasi’s lab, assumed the best way she could contribute to the health of the state and nation would be by staying home and following self-quarantine guidelines.
Instead, Varanasi and Young called upon Peper, an accomplished scientifc presenter, for help.
Peper applied her knowledge of molecular testing strategies in Varanasi’s lab to distill COVID-19 testing strategies into an easy-tofollow guide for health care workers.
“This was a major opportunity for Sara and our team to see the impact and depth of not only the challenge our industry faces in a time like this, but also of their skillsets,” Varnasi says. “They can understand the number of ways they can serve the community.”
As the team’s infographic makes its way through major hospital systems, clinics and local health departments, its creators say they hope it brings the best possible information to clinicians.
“We don’t want our health care providers to put themselves in a compromised situation that could prevent them from caring for patients,” Varanasi says. “There is a great amount of anxiety in this time, which can complicate treatments and recovery. Our ultimate goal is to cut through that and reduce it as we move toward healthier, safer communities.” Other collaborators on the project include: • Marco Brotto, the George W. and Hazel M. Jay Professor in UTA’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation. • Mark E. Wong, professor and Bernard and Gloria Katz Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at UTHealth. • Luis Otrosky, professor and vice chairman of internal medicine at UTHealth’s McGovern Medical School. • Audrey Wanger, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at UTHealth. As these researchers continue to make progress on COVID-19 strategies, University of Texas at Arlington ofcials are taking on the pandemic in another way: planning and preparing for the safe start of on-campus instruction and residential life in the fall semester, while implementing health and safety precautions to minimize the spread of the novel virus. The University is working on a phased approach for UTA’s campus and facilities and is exploring all options to bring all faculty, staf and students back to campus, while ensuring the wellbeing of all. Planning has begun for accommodating in-person instruction, as well as campus housing, research and events. The University’s plans will strongly depend on the ongoing status of the pandemic.
Academics in the fall 2020 semester will likely include both in-person and online instructions, to ensure the highest quality of learning, while observing crucial public health and safety protocols, says Interim President Teik C. Lim.
A family practice (with emphasis on the family)
Arlington Family Practice, PA, has been taking care of local families for more than four decades. The practice has four medical specialists – Sherley Aramath, M.D., Laura Rice, D.O., Tien Truong, D.O. and Kaitlyn Gorman, FNP-C – who provide quality medical care in a fun and loving environment.
Arlington Family Practice serves patients of all ages with a wide range of medical and health services. The medical team at AFP believes you receive the best care when you consistently see one doctor who is able to gain a detailed understanding of you and your family’s medical needs.
For more: arlingtonfp.com.
Hee’s to yor healt! Hee’s to yor healt! Check out how local individuals, medical Check out how local individuals, medical care providers and businesses are going care providers and businesses are going the extra mile to help you become a the extra mile to help you become a better you this summer better you this summer
Online health summit
The Virtual Food as Medicine Summit & Expo will be held Aug. 22-29. Focusing on nutrition, ftness and wellness with an emphasis on preventing and reversing chronic diseases, the online event will feature physician speakers, as well as plant-based experts in nutrition, ftness and wellness. The Virtual Expo Hall will feature health and wellness-related sponsors and exhibitors where visitors can virtually explore products, services and resources.
To register: foodasmedicinesummittx.com.
Come enjoy a day at the spa
The award-winning Sanford Spa & Salon is a stunning venue where men and women can experience an abundant selection of salon and spa services.
The professional technicians are available Tuesday-Sunday to provide all personal care services. Spa treatments for both women and men run the gamut, from massages, body treatments, skin care, and manicure and pedicure to full spa packages.
Treatments and spa packages range in price from $45 for a refexology massage to the $390 “Fly Me to the Moon” spa package.
After spending time at Sanford Spa & Salon, you’ll be ready to enjoy a special event, such as a wedding, or just be “ready for the world.”
For more: thesanfordhouse.com.
Robotic Surgical Assistant makes for better knee replacements
You’re unique, and so is your individual anatomy. That’s why Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic and Spine Hospital Arlington employs ROSA ® Knee robotic technology for knee replacement procedures.
ROSA, which stands for Robotic Surgical Assistant, is designed to help your specially trained surgeon tailor the placement of your knee implant just for you.
Before surgery, a series of x-rays may be used to create a threedimensional (3D) model of your knee anatomy. This 3D model will enable the surgeon to plan many specifcs of your knee replacement prior to your surgery. Throughout your surgery, ROSA Knee provides your surgeon with data about your knee. This information, combined with your surgeon’s skill, helps them know how to position your implant based on your unique anatomy. Getting a precise knee implant ft is important to your comfort and overall experience following surgery.
For more: bswarlington.com/rosa-robotic-knee-system.
Here’s your wellness solution
Are you sufering from pain? Is a chronic disease or illness taking a toll on your life? Arlington Chiropractor Dr. Kenyon Godwin and his team at Active Family Wellness Center have one ultimate goal: to make sure you get results.
Dr. Godwin uses holistic means to treat people with headaches, neck pain, herniated discs, sciatica or prenatal and pediatric concerns. The practice treats folks of all ages: infants with colic just starting out in the world, adults who wish to experience everyday wellness, and seniors who wish to feel active and mobile throughout their golden years.
The practice ofers functional medicine in addition to chiropractic, rehabilitation, weight loss, functional ftness, massage therapy and spinal decompression.
For more: txwellnessdoc.com.
Learning how to manage diabetes is the most critical component of caring for yourself after you’ve been diagnosed. Methodist Mansfeld Medical Center’s diabetes education services can help you prevent or delay diabetes-related problems like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve damage, amputations, erectile dysfunction, and blindness.
The hospital ofers a free diabetes education course, which teaches: • How to build a diabetes-friendly diet. • How diabetes works and what you can do to keep it under control. • Wound prevention and care. • Fun ways to stay active. • The long-term complications of diabetes and how to prevent them. • How to manage stress. • Where you can fnd community support resources.
For more: shorturl.at/dfnr9.
A massage does wonders
The demands of daily life can be super taxing on your body. That’s why it pays to take care of it. Massage Envy will help keep your body running smoothly, so you can run that half marathon or thrive during that full day of meetings. Your therapist will get to know you, then pull from various massage types and incorporate elements of them to address your specifc needs.
For more: massageenvy.com.
Diet Solution Centers help you shed pounds and stay healthy
Diet Solution Centers began in Mansfeld in 2011 with a mission to help the community get healthy and lose excess weight. In addition to the Mansfeld ofce (920 Hwy 287 N., Suite 306), DSC now also has an ofce in Pantego (2542 W. Pioneer Pkwy.) Dr. Richard Knight Under the leadership of Dr. Richard Knight, Diet Solution Centers team members have a desire to practice and promote health and wellness in all their patients.
DSC has a ZERO POLICY: ZERO gimmicks and ZERO prepackaged meals!
“We are here to keep you accountable and cheer you on throughout your weight-loss journey,” Dr. Knight says. “We value integrity – we will never lie to you to get your business or get you to buy a product you don’t need. You can rely on us to be there for you, even after hours.”
Dr. Knight and DSC personnel have consultants available constantly. “We encourage phone calls while you are out grocery shopping,” Dr. Knight says. “After hours, consultants can be reached through Facebook and Instagram.”
An initial visit features a medical examination, weight and BMI checks, an EKG, lab work, a blood pressure check, a food consultation, a B12 injection, appetite suppressants and a taking of a “Before” photo. Weekly follow-up visits monitor all of those items, plus a program review.
For more: dietsolutioncenters.com.
Dr. Schoening honored by DHA
Last month, Dental Health Arlington hosted a virtual “Love That Smile” event, during which the non-proft, low-cost dental resource ofcially named the facility at which it serves patients the Schoening Dental Clinic. The move honored longtime DHA Dr. Amy Schoening volunteer dentist Dr. Amy Schoening, who recently opened a new practice in Mansfeld.
In addition to honoring Dr. Schoening, Dental Health Arlington also celebrated two other key people at the virtual event. Sally Hopper was named Volunteer of the Year Award and Dan Blumberg was honored with the Golden Crown Award.
For more: schoeningdds.com.
Pilates, anyone?
The Pilates Efect is a fully equipped Pilates Studio dedicated to the overall well being of its clients. Located at the Shoppes at Brownstone Village (2410 W. Abram, Suite 112), the Pilates Efect features a team of pilates experts who are dedicated to helping clients improve their quality of life and develop all muscles, transforming their body to the fullest, achieving personal ftness goals and improving their everyday physical lifestyle.
For more: thepilatesefect.com.
Kos Danchak can protect your hearing from a variety of noises
Protecting your hearing from harmful noise is important to preserving your hearing clarity. The majority of people who experience a loss in hearing clarity have that loss because they have not efectively protected their ears—this is called “Noise Induced Hearing Loss.”
Kos Danchak Audiology and Hearing Aids,
which has served North Texas patients for more than 35 years, ofers hearing protection to address a variety of “loud” endeavors, Hunter hearing plugs including: • Power tools, chainsaws, woodworking equipment and lawnmowers • Construction or industrial equipment • Firearms • Recreational noise – motorcycles, speedboats
For extra comfort and protection, Kos Danchak can provide you with custom earplugs that will conform specifcally to your ear canals and can be customized to provide you with the right protection for specifc noise environments. Hunters earplugs feature a valve that closes in the presence of impact noise. This allows shooters to hear clearly until the weapon is fred and still have some hearing protection from the gunfre. Other specialty custom ear plugs include those for pilots, motorcyclists, military personnel and more.
For more: northtxhearing.com.
Need some Rx for your skin? Here’s a great solution for you
Great Skin Spa & Skin Care is an award-winning, locally owned day spa that ofers unsurpassed products and services, as well as an inviting and warm environment that gives you a sense of peace, relaxation and results during each visit. Every service at Great Skin is available on an individual basis or via the spa’s Facial Club membership, which consists of a four-treatment-plan series that gives you best value and results for each of your skin and body care goals and objectives. Through the Facial Club, Great Skin makes it afordable for clients to care for their skin both in the spa and at home. After a client achieves each goal, a maintenance program can also be purchased on the Facial Club membership, thereby continuing maintenance at the best investment level.
Great Skin also ofers makeover services for weddings, proms, graduations, Quinceaneras and other special events.
For more: greatskin4you.com.
