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HealthTalks NOW is a podcast presented by Baptist Health, bringing you the facts you need to keep you and your family well. We’re committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care that is centered on you. Whether you want to learn more about a specific condition or procedure, or find tips for living a healthy lifestyle, Baptist Health is here to help you become a healthier you.
Episodes
Thursday Oct 14, 2021
COVID-19 Boosters vs. Third Dose: What‘s the Difference?
Thursday Oct 14, 2021
Thursday Oct 14, 2021
The language surrounding additional COVID-19 vaccine doses is important. While a booster dose and a third dose sound similar, and are sometimes being used interchangeably, they actually refer to two very different things.
In this episode, we're talking with Amy Fabian, clinical pharmacy specialist in infectious diseases at Baptist Health Louisville. Amy explains the difference between a booster dose and a third dose, and answers common questions about the most recent recommendations and guidance.
The best thing you can do to protect yourself and others is to get fully vaccinated for COVID-19. To receive either your initial vaccination series, a third shot if you are immunocompromised and meet the medical criteria, or if you meet the eligibility requirements to receive a Pfizer COVID-19 booster, go to ScheduleYourVaccine.com to register to make an appointment.
Several pharmacies in the community are also offering vaccinations. Check availability at vaccine.ky.gov for Kentucky or OurShot.in.gov for Indiana.
Again, recommendations are evolving as more data becomes available, so stay-up-to-date with the latest news and recommendations on our website.
You can also read more about COVID-19 and other health topics on our blog.
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
What is Long COVID?
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
Thursday Aug 19, 2021
Until 2020, the word “pandemic” wasn’t one we heard very often. Fast forward to 2021, and our vocabulary of public health-related buzzwords continues to grow. One term you may have heard in recent months is “long COVID,” also called long-term COVID, post-acute COVID or long-haul COVID-19. The condition has become so widespread that, in January, the World Health Organization revised its COVID-19 treatment guidelines to include the condition.
What exactly is a COVID long-hauler? In this informative episode, respiratory disease specialist Erica Gregonis, MD, joins host Kendra Barnes to discuss what physicians are learning about the long-term effects of having the novel coronavirus. Dr. Gregonis, chief medical officer for Baptist Health Richmond and a physician with Baptist Health Medical Group Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, also discusses treatment for long-term COVID. Tune in to learn more from Dr. Gregonis about long-term COVID symptoms, complications and treatment.
You can find more information about COVID-19 at BaptistHealth.com/COVID-19.
Note: Baptist Health has developed a program for patients who have had COVID-19 and are still experiencing symptoms or do not feel they have fully recovered. If you are experiencing any issues after having COVID-19, such as persistent shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, or ongoing symptoms, you can get care now from Baptist Health's long COVID program via a virtual visit with a provider. To get started, visit BaptistHealth.com or sign-in to MyChart via your computer or mobile app.
Thursday Jul 22, 2021
Vaccine Hesitancy Explained
Thursday Jul 22, 2021
Thursday Jul 22, 2021
Over the past year many new buzzwords have been added to our everyday vocabulary. One that remains on the forefront today -- vaccine hesitancy. The World Health Organization defines vaccine hesitancy as a “delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services."
In this episode, primary care physician, Jai Gilliam, MD, explains what vaccine hesitancy is and why it's not such a new concept. He retraces history to explain why legitimate hesitancy exists today, and offers facts to combat COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.
Monday Jun 21, 2021
The Importance of Cancer Screenings Post-Pandemic
Monday Jun 21, 2021
Monday Jun 21, 2021
Adding to the list of things disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, many elective medical procedures, including cancer screenings, were primarily put on hold to prioritize urgent needs, focusing on reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 in healthcare settings. Additionally, patients were dissuaded from pursuing screenings with fear of contracting the disease. In today's episode, we're talking with Amitoj Gill, MD, to discuss this further and understand the possible repercussions.
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
My Why: Vaccine Testimonies from the Frontline
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Deciding whether or not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is intensely personal. Hear from frontline healthcare workers as they describe their decision process, recount their experiences, and share important information.
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
COVID-19: A Primary Care Doctor’s Perspective
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
Your primary care provider is often the first person you call when you’re sick and the physician who helps manage your overall health. During the pandemic, family doctors are pulling double duty, as they strive to strike a balance between providing safe care in-person and virtually. In this podcast, Russell Bird, MD, a Louisville doctor specializing in family medicine, offers his unique perspective to help us make sense of the pandemic. He explains the phased approach to vaccine administration and describes those who are most at risk for becoming infected with the virus. In addition, he talks prevention, clears up common misconceptions about the coronavirus, and emphasizes the importance of caring for our mental health.
Sunday Jan 31, 2021
Hospital Leader Talks Hope and Healing
Sunday Jan 31, 2021
Sunday Jan 31, 2021
According to statistics, Baptist Health Louisville has cared for 10% of Kentucky’s COVID-19 patients, and as president, Larry Gray has led the front lines of care at the hospital. He has seen firsthand the effects the pandemic has had on nurses, physicians and other staff providing direct patient care, as well as those who support them. He was also there in December, when the first dose of the vaccine against the novel coronavirus was given. For this episode, he takes time out to describe that hopeful moment, as well as ongoing efforts to keep morale high at the hospital. He discusses his greatest challenges, lessons learned, and the long-term impact the pandemic could have on healthcare. In addition, he details the careful planning it has taken to be prepared to safely store and properly administer the vaccine.
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
From the Frontline: Your Vaccine Questions Answered
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Cases of the novel coronavirus have reached all-time highs in the commonwealth of Kentucky and in southern Indiana during the early weeks of 2021. But with vaccination against COVID-19 underway, health experts are encouraged that hope is on the horizon. For HealthTalks Now’s first show of the new year, guest Benjamin Klausing, MD, an infectious disease specialist in Louisville, Kentucky, weighs in on the vaccine and its role in creating a return to normalcy. He shares his experience getting the shot, discusses vaccine rollout, and offers advice about vaccination. He also provides insight into new strains of the virus, explains the significance of achieving herd immunity, and predicts how this pandemic could influence the future of treating infectious diseases.
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
Facing 2021 With Hope and Resolve
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
Turning the page on a new year typically involves making lofty promises for a healthier, more productive year ahead. But in 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of those goals went by the wayside as life as we knew it came to a halt. In this podcast, Krista Moe, PhD, a Lexington psychologist, talks with the “HealthTalks Now” team about approaching 2021 with positivity and resolve despite 2020’s unmet expectations and amidst continued uncertainty. Dr. Moe explains the importance of self-reflection, especially after a year of loss and disappointment, and offers suggestions for recognizing our strengths and using them to help us stare down 2021.
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
COVID-19 CEO Update
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
A lot has changed since the HealthTalks Now crew last talked with Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman. As Baptist Health begins administering the first doses of a vaccine against COVID-19, Colman joins Kerri and Kendra to provide an update on the health system’s pandemic response efforts. He discusses PPE supply, ICU bed space, and frontline caregiver staffing. They also examine how Baptist Health has weathered the storm financially and consider how the virus could impact healthcare delivery and infection control post-pandemic. Tune in as Colman shares lessons he’s learned, 2020’s “silver linings,” and his greatest hope for 2021.