All articles tagged with #unc health
UNC Health hospitals in the Triangle area are implementing temporary visitor restrictions starting January 5 due to the rise in flu and respiratory illnesses, including bans on visitors under 11 and those with symptoms, as part of efforts to curb the spread during peak cold weather months.
UNC Health is investigating a possible cancer cluster among current and former teammates at the McLendon Clinical Laboratories, prompting requests for outside investigations and assessments from the NCDHHS and the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety. The lab, located in the main hospital, analyzes blood and tissue samples and performs pathology tests. UNC Health has not confirmed the number of cases but estimates that more than 1,000 employees have worked in the lab over the past two decades. The CDC considers any unusual pattern of cancer a cancer cluster, and UNC Health is committed to being proactive and transparent during the evaluation, providing support and creating a dedicated phone line and email address for questions and concerns.
UNC Health and UnitedHealthcare are currently in a contract dispute, and if an agreement is not reached by April 1, over 200,000 UnitedHealthcare members could lose in-network coverage at UNC Health locations, resulting in increased costs for patients. UNC Health has advised affected patients to consider other health insurers that will remain in network with them. In a separate dispute, WakeMed and Cigna are also at odds, with WakeMed informing patients that they will no longer accept Cigna as an insurance provider starting January 1.
Jennifer DeLucia, a 26-year-old woman battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is struggling with a shortage of chemo drugs, including intrathecal methotrexate, which has been replaced with a different medication that makes her extremely sick. Due to the shortage caused by the pandemic and lower manufacturing output, many critical cancer drugs are in short supply, leaving patients like DeLucia scrambling for treatment. UNC Health is working to secure medications and provide alternative therapies, but experts predict the shortage could last anywhere from six months to a year.