CAP22 Media Briefing: Navigating Covid Testing Changes, The Flu, Monkeypox, Polio, Blood Shortages/Supply and Handling Mass Casualty Situations

Release Date: 14 Oct 2022

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The College of American Pathologists (CAP) hosted its CAP22 Annual Meeting with timely and informative educational sessions from Sat., October 8 through Tues., October 11 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. This year's media briefing took place Tuesday, October 11th from 11a.m. ET - 12p.m. ET and consisted of two panels with CAP president Emily E. Volk, MD, FCAP, moderating and participating in each session. This year, the focus was on the current blood supply shortage, as well as navigating COVID-19 changes to the resurgence of polio.

10:00-10:30 a.m. CT

CAN WE BANK ON OUR CURRENT BLOOD SUPPLY?

Panelists addressed the current state of the nation’s blood supply, discuss the reasons why our blood bank balances are always low and coping with the shortages, how to use the blood available more efficiently and how blood banks prepare for mass casualty situations, especially in light of trending gun violence. How do hospitals prepare to handle these surges when coupled with other emergency and trauma-related injuries? What are the guidelines regarding who can and cannot donate blood and if our status changes how do we update that information? How do we create and execute blood management programs?

Panelists Include:

Julie L. Cruz, MD, FCAP
Senior Medical Director, Versiti (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

Julie Katz Karp, MD, FCAP
Associate Professor, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Glenn Ramsey, MD, FCAP
Professor of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois); Chair, Transfusion, Apheresis and Cell Therapy Committee, College of American Pathologists

10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. CT

THE CURRENT SEASON OF HEALTHCARE: NAVIGATING COVID-19 CHANGES TO THE RESURGENCE OF POLIO

Panelists discussed the essential role testing and pathologists continue to play when it comes to the current wave of health conditions the country continues to face and as new challenges unfold. How do we ensure we are testing right to get the best results and what tests are essential – especially with new FDA guidelines on at-home testing and the issue of false positives? Additionally:

What do we need to know about the new Covid booster, its efficacy and what does the future look like?
With the flu season upon us, what protocols should we be following and when is the best time to get the shot?
Monkeypox and polio remain in the news – what guidelines do pathologists recommend to reduce risk?

Panelists Include:

Kalisha Hill, MD, FCAP
Regional Chief Medical Officer, Medical Director, Pathology and Laboratory Services (SMK), Governor, College of American Pathologists, Immediate Past-President, Illinois Society of Pathologists

Donald S. Karcher, MD, FCAP
Professor and Immediate Past Chair of Pathology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC; and President-Elect of the College of American Pathologists

Bobbi S. Pritt, MD, MSc, DTMH, FCAP
Past-Chair of the CAP's Microbiology Committee, Member of the CAP's Council on Scientific Affairs; Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology; Chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; and Governor, College of American Pathologists

*Watch the recording above under media.*

**Transcript and Practice Characteristics Survey slides are available on the right-hand side.**