One to three hours later, Morgan reports his findings to UK Chandler Medical Center Public Relations, which then contacts the news media, local physicians and the public with the results. The Medical Center is the leader providing this public service of biospheric facts such as pollens and mold spores. The Medical Center started its program long before other health care facilities in other cities, said Bann Kang, professor of medicine, allergy and immunology, in the UK College of Medicine. When Kang came to UK 13 years ago as an allergist and immunologist, she went to work to get funding for the pollen and mold count project. After one year, her department, internal medicine and microbiology teamed up to fund and staff the project.
Allergies are a serious problem, particularly in Kentucky.
No one wants to be sneezing or blowing his nose. Symptoms of allergies are annoying. Last year, only New Orleans had more mold spores than Lexington. By providing a daily pollen and mold count, the Medical Center is providing scientific information that can help people become aware of their environment and what may be affecting how they feel, Kang said. Sometimes you have to go the extra mile for the sake of the community.