MENDOCINO CO., 4/28/20 — Although many clinics and physicians have switched to remote appointments for routine visits during the pandemic, if you are having a medical emergency, staff at Adventist Health want to remind the community not to avoid going to the emergency room if you think you need treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms similar to the novel coronavirus, call ahead to your doctor, clinic, or to 911 to give them a warning.
Here’s the announcement from Adventist Health:
As concerns around COVID-19 continues and with shelter in place orders, Adventist Health ‘s emergency room staff at both hospitals are worried that non-coronavirus patients are avoiding getting much-needed medical care out of fear, especially when it comes to life-saving treatments for conditions such as stroke, heart attack or surgical emergencies. Hospital staff wants to remind the community to come in if they have a medical emergency.
“We are worried, based on the patients we are now seeing, that people have delayed seeking medical care despite having emergent and urgent conditions,” shares Dr. Suzanne Hiramatsu, MD, emergency physician at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley.
She said people should not wait or hesitate to come to the hospital for an emergency. “We are capable of providing a safe environment for evaluation of all patients and do not want patients to delay life-saving or life-changing care due to fear of contracting COVID-19,” said Dr. Hiramatsu.
For some health emergencies, waiting too long to get help can cause complications and can be catastrophic, explains Dr. Brandon Begley, emergency physician at Adventist Health Howard Memorial. “For example, if they come in for stroke, the treatment that we use is very time-sensitive or it won’t work. So we want them here, as soon as possible if they have symptoms.”
It’s a concern many other hospitals are seeing across the nation. With shelter in place orders and the overall effort to not overwhelm the healthcare system, hospitals are seeing huge drops in patients, who are scared to come in or heeding the call to stay home, thinking they are doing their part to help the hospitals by staying away.
“I think the concern for us, is if people are avoiding seeking care in the emergency department out of fear of COVID-19, or by trying to protect those working in emergency departments, they could be putting themselves at a higher risk ,” explains Becca Denoeu, RN, Director for emergency services Ukiah Valley.
She said the hospital has seen a significant decline in emergency room visits, dropping more than 50 percent compared to what they normally see. “It’s understandable. They are being considerate, and they don’t want to burden the hospital if they don’t have to. We are grateful to them for thinking of us, but we also want to reassure people that we’re here for them if they need us,” explains Amy Buckingham, RN, Director for emergency services for Howard Memorial.
Others are just afraid of coming in thinking they can get the virus by going to the hospital. But both hospitals have taken steps to keep everyone safe, including not allowing visitors, screening all staff and patients coming in through the door and doing more cleaning and disinfecting to prevent the spread of the virus. All patients and staff are also given masks to help prevent anyone with a COVID-19 infection but no symptoms from spreading the virus.
All hospital staff wear protective equipment, especially those working with suspected coronavirus patients, who are fully gowned and masked. The staff is cleaning and disinfecting thoroughly, including a routine cleaning of all surfaces every few hours, and cleaning and disinfecting chairs between patients. All rooms are cleaned thoroughly and carefully between patients to prevent the spread.
Patients who have symptoms of COVID-19 such as shortness of breath, cough or fever, are asked to call ahead so staff can prepare to provide care, including doing car-side screening to protect the staff and other patients.
Both physicians emphasized that anyone experiencing emergency symptoms should call 911 or come into the emergency department. The risk of catching COVID-19 is lower than the risk of ignoring serious symptoms, they said.
“We need them to come in if they are sick, especially when experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, slurred speech, facial drooping or confusion, or even abdominal pain that is not going way or relieved by taking over the counter pain medications,” Dr. Begley adds.
If their symptoms are mild and they feel stable, Dr. Hiramatsu explains they can always call their primary care physician to get guidance. Aside from in-person visits, Adventist Health’s primary and specialty clinics located in Ukiah and Willits now offer virtual visits to provide care to patients in their homes. “However, anyone with symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, we want them here as soon as possible. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s best to reach out, whether that’s going to the emergency room or by giving your doctor a call,” she shares.
“We’re not overwhelmed,” Denoeu said. “Please don’t stay home in pain wondering if you should come. You should not put off getting medical care just because there’s a pandemic.”
“We are here for you and ready to care for you if you need us,” adds Buckingham.
One day, maybe, and if honesty prevails, we may know just how many thousands of cardiac arrest, stroke, and other victims suffered, ended up with permanent injury/disability, or even died, from the mass hysteria pushed by government and media. Likely tens of thousands unnecessary deaths across America because people were too frightened to seek, or even outright denied, treatment. More speculative will be how many folks who had allegedly “non-essential” treatments delayed for weeks or months, for example, cancer treatments, ultimately died from the mass hysteria and consequent COVID-19-only protocols.
Additionally, health care systems across America are going to be suffering financially soon, as they see massive losses of revenue from these “unnecessary” and “elective” services that people did not get. The “surge” did not materialize for most health care systems. That is both a blessing and a curse, because so many, especially smaller health care systems operating just barely in the black prior to this. Some will go bankrupt. Making health in their respective communities even worse from that point.
It’s not totally hyperbole to cite the proverbial phrase of “we had to destroy the village to save it.” We conquered COVID-19! Sorry about the tens of thousands of “other deaths.”
It is amazing that Adventist Health has obtained a MONOPOLY on healthcare, in Mendocino County, with the acquisition, practically in secret, of the long moribund Mendocino Coast District Hospital, but, now, business is severely off for the profit-hungry corporation, so, the liars-in-charge at Adventist Health, would really appreciate it, if you would COME ON OVER, and consume some healthcare, so we can BILL FOR IT!!
Adventist Health, the least honest company in healthcare, with the least interest in legal operation and a nearly negative interest in patient and employee safety, really needs your money!! They don’t give a righteous fuck about you OR your health, but they WANT SOME MONEY NOW!!
So, go get a CAT scan, an MRI, some tests, hell, surgery, a prescription or two, and they won’t start laying off their employees!
Remember,Jason Wells never says anything at all, that is true, and AH approves of employees harassing each other, supervisors surveilling and gas-lighting subordinates, and, AH has the worst employee environment and patient safety in the industry, but, go in there anyway, and consume some services!!!
Thanks, the Board at Adventist Health approves of you buying healthcare, from AH!!
I found this article to be interesting but also somewhat provoking on an emotional level. I would love to share my personal experience and insight on this topic.
Hi K Marie, you can reach us at [email protected] if you want to share your experience.
When I presented to the ED, in late March 2020 with Chest pain, shoulder pain , heart palpitations and abdominal pain loss of smell and taste , and Chills Dr Begley was extemely rude to me and treated me like an embicile. My personal friend , and ED Physician in the Bay Area, was certain that I had Covid19 and Begley refused to test me for Covid19…. He lied about the symptoms as well stating “ There are no GI symptoms with Covid 19” and “ It’s not in our community yet”. It was one of the most terrifying events of my life and he treated me like dirt. He showed absolutely no concern for my emotional well being, and acted like my life didn’t matter. And, I did have Covid 19 and my son developed sx three days after me. Horrific experience!