It is hard to believe that it wasn’t so long ago that terms such as “flattening the curve,” “social distancing” and “self-quarantine” were not part of our everyday vocabulary. But here we are. It is clear that no one is immune to the effects of COVID-19 and we are all doing the best we can to cope. However, there have been unintended consequences, leading to challenges in healthcare that we could not have imagined.
While it is understandable that the public is concerned about the spread of COVID-19, the stay at home orders and nightly newscasts are impacting the healthcare industry in an unprecedented way, specifically Emergency Departments.
Here are what Emergency Departments are facing:
Fear of the Emergency Department: During this COVID-19 crisis, the public has been reluctant to come to the Emergency Department even if they are ill or injured. Calls to 911 have decreased and, Fort Lauderdale paramedics report that they have transferred at least 1,000 patients less in April 2020 compared to the same time last year. The fear of coming to the Emergency Department is unwarranted and is leading to an unnecessary surge in at-home deaths. Hospitals have implemented measures to keep patients and staff safe and to keep COVID-19 patients in a separate area from non-COVID-19 patients. Patients should trust the excellent care they will receive and the safety of Emergency Departments. Not handling what could be a serious health issue may lead to something more devastating.
Communicating patient and staff safety: At Holy Cross Hospital, we are leveraging all of our resources to keep our patients and staff safe. As emergency healthcare workers, we have always been on the frontline facing unvetted, untested patients. Patients with symptoms or risk factors for COVID-19 who come to the Emergency Department are placed in specialized rooms separating them from patients felt to be low risk for COVID-19. All patients are escorted into private rooms within the Emergency Department. In the hospital, as a result of COVID-19 and for the foreseeable future, all patients who are admitted to the hospital are tested for COVID-19. This includes all patients scheduled for elective procedures anywhere on our campus. In addition, facial coverings over the nose and mouth are mandatory and we are providing masks for those who need one. In addition, temperature checks, extensive screening processes and limited visitation are in place to help ensure the wellbeing of our patients and staff.
Disaster preparedness: If you fail to prepare you prepare to fail. I am proud to say that at Holy Cross Hospital, we were more than prepared for a surge in patients and thankfully it has been much less than we expected. We have leveraged the resources from Trinity Health, the CDC, our local Department of Health and the State to ensure preparedness.
Post COVID-19: While the task of planning during this pandemic was overwhelming, our emergence will result in a stronger organization that is best positioned to successfully meet the needs of the people we serve. We are confident that in due time and with our heightened safety precautions and regulations, we can resume our normal activities and operational practices. Elective surgeries at Holy Cross Hospital have already resumed and morale is as high as it has ever been, proving the resiliency of our healthcare professionals.
The future: During this pandemic, the spotlight on healthcare professionals has never been brighter and we anticipate that trend to continue. Will COVID-19 affect interest in becoming an emergency healthcare professional? Likely not. In Emergency Medicine, we know what we signed up for – handling crises is part of it.
On a personal note, I, along with my colleagues at Holy Cross, appreciate the support from our community. Well-deserved respect and admiration for those on the frontlines is something that we hope continues well into the future.