A powerful message trending across social media in recent days highlights the important role local residents can play in reducing the spread of disease and the courageous work being performed by medical professionals around the clock as we collectively fight COVID-19. While everyone is impacted by the disruptions to life, work, and family, we rely on our medical professionals and their dedicated support staff to place the disruption and fear aside, continue to show up for duty, and care for those who need our help.  Our respect and gratitude is extended to you all.

 

Our leadership and staff have been working tirelessly to deliver important updates, tips, and tools our members can use to meet these challenges. We have significant concerns with the lack of available testing for our patients as well as physicians and medical personnel who have been exposed to the virus. We call upon those with influence to expend all efforts to increase the availability of testing.

 

We also have significant concerns with the dwindling supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in our institutions and community practices. It is critical that community practices stay open and capable of delivering routine care for patients to prevent a surge on our emergency rooms and acute care centers.  We are expending significant effort to help our members address any shortage of supplies.

 

We also caution against unscrupulous vendors selling fake testing kits and PPE to the public. Your personal physicians are the most reliable guides regarding what supplies and testing patients might need. Do not fall victim to fraud.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious public health emergency. It is everyone’s responsibility to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health (DOH) and heed the warnings of public officials to decrease exposure to others. This includes the recommendations for social distancing and quarantine that slow the transmission of the virus.

 

At the same time, we urge patients not to panic. Following the recommendations noted above is the best choice for reducing the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring adequate resources are available for those who do need them.