some with emergencies, it was a
little easier for us to get back into
a full dental flow,” he said. “Some
dentists closed for two months,
and I think it was much harder
for them to reopen.”
What about
Emergency Room visits?
In the weeks following the
declaration of COVID-19 as a
national emergency, substantial
reductions in emergency
department visits made the
news.
On June 26, 2020, the
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention’s Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report
(MMWR) noted three potentially
life-threatening conditions
where ED visits were down
by all age groups, and across
genders.
In a New York Times report,
it’s suggested that patients “may
be coming in later and sicker.”
Perhaps patients stayed home
longer before they came in with
worsening conditions, suggested
one physician?
The implication for public
health practice is to educate the
public about the importance
of immediate emergency care,
regardless of a pandemic.
People need to know that if
they are experiencing chest pain,
loss of motor function, altered
mental status, or other life-
threatening issues, they should
seek care right away.
What happened
to elective surgeries
As part of a special “CovidSurg
Collaborative,” a survey was done
of 1,000 surgical leaders across
the country to assess the surgery
outcomes for patients who
were diagnosed with COVID-19.
The survey included academic
medical centers, hospitals and
surgery centers (identified by
general surgery) and included
certain specialties (such as
orthopedics and urology).
More than half of the
respondents said up to 40%
of their patients had canceled
their elective procedures. “As
[surgical centers] start the
process of reopening, it’s critical
that we also strive for equitable
access to surgical care across
the communities we serve,”
stated one professor (who
partnered with the CovidSurg
Collaborative).
What should you do?
There is still much to learn
about this unprecedented virus.
At the time of this writing, we
don’t’ know how far it already
has penetrated into society
and we still don’t know how
to completely prevent its
transmission.
From patients to multiple
medical practices, the public is
experimenting on how to adjust
COVID-19 into our lives.
And as medical offices reopen,
now may be a good time for
patient protection against the
unseen health hazards affecting
our communities.
The take-home message is:
Don’t wait.
For starters, if you, or
someone you care for, is feeling
sick, experiencing a fever, or
showing signs of difficulty
breathing, call your primary
care physician right away for
further directions. However, if
your upcoming appointment
can be handled virtually, that
may be another option for
you depending on the medical
practice.
Stay vigilant with selfcare
and continue to follow COVID-19
guidelines when you are seeing
your health care provider —
even if it’s for Woodwork, X-rays
or other tests. The good news:
medical practices are safer than
they’ve ever been.
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55
MARGY MANCHESTER
Resident since 2006
“I’ve been involved with the community
since 1960 and I was on the very first
board here at Saint Anne's Terrace. It's a
beautiful part of town and the best part
about living here is the wonderful family
atmosphere in which everyone gets along ”
saint anne’s
terrace
We call it home.
During this difficult time, we have maintained
the CDC guidelines to keep our residents safe and
functioning. We are in a "soft" re-opening phase for
family members and look forward to re-engage with
outside visitors in late August. Please call for details.
We hope to see you then!
• Serving Buckhead community for over 30 years • Minutes from OK Cafe
• Quiet residential neighborhood • Apartments tailored to personal needs
CALL US TO SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT
3100 Northside Parkway, NW Atlanta 30327
www.saintannesterrace.org • 404-238-9200
AUGUST 2020 I ATLANTASENIORLIFE.COM 19
