Page 14 - June Hernando 2020 Senior Voice

14 • JUNE 2020 - Senior Voice of Hernando County Health Connections
14 • JUNE 2020 - Senior Voice of Hernando County

Quickly Seek Care in a Medical Emergency

Local hospitals are urging the rine, M.D., Emergency Room medical team and leads to follow CDC guidelines for
community to seek emergen- medical director for Citrus increased adverse outcomes, infectious disease control and
cy care when needed – with- Memorial Hospital. “I fear morbidity, and mortality for our emergency departments
out delay. If you experience that people of our community patients.” are absolutely safe for medi-
a medical emergency such as are not willing to come to the cal treatment.”
stroke symptoms or chest pain emergency department out of “We are seeing an increase in
that may be a heart attack, a concern over COVID-19. the number of people who are Local hospitals have imple-
timely response will support waiting too long before seek- mented precautions to protect

the best possible outcome. “Along those lines, the cas- ing treatment for their emer- patients and staff, including
es that we are seeing tend to gency medical conditions,” screening all patients for
“Floridians have been un- be more critically sick, or of said Roderick Bennett, M.D., symptoms and risk factors,
derstandably worried as they higher levels of emergency Bayfront Health Emergency and placing any individuals
watch the news of hospitals than we would normally ex- Department Medical Director. with suspected or confirmed
affected by a large influx of pect,” he added. “Especially “Heart attacks, strokes, and COVID-19 in a separate area.
COVID-19 patients, particu- when dealing with time sen- appendicitis did not go away Cleaning and disinfection
larly in New York and other sitive diseases such as heart because of COVID-19 and are emphasized in caregiving
epicenters around the coun- attack, stroke and sepsis, this delaying treatment can have areas and throughout the facil-

try,” said Mityanand Ramna- poses a great challenge to the disastrous consequences. We ities.

Bayfront Health Resumes Elective Procedures

By Megan Carella those days.

“We are a safe environment; “We have to have a negative
people should not withhold test prior to surgery,” Degina
getting care when they need said.

it.” building, including staff, is Should there be any waiting, On the day of the procedure,

Tony Degina, chief executive screened, and all employees, red banding has closed off patients are dropped off under
officer for Bayfront Spring physicians, and patients are seating so that what seating is a covered area at Outpatient
Hill and Bayfront Brooksville required to wear masks. available is more than social surgery. Staff coordinates with

hospitals, said both hospitals Furniture in waiting areas distance apart.” the driver to ensure they know
have safely resumed outpatient has been spaced to maintain Non-COVID-19-care zones when to come back for their
surgeries and other elective appropriate social distancing. have been defined in the loved one.
procedures. Cleaning and disinfection of hospitals, where patients who “We have made it as

The hospitals are following frequently touched surfaces are screened as negative for convenient and seamless as
Governor DeSantis’ Executive and caregiving spaces has been COVID-19 will receive care possible,” Degina said. “We
Order allowing some elective intensified. Visitor restrictions from dedicated staff. If, at don’t want the patient to worry
surgeries and procedures in for inpatients remain in effect, any time, the hospitals are about logistics.

hospitals with a low or no- with exceptions for laboring caring for COVID-19 positive “All of our services are open
COVID-19 census. mothers, pediatric patients, patients, those patients are – the wound care center,
and end-of-life situations. grouped together in the same
Safety remains both hospitals’ unit away from all other and other OP services like

highest priority. Numerous “If you are coming here, patients. interventional radiology,
precautions for infection you’re not going to encounter ultrasound, and imaging,” he
prevention, access control, a lot of people outside the COVID-19 testing is now part added.
social distancing, and patient care delivery process,” said of the pre-admit process, done “We hope that everyone takes

flow are in place to maintain Degina. “Once in the facility, four days prior to elective seriously the measures we’ve
a safe environment of care. all patients, visitors if there procedures. Bayfront asks put in place and understands
Everyone who enters the are any, and staff are masked. patients to self-quarantine for why they are so necessary.”