Page 68 - EPROOF

42 • TLC—For the Workplace
Patients’ Fears and Misconceptions
The most obvious concern that patients have is the unknown. COVID-19 presents itself in various unprec- edented ways. For this reason, it is called “the novel coro- navirus.” People do not know what to expect, and in their state of confusion, they bear an enormous burden on their shoulders: the burden of history and our past mistakes. All of us wonder how future generations will look back on this pandemic and what people will say one hundred years from now about the ways in which we handled it. Most significantly, history will judge humanity on how much we stepped up to emulate the hand and heart of our Creator through love, compassion, tolerance, and understanding, without harsh criticism or judgment.
There is a lot of anxiety about the future and a great deal of caution fatigue. People are tired of having to so- cially distance themselves from one another with their fac- es covered. Is the handshake a thing of the past? Can we ever embrace a loved one in a nursing home again without fearing for their health? These are natural questions, and the answers are not so clear-cut. However, this is what the moment demands. God is testing our emotional, mental, and physical fortitude, and the best and most loving way to meet that test is to rise to the challenge, without com- plaint, regret, or questioning “why?,” “how?,” or “when?” and having faith in the Architect of the Universe.
Mitigating or Dispelling Patients’ Anxiety
Doctors graciously and caringly try to lessen patients’ anxiety by following standard protocol and practices and reassuring them that there is a light at the end of the tun- nel. There are safeguards to keep the virus at bay, and some cases can be mild. Those with underlying or preex- isting conditions and the elderly (over sixty-five) are most vulnerable and should take extra precautions. Knowledge