Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1470097
2 | Health Matters: Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Letter to the Community A year ago, I wrote that it appeared the pandemic was winding down. Now, I dare try it again, but this time with the caveat that COVID-19 is expected to be with us for a long time, in different forms. We know so much more now, but we must remain vigilant should a new variant arise. One very important lesson from the pandemic is the need to take care of ourselves, even during COVID-19 surges. With safety precautions in our medical settings and telehealth options, it's easier than ever to see a provider. Get those annual checkups, vaccinations as recommended and appropriate screenings such as mammograms, prostate exams and colonoscopies. Schedule your kids for their wellness checks, and if they 're participating in team sports, make an appointment for a thorough annual exam to keep them healthy on the court, track, field, pool or other venue. Make sure your family doctor knows if you or your kids had COVID-19, because even if there were no symptoms, there may be lingering side effects from the virus. In this edition of Health Matters, one of our providers explains why having a primary care provider is important and lays out guidelines for when you should get diagnostic screenings. These screenings may detect serious illness in the early stages, reduce complications or even enable a cure. We also have articles on a revolutionary procedure called Aquablation, which is used to safely treat an enlarged prostate with extremely low rates of side effects, and another leading-edge procedure called Y90, a targeted treatment that extends the lives of patients with inoperable tumors. Developments like these drive the quality care we provide. In fact, in the past year, as COVID-19 surges stretched our resources, Providence Holy Cross earned more awards than ever before for overall quality, for excellence in a range of specialties and for being a great place to work. Providence Holy Cross is so fortunate to have talented, compassionate and skilled providers and caregivers, who were instrumental in our latest national award. We recently received the 2022 Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award, one of the most important recognitions for us, because we take very seriously the trust you place in us. Finally, I'd like to thank our readers for your support of our hospital over the years. We were built by our community for our community and continuously strive to serve our community with compassion, excellence and innovation. Bernard Klein, MD, Chief Executive Providence Holy Cross Medical Center