SoCal Flipbooks

Health Matters: Providence St. Mary Medical Center | 3 Prevention Pays Off Delaying care can lead to regrettable results. E arly in the COVID-19 pandemic, an oft- preventable side effect of the disease emerged—and its impact lingers more than two years later. The fear of seeking needed or even urgent medical treatment cascaded into unwarranted complications, a problem that, in some cases, brought devastating consequences. Even though concern over contracting COVID-19 at hospitals presented itself as a major threat to health, the issue largely remained out of public view—in the High Desert and beyond. According to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated four in 10 adults in the U.S. had delayed or avoided medical care out of pandemic-related concerns as of June 30, 2020. A more recent report, from the Urban Institute, found that in just the month of April 2021, more than one in 10 adults chose to delay or not seek care for a specific condition because of COVID-exposure fears. Nearly the same percentage delayed or passed on seeking care for their children out of similar concerns. At the local level, those fears manifested in many instances of preventable outcomes, including death. While many of the more severe consequences of delayed care stem from heart attacks and strokes, the scope of the issue stretches far beyond those medical events. "One area where I have seen people delay care is diabetics with foot infections," says Ali Ebrahim, MD, Providence St. Mary Medical Center's lead emergency department physician. "This is a complicated disease to begin with, so the earlier people seek care, the better their chances of a good outcome." KEEPING SAFETY MEASURES UPDATED As epicenters for treatment, hospitals across the country have launched extensive and rigorous safety precautions to limit exposure to COVID-19. At Providence St. Mary, numerous safeguards were put in place—and remain intact in some instances— to ensure patient safety. Hospital leadership established surge planning, restricted hospital access and created isolation pods to treat COVID-19 patients, among other measures. Despite these safety precautions, Providence St. Mary saw a sharp decline in patient volumes and emergency department visits— roughly 40% between March and July 2020. Beyond that, a stark increase in non-COVID-related complications exacerbated the drop-off and served as a jarring reminder of the far-reaching and unintended effects of the disease. More than two years into the pandemic, Providence St. Mary recently navigated yet another surge, caring for roughly 130 COVID- positive patients at the peak of the surge in early 2022. By mid-April, however, those numbers had fallen to single digits. Hospital leadership then began the careful process of retracting elements of its surge plan, as well as additional COVID-related safety measures, while keeping others in place—work that is guided by the latest governmental guidelines and recommendations. The safety and well-being of patients, visitors and caregivers remains at the forefront of that decision-making process. "We have taken and continue to take and adjust our safety protocols to meet the latest guidelines and recommendations," Dr. Ebrahim says. "Please don't be afraid to seek care." Visit coronavirus.providence.org/ high-desert-updates to learn more about Providence St. Mary Medical Center's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Cover