Submitted by PeaceHealth
As Whatcom County continues to focus on social distancing, handwashing and masking to flatten the curve, PeaceHealth is beginning to plan for the future with a focus on safely returning to care and reopening services.
While the medical center and clinics are not easing current practices related to safety and security that were implemented during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians and leaders at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and PeaceHealth Medical Group are beginning to look ahead to recovery efforts and want to remind the public not to delay seeking important healthcare.
One outcome of the COVID-19 crisis is the shift in public perception about what constitutes necessary care. When combined with fear of contracting the virus, many people have chosen to delay or postpone routine, follow-up and emergency care with potentially harmful effects.
- While stay-at-home orders are a large contributing factor, there is a growing concern among the healthcare community that patients, even those with severe illnesses, are avoiding hospitals out of fear.
- Delays in seeking or not seeking care can have a detrimental impact on patient health, including more severe clinical findings, poorer outcomes and increased expenses related to postponing care.
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Chief Medical & Patient Safety Officer Sudhakar Karlapudi, MD, MBA, FACP, encourages the public to remain focused on their own health and wellness during the crisis. He urges people not to hesitate to seek the routine or critical/emergency care they may need either for themselves or their loved ones. “I am concerned that patients have been reluctant to seek medical care during the COVID-19 crisis,” stated Dr. Karlapudi. “My message to our community is as follows: Delaying necessary care can have detrimental consequences on your health. Stay safe, and if you think you need care – don’t delay!”
Jim Bochsler, vice president of PeaceHealth Medical Group Northwest, added, “Our physician group continues to provide ongoing care, manage and treat chronic and acute illness, give childhood and adult vaccinations and prescribe medications for our patients unrelated to the COVID-19 virus.” Visits may look different, given social distancing requirements, and video visits provide options to traditional face-to-face visits which are still required for some patients.
Safety remains a top priority at the medical center and outpatient clinics for patients and caregiver employees and they continue to take the necessary precautions based on the most recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that any COVID-19 patients are not only cared for, but in safe and strict isolation away from general hospital areas.
PeaceHealth is aware that all health issues continue during a pandemic, and it is important to remember that clinics and hospitals are open for necessary appointments including recommended checkups, childhood immunizations and emergent care, including surgeries. Over the coming weeks, more services will be included.
If you need care:
- Call your provider’s office or chat with your provider via My PeaceHealth.
- Video visits with primary care providers, oncologists and OB-GYNs are now available.
- Call 9-1-1 if you or a loved one is experiencing an emergency including symptoms of a stroke or heart attack.
About PeaceHealth
Based in Vancouver, Wash., PeaceHealth is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center provides quality care for northwest Washington with its full-service 253-bed hospital and PeaceHealth Medical Group clinics. Key services in Bellingham include comprehensive cardiology, oncology, orthopedic and rehabilitation services and a joint venture outpatient imaging service. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
