Unsung Heroes on the Frontlines – Our Medical Professionals

Posted in: COVID-19, Employee Benefits

Unsung Heroes on the Frontlines – Our Medical Professionals

While many of us are safe, secluded in our homes, health care professionals do not have that luxury. As a matter of fact, their working situation is more dire than ever! Many medical practitioners on the frontlines are feeling immense stress and pressure brought about by the rise of confirmed COVID-19 cases. They are working countless hours without appropriate breaks. They are away from their family and friends. Many are working without suitable protective devices and are contracting the virus themselves. It’s a scary time, and it looks to be getting worse before it gets better. But you can help! Below are ways you can show your appreciation:

1. Protect Yourself and Others:

• With health systems already strained from an influx of sick patients and many health workers quarantined due to exposure in the course of their work, each of us needs to do our part. And that starts with being vigilant about our own health. Follow instructions from credible sources like the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which advises the public to:
• Wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and maintain distance from others if the illness is spreading in your community
• If you are sick, stay home unless you’re at a medical appointment
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue if you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow
• If you are sick, wear a facemask. Otherwise, a facemask is not necessary unless you are caring for someone who is sick
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily, and clean any dirty surfaces

2. Don’t Visit the Emergency Room Unnecessarily:
   If your condition does not fit the guidelines of true emergency care (care that is required for the immediate diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions which, if not immediately diagnosed and treated, could lead to serious physical or mental disability or death), seek alternative care. The emergency room is likely swamped. Aside from the fact that you do not want to be potentially exposed to the coronavirus from others in the emergency room, there is not enough staff to treat you. If you’re sick in any capacity and it’s not an emergency, call your doctor or do a telemedicine appointment first. This applies if you have mild COVID-19 symptoms, like a cough or a low fever, as well.
3. Send Free Food:
   Contact your local hospital and explain what you would like to do and ask to speak to the person that can help coordinate. Many local restaurants are offering free delivery. If you know the family of a health care worker, you could send them a free meal!
4. Donate Blood:
   The American Red Cross has announced that they are experiencing a severe shortage of blood because many donation drives have been cancelled. To find a location near you visit https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html
5. If You Know a Health Care Worker, Check In:
   A simple “How are you doing?” can go a long way with someone who is knee-deep in Coronavirus chaos. Just keep in mind that the majority of individuals are more than likely to say they’re fine as opposed to admit to being stressed. The key is a tiny bit of distraction. Why not send a thoughtful text, share a funny story or joke to lighten the mood, or get in some personal time over Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom.
6. Donate to Your Local Hospital or Charities that Support Hospitals:
   You can donate to your local hospital or to an organization like the Center for Disaster Philanthropy https://disasterphilanthropy.org/. They have a COVID-19 Response Fund that provides an opportunity for donors to meet the ongoing and ever-expanding challenges presented by this virus.
7. Don’t Hoard!
   It may be tempting to stockpile food, surgical masks, and other provisions. Please resist this urge. There is no interruption in our supply chain, so food and resources will remain readily available. When you take more than you need, you’re denying those resources to others, especially when it comes to medical supplies, which are already running low.

Health care workers are true unsung heroes! They need our help! They need our concern. They care, so we should too!

About The Author

Danielle Herndon

As VP of Health Risk Management, Danielle has particular expertise in all facets of Health Risk Management including Utilization Review, Demand Management, Clinical Data Analysis, Disease Management, Case Management, Predictive Modeling, Management Reporting and Employee Communications. Danielle has more than 30 years of nursing experience and more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare insurance industry.