Hospital officials are concerned about a decrease in the number of heart attack and stroke patients visiting local Emergency Rooms. The assumption is calls to 911 or visits are down due to a fear E-Rs are filled with COVID-19 patients.
There’s a concerning trend that people with symptoms consistent with heart attack and stroke are avoiding receiving timely medical attention.
“What we’re hearing is that people are concerned about the emergency room being full of people with coronavirus and that just is not the case. Our emergency departments have lots of capacity. They’re doing a great job of keeping those areas safe.”
Dr. Adam London is Kent County Health Department Director.
“If you, or a loved one, are feeling chest pains. If you’re experiencing facial weakness or arm weakness or you’re seeing trouble with a loved one in their speech, or you’re having a difficulty with your speech, I want to encourage you to please, call 911 and do it as soon as possible. We need to make sure that we’re getting people suffering from those symptoms to the hospital as quickly as possible.”
In the case of heart attack and stroke, Dr. London explains time is of the essence preventing deaths or decreasing the severity of consequences associated with them.
I’m Patrick Center.