People Are Afraid To Go To Hospitals, But Consequences Are Proving Dire

By JULIE CUNNINGHAM

(Western MA) Nancy Shendell -Falik, Present of Baystate Medical Center, appeared with other hospital executives on Thursday’s press conference with Governor Charlie Baker. Falik assured  all citizens in the western part of the Commonwealth the priority at Baystate is safety.

“We have made necessary changes to insure that safety,” Falik assured the public. All should come to seek the needed care, Falik went on.

Officials are seeing serious consequences of not getting care at Baystate. Patients with severe stroke symptoms are waiting at home and not seeking the  care they need because they want to avoid the hospital. As those patients are starting to arrive at Baystate, many are seriously ill and have serious consequences to waiting.

Falik said that patients are afraid to come to the hospital. Another problem officials are seeing are  more amputations due to the fact that patients have waited at home and not have had limb sparing procedures. Additionally, patients who have been advised to come to the hospital for other conditions have avoided the ER due to fears of getting COVID-19, even though their healthcare provider has recommended hospital care. The pediatric department at Baystate normally sees 120 children per day, now with  the COVID-19 pandemic the pediatric unit is seeing 20 – 30 children per day. People are so scarred they are going to get COVID-19, they are waiting too long and children are becoming ill, with dire consequences.

”Chronic disease does not wait for the pandemic,” said Falik. Families are scared to bring their children to the hospital, there has been a 20% reduction patents in the behavioral health department, but Falik urged the public to trust and seek care. Baystate is currently caring for 150 COVID-19 patients and 400 non COVID-19 patients, meaning there is plenty of room.

“We are safe,” Falik reiterated.

The public is urged to seek the care they need, and to trust hospital officials and social distancing techniques that will prevent the spread of COVID-19. If a condition changes for the worse, seek help. Do not wait too long to seek help.