Health Care Choices | HEALTH CARE DON'T LET FEAR DICTATE YOUR HEALTH CARE CHOICES T ALON WEIZER, M.D. BOARD-CERTIFIED UROLOGIST AND CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea hese days, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction. We are bombarded 24/7 with information from social media, television, and our friends, neighbors, and family, all of which leave us feeling uncertain, anxious, and fearful. As a result, people are not taking the steps necessary to keep themselves or their loved ones safe. In certain situations, the coronavirus is even cited as a reason for not seeking medical attention, despite a person having an urgent non-COVID-related injury or illness. More and more my colleagues and I are seeing this problem firsthand. A number of non-COVID patients are arriving to the hospital or our offices with more advanced illness or injury because they did not seek care early, when intervention could have greatly improved their health and well-being. These cautionary tales can be dangerous, even deadly, and are playing out across the country. As chief medical officer of St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea, responsible for patient safety, clinical quality, and care management, I can tell you confidently that seeking medical care in our community is safe. Efforts have been made to ensure that patients can access care amid the pandemic, with a very low risk of exposure to the coronavirus. Since the pandemic began, health care providers across the country have raced to adopt elevated safety protocols. At St. Joe ,s this includes cohorting SELF-MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES CREATES BETTER OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS. COVID-19-positive patients and patients under investigation for COVID-19, and separating them from our non-COVID-19 patients; COVID-19 testing for all patients prior to any surgery, procedure, or admission to the hospital; the requirement of masks and temperature checks for everyone entering a facility; and implementation of elevated cleaning standards. This month, as our hospital celebrates its 50th year treating the community, we do so amid one of the greatest health care challenges of our lifetime. While there is much we still do not know about this virus, what we do know is that if we wash our hands regularly, wear masks when outside the home, avoid large crowds, and keep to a safe social distance from others, together we can greatly reduce the spread of COVID-19. We also know that if you or a loved one are sick—you should seek treatment; if your doctor recommends a procedure or surgery—you should schedule it; and if you are injured—you should seek medical care at the nearest urgent care or emergency department. facebook.com/jxnmagazine JacksonMagazine.com / September 2020 • 43