TidalHealth asking people to think twice before deciding on emergency room visit
SALISBURY, Md. – As flu season approaches, TidalHealth Peninsula Regional is asking people to think twice before visiting the emergency room. Hospital officials say that it comes down to the increasing number of COVID-19 patients they’re currently dealing with. “I think we just have such a high volume right now that we’re a little bit more concerned about it. We need to see people who unfortunately need to be in the hospital and are much sicker than the average person,” Chief of the COVID-19 Response Team, Dr. Chris Snyder.
Dr. Snyder says right now TidalHealth’s Salisbury location is dealing with levels similar to what they saw back at the beginning of the pandemic. “We have 50-some patients in the hospital, a number of vented patients, a number of critical care patients. The death rate has definitely risen also, especially in very ill and old folks. Our geriatric population is starting to get hit again,” said Dr. Snyder.
Dr. Chris Snyder tells 47ABC that people should remember that emergency rooms are for exactly that: Emergencies. He says people should remember there are alternatives to paying a visit to the ER. “Talk to a health care provider before you make that decision to go to the emergency room. The wait times are out of our control based on volume, and I don’t think people realize you will sit while the traumas keep rolling in, the heart pains, the septic shocks, and the folks who are super sick,” said Dr. Snyder.
TidalHealth says if you’re a normally healthy person experiencing flu-like symptoms, those alternatives can include visiting an urgent care center or family physician. The hospital also recommends looking into telehealth options from your insurance provider. He says not only will this make way for the patients who need immediate care, it’ll also lessen the strain on health care workers. “COVID-19 is a very demanding type of patient just because of the isolation and all the other elements we have to do. Plus, they have to stay in the hospital a lot longer time than the average individual. So, it gets to be a bit of a challenge,” said Dr. Snyder.
Ultimately, Dr. Snyder says getting a COVID-19 vaccine could also help keep numbers down at the hospital. He says the vast majority of TidalHealth’s sickest COVID-19 patients are not vaccinated. “The vaccine has a very good influence on reducing the longevity of the illness, and also the severity of the illness. You will still get COVID-19 if you’re vaccinated. Don’t think that you’re going to be Superman after you get a vaccine. That’s not what happens. The body just tolerates it better,” said Dr. Snyder. “I can’t tell you how many acute care patients, that I take care of with severe COVID-19 that are unvaccinated, that are second guessing themselves significantly. The most common comment is ‘I should have gotten it.'”
If you’ve taken steps to look for alternatives to the ER and still can’t decide on whether or not to go, click here for more information on what typically warrants an emergency room visit.
