Hospital Cautions During These COVID-19 Days: Don't Delay Emergency Care

Heart attacks, strokes, accidents and injuries: These are just a few examples of medical emergencies that can occur at any time, in any place and to any one – even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham reminds all area communities it is open and available to provide all types of emergency medical care, 24/7, regardless of the current public health crisis.

A recent report from the American College of Emergency Physicians states some emergency departments across the country are seeing a reduction in patient volumes, as well as patients delaying seeking medical care for non-COVID-19 related emergencies – potentially due to patients being concerned about contracting COVID-19 during a hospital visit or overwhelming health care workers.

“We urge our community members to never forgo or delay seeking medical care for any type of emergency, even in the midst of a pandemic,” says Dr. Alex You, emergency medicine physician and medical director of St. Anthony’s emergency department. “We have highly-skilled, compassionate providers ready to care for you and protocols in place to prevent the spread of all infectious diseases, including COVID-19.”

The following are some examples of symptoms/incidents in which a trip to the emergency department or call to 911 would be necessary:

• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
• Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
• Severe abdominal pain
• Bleeding that will not stop
• Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness
• Sudden changes in vision
• Sudden confusion
• Injury due to accident, burns or smoke inhalation, near drowning, deep or large wounds or other serious injuries
• Choking
• Difficulty speaking
• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Head or spine injury

HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is located at 503 North Maple Street in Effingham. For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, visit stanthonyshospital.org.