McLaren Greater Lansing Chief Medical Officer: Don't Delay Your Care
Author: Jon Adamy, Marketing Specialist
Health care workers around the world continue to courageously battle COVID-19, and the recent approvals of new vaccines mean that reinforcements are on the way. Although we continue to make strides in the fight, we know that far too many people in our community are putting off health care because of the pandemic.
A recent report from the CDC shows that an estimated 41% of Americans say they’ve delayed or avoided seeking routine or emergency care due to concerns over COVID-19. This means that millions of people may be facing diseases that are worsening without medical intervention, and others are missing critical, time-sensitive emergency care.
Physicians across the country are seeing patients facing chronic diseases that have worsened, cancer that has spread further, and illnesses that have compounded because of delays in care. I urge you not to be one of them.
If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, changes in mental status, concussion or confusion, head or eye injury, broken bones or seizures, or any other health issue you feel is an emergency, you need to go to an emergency room or call 911.
To put it simply, your health cannot wait for the end of COVID-19.
I want you to know that McLaren Greater Lansing continues to go above and beyond to keep you safe when and where you need us: at our emergency room, hospital, and outpatient care facilities. We’re screening patients and separating them for care if they have COVID-19 symptoms, encouraging social distancing during visits, and frequently disinfecting high-touch areas, all while using the right protective equipment.
Don’t delay your health care. While there’s no way to know exactly what the future holds, we do know this: McLaren will always be here to provide the care you need, when you need it.
Dr. Linda Peterson
McLaren Greater Lansing Chief Medical Officer