COVID-19 Updates
Respiratory Therapists: Unsung Heroes
By: Lucinda Tatman RCP, Cardiopulmonary Services Manager
Respiratory Therapists across the nation have too often only been silent heroes during this pandemic. There are a reported 111,000 Respiratory Therapists in the USA. That number pales in comparison to nurses and physicians; however, Respiratory Therapists’ contributions to healthcare are profound. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics report a job growth need of 21% between 2018-2028, which is considered much faster than the average.
What To Do If You Have COVID-19 Symptoms
MILD RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS
Consult with your primary care provider
Your primary care provider will determine if you meet the criteria and should be tested for coronavirus (COVID-19).
Health Alert: Coronavirus
Thank you for choosing us for your care. If you are sick and plan to seek care for possible coronavirus (COVID-19), call ahead before going to a doctor’s office or visiting our hospital, so that arrangements can be made to prevent exposure to others. If you are visiting our hospital or clinic and are experiencing a fever and cough, or other respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath, please put on a mask and clean your hands when you arrive. We have mask stations and touchless hand sanitizer available at each of our entrances.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past. COVID is short for coronavirus disease. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
The Oregon Public Health Division created this video to explain when to seek treatment, if you suspect you may have contracted COVID-19.
Oregon State of Emergency
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency on Sunday, March 8, due the growing number of cases of COVID-19 in Oregon. The governor’s declaration allows for further flexibility in healthcare regulations and allocations of state resources to all providers, which we will be exploring with our regional healthcare partners to assure we are doing all we can to keep our community healthy.
Preventing the Spread of Illness
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) continues to recommend that all people in Oregon take precautions to prevent the spread of illnesses, especially those in the most at-risk groups, including older adults and people with underlying health conditions. The recommendation precautions for COVID-19 and influenza are: