Dear
Cowley County Citizens,
We
need your help.
Emergency
departments and clinics are overflowing. Inpatient and ICU beds are at
capacity. Lab, radiology, and respiratory services are busier than ever. Now
two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare workers who remain are
tough and our frontlines are still strong. But, we are weary.
We
are also concerned, as healthcare professionals, community members, and
parents. We’ve heard people refer to the pandemic as if it is in the past.
We’ve heard many citizens dismiss the new Omicron variant as less threatening.
We want you to know, people are still getting sick. People are still dying.
Furthermore,
this situation puts a strain on our ability to care for those who have other
urgent medical needs that are not COVID-related. Patients – not just
COVID-positive patients – have waited incredibly long times in the emergency
department waiting for a transfer, sometimes states away. It’s affecting all
who seek care at our hospitals and clinics.
Our
mission is to be there for you when you need us most. Very soon, we may not be
able to do this.
Though
we will never refuse you care, we ask you to preserve our limited resources. If
you are experiencing an emergency – such as difficulty breathing or chest pain
– please seek treatment immediately. However, if you are asymptomatic or have
mild symptoms, please visit one of the community testing locations or get a
home testing kit. We also encourage you to call your primary care office first
before going to the emergency room. Healthcare professionals can evaluate your
symptoms and explain the best course of action.
We
need you to know this is what we are facing. We need your immediate help to
slow community spread of COVID-19. The precautions put in place early on in the
pandemic still apply. Mask up. Wash your hands frequently. Avoid large crowds.
Stay home when you’re sick. These are all still proven methods to reduce
COVID-19 transmission. Also, if you are able, get vaccinated.
Together
we can end this.
And
there’s one more thing…
Be
kind. Please stop and think before acting aggressively towards a caregiver –
towards any worker for that matter. We understand stress is at an all-time
high, but our healthcare heroes have worked tirelessly and selflessly. Kindness
is free, and a sincere “thank you” could provide just the encouragement needed
to get through another difficult day.
With
care and compassion from these local healthcare providers,
SCK
Health network, William Newton Hospital network, Community Health Center in
Cowley County,
Dr. Bryan Dennett, MD, Carrie Parmely, APRN, City-Cowley County Health
Department, Graves Drug, Health Center Pharmacy, and Winfield Pharmacy
