Here I am sitting at my desk doing a telehealth visit. I can look directly at the patient, and discuss whatever we need to discuss, and yet I can still also visualize the patient without them having to come in. I also have direct access to their chart as well to review and update, and discuss whatever questions our patients may have. In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to become creative on how we can still keep taking care of our patients, and yet limit both our patients exposure, and our staff’s exposure to this virus. The telehealth visit also provides a means of triage to help us determine if someone is truly sick enough that they would have to come in and be seen in person. Brown Clinic is continuously changing our protocols on how we are adapting to this pandemic. We have never seen anything like this before, so it is not like we can just do everything in a day. We keep adapting to what works, and what does not.
Every patient coming into the clinic is triaged at the door. All staff is triaged at the door when they come in as well. One of our staff will be masked, gowned, and wearing a face shield as well. (My nurse here had just taken off her shield and gown, so I did not make her put it back on for the sake of the picture!) But she has a skin thermometer to take your temperature, and is holding stickers that is placed on the staff, and the patients, triaging them according to symptoms. For our staff, if they are sick, they are going to be seen immediately, and then sent home as well. For patients entering the clinic, this screening is done as soon as they walk in the door. This also serves as a factor as to whether the patient is gong to have to wear a mask, and whether they will need to be taken directly to a room to be away from everybody else. So if you are truly not sick enough, avoid coming into the clinic. We can also help determine if you should be coming in by doing a telehealth visit as well.
The staff at the clinic are wearing masks for every patient regardless of what they are seen for. Depending on the triage protocols, we then decide if we need to gown up, and wear face shields as well. Anything we can do to avoid unnecessary visits into the clinic is being done. We have also instituted drive up lab draws to still be taking care of all of the other health issues that we need to deal with daily as well, not just that related to COVID-19. We are encouraging people if they are sick, to get a hold of us at the clinic first, and set up a telehealth visit, whether by video, or telephone, and be taken care of this way first. The amount of information that we can get by these visits is incredible, and we can still take care of you, and at the same time limit both our patients, and our staff’s, exposure. People who thought they could never do this before are finding out that it is really pretty simple, and we will help walk you through every step of it in an attempt to take care of you. Our hours at Brown Clinic, just like many other facilities, have changed from 7:30-5:00 PM every day, Monday through Friday, but we have the capability and opportunity to create a telehealth visit, in one way or another, 24/7, 7 days a week. Our previous convenience care hours from 5-7 PM are staffed with more people as well to handle any increased telehealth visits as well. We are still available this way continuously, just we always have been, but in a way that limits exposure to everybody involved.
You can get a hold of us with this number, and in particular, after hours, hit option “0” and we will help you through the rest of it! Be safe. Be smart. Utilize this service as a means to be taken care of. This is consistent with our mission statement as well: “To provide quality and compassionate health care.” We are committed to continuous improvement…because that is the kind of care you expect from Brown Clinic–the people you know and trust. Keep moving everybody!
Remember what today is about! We need to keep focused on Easter and what it means, and the sacrifices that were made for us. I miss being able to go to church every week, and especially now with Easter. Set aside time to reflect on this since we all have time at home now. We were not able to have all of our kids home because of the pandemic. Sarah and I were able to go running with Dakota! She made it 4 miles with us on Saturday. She just turned 8 months old. She loved it the whole time. She is such an affectionate dog that it would not matter what it was we were doing, she just wants to be with us!
Dakota loves going walking or running, and now, even she stops to gaze at the Lake with all of the ice out. It really is something to view!
When the wind is calm, it is easy to get lost in thoughts and just watch. It is a great time to sit and think, and just forget about other things, or just reflect on everything going on, particularly this Easter weekend.
Spend time with who has been at home with you, and talk to the others who can’t, either by phone, or facetime. We are all in this together, and if we hang together, then we can all be here later. Be smart. Be safe. Pray and ask for help.
Have a great Easter! Keep moving everybody, and stay safe!
When thing get tough, it is even more important to try and keep a positive attitude. I obviously need to keep reminding myself of this too. I guess I too am human as well. With all of the stress going on about COVID-19, taking care of patients, wondering when and if I am going to come down with this, or expose my family to it, the loss of socializing and running with my friends, not being able to go to church, and then top it all with the crappy weather we had on Thursday, and wondering if we are still going to have to deal with a flood situation, I lost it. Everything came to a head, and I lost my cool. We are all under a lot of stress, and I am no different. But like I just said, I have to work on continuing to remind myself to hold it together, and reminding myself to keep a positive attitude in this time of total chaos. No easy task! If I could change that moment, I would.
I continue to keep going out to the Reiflex Center and workout, but it is not the same as going for a run with my friends. Those were great times, and was a way to talk about things going on, and helping to solve problems. The weight workouts help burn off frustrations, but it is not the same.
I went walking multiple times this week to help clear my head. When we had just got rid of all of the snow, it was great. I did not feel like running. I just did not have the energy for it. But the walking got me outside, and gave me a way to relax and think. If you have not done it, you have no idea what you are missing. Give it a try!
Dakota is now 8 months old. She is always ready to go for a walk. Sarah takes her in the mornings, and I have been taking her in the evenings. She is one tired puppy at the end of the day, but she loves to go for her walks. The energy she has, and the excitement she has exploring everything while we are out is contagious. We could all learn a lot from a dog, especially a puppy!
I guess we have to take the bad with the good. Staying positive can be a full time job. I guess I have to realize too that I have weaknesses, and can have moments of losing it as well. I also need to be like everybody else, and learn from those times. How could things have been handled differently? We can always second guess our decisions, and ideas. We definitely need to learn from them so as to not keep repeating the same mistakes.
Attitude truly is everything! Keep reminding yourself of this, just like I am now as well. FOCUS! REPEAT! REPEAT! REPEAT! We all learn better by repetition. Can we make the same mistakes in life along the way? Yes, that is why we are all human as well. Nobody is perfect. How to keep is all together when needed is the secret.
Open up your view of things. All of us can see things differently when looking at the same thing. How we handle it, or deal with is the key. Just like now, with the pandemic going on, it will be a tough road ahead. A lot of stress coming. We all deal with it differently, and we can handle it differently depending on how much we are pushed, or how much things keep building up. Learn from the past, and don’t keep repeating the same mistakes. We can all have a moment of weakness. Strive to keep going, keep pushing…keep striving to survive. And above all else…
What a week! This is just the beginning. Things are changing at a rapid pace, and we have no idea what is yet to come. Everybody is scared. We are all trying to figure what is the right thing to do. The challenge comes in trying to calm down all of the fears. No easy task, especially when there is a coronavirus update every few minutes on the radio or tv, or somewhere. You have to trust those around you, and hope everybody else is following the same precautions. Those of us on the front line are trying to do what we can, but we certainly do not have all of the answers.
Control the things you can control, and try to let go of the things you cannot control. All it does it create more stress and anxiety. For me, this is where the exercise comes into play. I still try to get 30-45 minutes a day to workout, even after working all day. I need an escape. I need some time just for me to get ready to take on the next day.
We have it within us. Keep looking. Don’t give up!
Listen! Keep going! Hold on!
Lean on those close to you. Chances are they are feeling the same. Everybody is under stress. Sarah and I are trying to be in clinic all day and put out whatever fires we still can. The capability of doing telehealth has been huge this week trying to stay in contact with patients, and help them with whatever is going on the best we can, without them having to come into the clinic. There is nothing like trying to figure all of this out on the fly as well, especially when we are trying to figure what is all going on in regards to this pandemic, and the changes and recommendations that continuously change from the CDC.
Keep focusing on this. Keep repeating. Keep praying. Keep doing your part to help slow down the spread of this. Help us that are in the medical field to be available for those that are the sickest. Help us help you. We need everybody to do their part in this if this is going to get under control. We cannot do it alone.
I sat in front of the Lake on Saturday taking a break tying to clear my mind, and forget about everything else. The economy is in disarray. My daughter lost her job this week because of it. But honestly, the economy will turn around after this is done. The main point is that we need to remain healthy. For years I have been talking about the fact we need to Strive to Survive. Now more than ever does this come into play. We need EVERYBODY to do their part so Sarah and I can help do our part, along with all of the rest of the medical community. We are all in this together. It is going to take all of us to get through it. Take those mental breaks, and if nothing else, go for a walk and clear your head. Get ready to take on tomorrow. For me personally, in one more day, I will have reached the one year milestone of consecutive exercise days after my major health issue. I was given time. We all need to appreciate the time we all have. Each day going forward will be a new adventure. Be safe everybody, and in the process, keep moving!
Many things are going on, and the panic is in high gear. Many things we can control, and many other things we cannot. For me, my escape is to go burn off frustration by working out. We are still supposed to be practicing social distancing with everything going on with COVID-19. For me, I have a corner in my garage–The Reiflex Center. My sanctuary at times. It is my time go escape from life, and work out frustrations, and then feel like I am ready to go take on things again. You don’t need to have a special corner in the garage, or in the house. You just need a spot to do some movement, and very easily can incorporate body weight exercises.
Sarah can do her sit ups…
Me doing resistance exercise for my legs by doing wall sits…
Megan doing her side planks…
Me doing pull ups using my TRX bands. You don’t need to have special equipment to do this. You can do them just using the wall, or get down on the floor and do pushups. If you have not done them in the past, you don’t know how tough some of these can be. They are great for building strength though…and for burning off frustrations!
My corner of the garage with some of the equipment I have. Nothing extravagant, but a variety to utilize! My problem solving corner!
It has melted enough outside where much of the trails are clear to use. Go for a walk! You are outside, and still practicing social distancing! Our dogs love it! The last few days have been colder with the wind, but this coming week we will bet back into the 50’s.
Dakota is always ready to lead the way!
There are many reasons to exercise, now more than ever. Here is a list to start with—now more than ever! You can do these exercises at home. No excuse!
We are in unchartered territory for all of us. We need to keep our heads on. Burn off frustrations and fears by doing some activity. Take our minds off of everything for a short time. We need to feel like we are ready to take on things again as they come. Each day brings something else. Be ready to tackle it head on. Keep moving everybody!
