Tag: COVID-19

First COVID, now gun violence — what’s next for frontline workers?

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Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell, discusses with, Reno Gazette Journal, the recent gun violence targeted at health care providers and the challenges modern health care providers face from sickness like COVID to gun violence from disturbed patients.  As patients become more and more angry with healthcare workers the risk of violence toward providers becomes more and more of a concern on providers minds.  This is a serious topic for anyone working in the healthcare industry.

Read the full Reno Gazette article here

Article Snippet:

“Oh no, not again.” The words we find ourselves saying far too often these days.

Let’s start with COVID. When the virus first spread across the U.S. and paralyzed the world, I was scared.

As an urgent care physician, I was concerned that I could bring this unknown deadly “thing” to my home, and more importantly my family. But despite my fears, I knew I had to help.

There was no hesitation from me, or my colleagues to do our part. We immediately moved into action. No one shied away from shifts, and there wasn’t a single person that hesitated to answer the call of duty.

When some medical offices closed their doors — leaving their patients with nowhere to go — we staged drive-through test sites and mobilized outdoor clinics. Patients came to us extremely sick, unable to breathe, fatigued and with terrible respiratory diseases.

Then, the vaccines.

Initially, people seemed thrilled. But it quickly started to become politicized. We began to see increased mistrust of the health care system, and vicious attacks on frontline workers like myself who diagnosed patients with the virus, or publicly supported vaccinations. Never had there been a time in medical history where people completely dismissed or didn’t believe a doctor’s diagnosis….

See what else Dr. Curry-Winchell has to share about gun violence in her Reno Gazette article linked above.

Already Had COVID? These COVID Symptoms May Never Go Away?

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Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell, discusses COVID symptoms with Eat This, Not That.  As we continue to learn more about COVID is does appear that some COVID symptoms may never go away.  These long term symptoms are sometimes referred to as long-haulers.  Learn more from the article below.

Read the full Eat This Not That article here

Article Snippet:

While many people won’t become seriously ill with COVID or deal with short-lasting symptoms, for others that’s not the case. Millions are experiencing a wide range of symptoms for weeks or even months after the initial infection of the virus and researchers are still baffled as to why they have PASC (post-acute sequelae of COVID-19), or “Long COVID.” “While it might seem like forever now, in the medical world, COVID is still considered relatively new – which means we’re still learning new things about the virus daily. So far what the? CDC?has identified as long-term effects range from a series of general symptoms, respiratory, heart and neurological symptoms,” Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, Urgent Care Medical Director and Physician, Carbon Health and Saint Mary’s Hospital tells us. There’s now growing concern that some symptoms are never ending and Dr. Curry-Winchell, who has been treating COVID patients since the beginning, explains what signs of COVID may never go away. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these

See what else Dr. BCW has to share as she answers questions for Eat This, Not That as they answer the questions, Already Had COVID? These COVID Symptoms May Never Go Away?

Healthcare Workers Plagued With COVID-Related PTSD and Burnout

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Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell, works with Inside Edition to deliver an article and short video on COVID-Related PTSD and Burnout in Healthcare workers.

For some outside of the medical industry it might seem like the everything is just back to normal.  But for many healthcare workers the COVID pandemic has left an indelible impact on them mentally and emotionally.  The COVID pandemic brought fear, uncertainty, loss and long hours which were initially met with gratitude but as the pandemic wore on it also began to bring more and more frustrated patients that were angry with doctors and the entire healthcare system for a situation they believed as all a hoax.  There is a lot to deal with as a medical provider on a day in day out basis during “normal times” but the COVID pandemic was anything but normal and the extra stressors have seriously impacted medical providers and they are just starting to realize the impact the pandemic had.  This short article and video from Inside Edition was a great acknowledgement of the situation.  If you are in healthcare or have a loved one that works in the health care system, please make sure to check in on them and make sure they are dealing with the pandemic fall out and if they are experiencing COVID-Related PTSD please find them help.

See the whole story here @ Inside Edition

Dr. Curry-Winchell

Symptoms COVID Patients Say They’ve Had Most

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Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell talks with Eat This, Not That, about  COVID Symptoms, what to look for and what to do if you experience them.

Read the full Eat This, Not That article here

Article Snippet:

While there’s still much to be learned about COVID, one thing is clear—everyone has a different reaction to the virus. Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, Urgent Care Medical Director and Physician, Carbon Health, and Saint Mary’s Hospital tells Eat This, Not That! Health, “The virus affects everyone differently based on the level of exposure, variant, current health status and vaccine plus booster status.” That said, there are common symptoms that many patients do experience and Dr. Curry-Winchell reveals what the symptoms are and why vaccinated people are still getting COVID. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.

Loss of Smell and Taste: Dr. Curry-Winchell says, “Loss of taste and smell, [is common among COVID patients], which is profound when you reflect on how integrated these senses are a part of our daily lives. Some patients have not had their taste and smell return.”…

See what else Dr. BCW has to share as she answers questions for Eat This, Not That as they discuss symptoms COVID patents say they’ve had most.

Here’s Who’s Getting Omicron Now

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Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell,  discusses the COVID-19 Omicron variant and who is most commonly getting Omicron at this point.  This is an important topic as cases continue to rise.  Please take the time to read the full article linked below.

Read the full Eat This, Not That article here

Article Snippet:

COVID numbers are down in the U.S., but with a surge happening in Europe and Asia, experts warn we could see an uptick in cases. “What we’re seeing in Europe, and particularly in the U.K., is something we really need to pay attention to because they are starting to see a reversal and a resurgence of cases,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to the White House, told “GMA3” on Friday. “So even though our cases are continuing to come down, I would not be surprised if in the next couple of weeks … that we might well see an increase in cases.” Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, Urgent Care Medical Director and Physician, Carbon Health, and Saint Mary’s Hospital who explains what to know about Omicron right now and who’s at risk for getting it. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.

Dr. Curry-Winchell shares, “The increase in cases could be a warning sign the U.S. will face another Omicron surge.  In the past the U.S. has experienced a surge approximately four to six weeks after a rise in cases in Asia and Europe. The recent variant B.2 subvariant is extremely contagious however, on a positive note it’s not associated with an increase in lethality. It’s important to keep a close eye on the effect this new variant has on hospitalization and death rates…

See what else Dr. Curry-Winchell has to share as she answers questions for Eat This, Not That as they discuss who is getting Omicron Now

 

Nevada’s mask mandate has been lifted. Now what?

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Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell, discusses the Nevada face mask mandate lift with the Nevada Independent

Read the full Nevada Independent article here

Dr. Curry-Winchell,

On what has been a long and uncertain road leading to the governor’s recent announcement about Nevada’s mask mandate being rolled back, there are still questions about what this new recommendation means for public health and our future as we move forward. For example, does this latest measure signal the end of the pandemic and are we really safe to say good-bye to masks?

Unfortunately, the lifting of the mask mandate doesn’t mean the pandemic is done. COVID-19 is still present, and we do not know whether the next variant will be worse, the same or milder.

The new mask guidelines from the State of Nevada are in response to COVID-19 virus infectivity rates. When rates are high in a specific area, it is recommended to still wear masks as they have been proven to provide a layer of protection from the virus. When infectivity rates trend lower, health and state officials make recommendations and respond accordingly — and that’s where you start to see a shift in restrictions such as what we are experiencing now.

For those who are unsure whether they should wear a mask or be a bit hesitant about unmasking, here are a few things to consider.

Hospitals and health care facilities can still require masks

According to the governor, hospitals and health care facilities are categorized as health and human services facilities and can therefore make their own decisions as to whether they will require masks. In these kinds of facilities, patients can range from those who are acutely ill to those seeking chemotherapy to those with other serious issues. It is important that these spaces are protected. Keep this in mind and consider providing a level of protection for yourself and other patients around you before entering….

Dr. Curry-Winchell continues to discuss the face mask mandate on The Nevada Independent

 

The urgent care aftermath of COVID-19

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Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell, works with Nevada Independent to review the urgent care aftermath of COVID-19.

Read the full Nevada Independent article here

Dr. BCW,

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused global devastation, producing long-term effects for all including those who have been diagnosed with the virus, those who lost loved ones to the virus,  and those struggling with the mental health impact of the virus. 

In urgent care facilities, we are seeing a blend of patients including those who have contracted COVID-19 and are suffering from the initial symptoms and those who are developing symptoms associated with long COVID. Initial symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, fatigue and brain fog are mostly fleeting but are, unfortunately, long-lasting for some. Some long COVID patients are also continuing to cough and are experiencing additional symptoms including lack of concentration, which can be debilitating and disruptive to their daily lives. 

When you have a new cognitive impairment, the people you live and work with might not understand that you no longer have the same level of functionality — so there is also a social aspect that long-haulers have to navigate. They may find it stressful to talk about their symptoms and share their challenges with others, such as co-workers, bosses or friends, some of whom don’t believe them or are dismissive of  COVID.

Sadly, some pediatric patients with long COVID-19 are also having a hard time returning to normal activities. They are not able to walk or run as far, are experiencing chronic fatigue and are finding it hard to concentrate. Parents of these children struggle to help them understand COVID (or to understand it themselves) and worry about how symptoms could affect their children long-term as they grow. 

Additionally, we are seeing an increase in mental health issues. Some patients were already experiencing mental health challenges prior to the pandemic. During the pandemic, many people were not able to access services, as some facilities were completely shut down. Many people were also afraid to seek care because they were scared to catch the virus. Now, patients are visiting urgent care with mental health issues including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)…

 

Dr. BCW continues on The Nevada Independent

It’s not over — Omicron is here

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Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell, reviews the new COVID-19 variant Omicron with the Nevada Independent

Read the full Nevada Independent article here

Dr. BCW,

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has arrived and is surging across the U.S., dominating over other variants and bringing with it new concerns about its potential impact and more questions about whether vaccinations are truly working. 

To understand Omicron, you have to understand the nature of viruses. Viruses naturally mutate and continue to be present so that they can infect. This happens to a greater degree when there are not high rates of vaccinations and so now, unfortunately, we have yet another variant.

Omicron looks to be highly transmissible and for those who are unvaccinated, it can present a high risk of falling ill, along with possible hospitalization and potential death. For those who have received the vaccine and still contracted the virus –– known as a breakthrough infection –– the symptoms have generally been mild to moderate.  

At the beginning of the vaccine rollout, it was said by some and then widely socialized that vaccines were 100 percent effective in preventing the virus. No vaccine is 100 percent, though, and unfortunately some people who were vaccinated still contracted the virus and passed away. Unvaccinated people who are still skeptical, along with vaccinated individuals who have had breakthrough infections, may think the vaccine failed.

It didn’t. It actually did what it was supposed to do, which was provide a level of protection in the hope that fewer people would fall severely ill, be hospitalized or have a bad outcome. In the midst of breakthrough infections and a new variant, vaccines are still a valid way to better your odds on having a severe illness — and the best chance we have to fight COVID-19. To put it in perspective, if we were to go back in time to the beginning of the pandemic, we would be in a much graver situation now if we didn’t have the vaccines at all…

Dr. BCW continues on The Nevada Independent.

Tips for navigating the holidays and awkward COVID conversations

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Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell, mets with Nevada Independent to review the upcoming holidays and provides tips on awkward COVID conversations.

Ready the full Nevada Independent article here

You can see and feel it all around: The holiday season is officially here, and there is a true sense of excitement to travel again, gather together and get back to our normal lives. 

As we make and finalize plans, there are a few things to be mindful of during this time, especially as we visit with friends and family. First, remember that we are, unfortunately, still grappling with containing the COVID-19 virus even with vaccines and booster shots readily available to most Americans.

When planning to gather with loved ones and travel, here are a few tips to help  protect you and your family as you continue to navigate this environment.

Have “The Talk”

Though it can be uncomfortable and awkward to discuss, have an honest discussion up front about who is and is not vaccinated. Prior to engaging in those conversations, think about your values and comfort level when it comes to COVID-19 and the vaccine. This approach will allow you to set the tone for how you proceed with hosting or participating in holiday events.

Once you have decided your comfort level, and if you decide you need to know the vaccination status of those who also will attend an event, share that with people — and provide a reason as to why it’s personally important to you to know the information. 

For example, even before the vaccine rollout, I would share with people that I wasn’t comfortable going to certain events because I had a 98-year-old father and didn’t want to risk transmitting the virus to him. Communicating your personal reasons, such as, “I’m nervous and don’t want someone to get ill from my gathering,” can help prevent others from becoming defensive…

Dr. BCW continues on The Nevada Independent.