COVID-19

[Simon Dog]

Just hanging around a hospital is a risk factor for MRSA.

[justagirl2325]

And CMV and VRE.  Hospitals are the worst at virus control.

[enginist]

If your hospital offers Telehealth for a consultation, would you use it or prefer an in-person appointment?  Which do you think your practitioner would prefer?  Do you think that hospitals are germ factories, to be avoided at all costs?  What if it's your first appointment with a new doctor?  What if you personally like and respect the members of your care team but haven't seem them since the pandemic began?  Do you think there is any value in a face-to-face encounter?

[MooseMom]

If your hospital offers Telehealth for a consultation, would you use it or prefer an in-person appointment?  Which do you think your practitioner would prefer?  Do you think that hospitals are germ factories, to be avoided at all costs?  What if it's your first appointment with a new doctor?  What if you personally like and respect the members of your care team but haven't seem them since the pandemic began?  Do you think there is any value in a face-to-face encounter?

I had a telehealth consultation for my first appointment with a hematologist and felt comfortable with that, as did the doctor.  I was very grateful that this alternative was on offer.  But mine was a pretty straightforward case, so for me, it was perfect. 

I plan to ask for a telehealth consult with my tx neph next month for my annual checkup.  I get labs done regularly as I am supposed to, and I've had my tx long enough to recognize issues if I had them.  I have no issues so feel no need to put myself or others at risk with an in-person visit when those appointments mostly are just reviewing my labs and answering the usual questions.  If I felt the need to discuss something in person, then that's what I would do.

Yes, I think there is value in a face-to-face encounter if a patient has concerns or questions they may not quite know how to ask.  For someone with a new transplant or with ongoing issues, definitely there is value in such a visit.  I personally like and respect the members of my care team, but I don't want to put them at risk, just as I don't want to put myself at risk.  I also think about the other patients in the waiting room, the nurses, and the support staff, and that's just too many people involved in the whole in-person appointment adventure.

I do think hospitals are germ factories, but that does not mean I think they should be avoided at ALL costs.  I had to go to one or else I may have lost my kidney from severe dehydration, and I made the decision to take the risk that hospitals pose. 




I

[kristina]

If your hospital offers Telehealth for a consultation, would you use it or prefer an in-person appointment?  Which do you think your practitioner would prefer?  Do you think that hospitals are germ factories, to be avoided at all costs?  What if it's your first appointment with a new doctor?  What if you personally like and respect the members of your care team but haven't seem them since the pandemic began?  Do you think there is any value in a face-to-face encounter?

Hello enginist, this is an interesting question and I was wondering about it as well. Perhaps the consultation needs to be conducted according to your particular medical needs at this moment? If, for example, you are in pain and/or have swollen limbs i.e. swollen ankles etc. you most certainly need a medical examination by the doctor in person. Whereas if you just have a medical question and/or medical check-up, which only needs to be verbally explained and/or talked over, it might be much more safe for you to talk about it over the phone and/or see the doctor over the computer-facility?

Best wishes and good luck from Kristina.

[enginist]

Thanks, Kristina and MM.  For their sake as well as mine, I'll keep the visit virtual.

[enginist]

I had a teleconference with my new urologist.  The medium was effective but the communication was not.  The call was rushed and the guy didn't listen.  Few things are as bad as doctor who doesn't listen.  This was odd because he was recommended by my previous urologist, an outstanding physician.  Maybe the new one was having an off day.  Or maybe he doesn't have a good phone-side manner.  Either way, I hope it improves.  I don't want to go doc shopping, which involves a lot of luck and is often unproductive.

[fifal9]

I'm really sorry to hear that, enginist.
I guess I'm lucky that I've found the opposite to be true. I feel like when I went into the office the Dr was constantly looking at papers and not really listening to me.
Now he seems to listen and look me in the eye more often. I feel like we have almost real conversations and he is less rushed.
Maybe you can get them to do a tele-health appt. instead of a phone call. That way they can see you and have to look you in the eye.

[enginist]

Hey Jules--

You're probably right.  A doctor always has something to distract him in the clinic, even if he's on the phone.  I think my guy was trying to read and talk at the same time.  But something like FaceTime would force him to provide his full attention.

Hope you're still at Stage 3.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

Covid outbreak has spread to a transplant unit; one of the most active in the country: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/outbreak-at-university-hospital-spreads-to-organ-transplant-and-cardiac-units-1.5818957

Public health authorities are pinpointing staff saying they let their guards down during work breaks (I guess de-masking and getting close) and in other stories I read stating that the workers should have limited social contacts outside of work, but they didn't.

Hopefully the transplant patients currently on the floor (as well as the other sick patients) will be as okay as can be considering the situation.

[Simon Dog]

Looks like a victory from the CA vaccine death panel:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/05/health/first-covid-vaccine-shipments-inadequate/index.html

The Covid-19 vaccine in California will now go first to acute care facilities, nursing homes, dialysis centers and first responders before going to groups like home healthcare workers.

[Hereware]

Looks like a victory from the CA vaccine death panel:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/05/health/first-covid-vaccine-shipments-inadequate/index.html

The Covid-19 vaccine in California will now go first to acute care facilities, nursing homes, dialysis centers and first responders before going to groups like home healthcare workers.

OMG!

[PrimeTimer]

I apologize if this has already been addressed on the site, let me know and please direct me to the correct thread if it has...TIA. 

Question: If someone has recently been hospitalized for surgery, will they be asked to self-quarantine somewhere when they are discharged?

I suppose the answer/requirement will vary state-to-state or city-to-city, depending on where the person was hospitalized but, I am wondering if any of you have ran into this situation or know someone who has.

[Xplantdad]

My next door neighbor whose mom is on dialysis, just had surgery this past week, during the huge spike of cases here in AZ. He had to get a Covid test that showed negative before surgery-but is not required to quarantine

My daughter who is a transplant has to quarantine for 20 days due to being immunosuppressed (per Mayo and the CDC). Her quarantine is up on Tuesday...

[UkrainianTracksuit]

It varies across jurisdiction to be honest. Not in the US, so take this with a grain of salt.

Prior to surgery, my husband had to self-isolate for 14 days (he managed most of that, but not all) and had two COVID tests (both negative). This was required of anyone prior to surgery, local or not.

We traveled outside our region (same province) to a hot zone with a lockdown so that he could have surgery. As a public health requirement, we have to self-isolate for 14 days. However, had he been a local with no travel involved, no self-isolation was required post-surgery.

[PrimeTimer]

Thank you for your replies, Xplantdad and UT. Hubby has been in the hospital all week for a toe amputation and it got me thinking. So far they haven't said anything to him about self-quarantine but I am a little concerned because of the surge at hospitals and the fact that we are both immunocompromised. I've stayed away but wonder about when he is discharged.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

I know that the issue has been a firestorm south of the border, but one good question to ask is whether the hospital your Mister Man is in has had an outbreak of covid recently? No space is 100% virus-proof but many have done well with preventing spread in the hospital.

Next time you speak with him (I Imagine that you are calling) advise him to ask directly to his doctor, or one leading his care, one with authority that pops in to see him, what will happen post-discharge in regard to isolation. That way he will be advised for sure (even if the med team don't mention it) and both of you can plan ahead.

Take care, Pea Tea. 

[kristina]

Thank you for your replies, Xplantdad and UT. Hubby has been in the hospital all week for a toe amputation and it got me thinking. So far they haven't said anything to him about self-quarantine but I am a little concerned because of the surge at hospitals and the fact that we are both immunocompromised. I've stayed away but wonder about when he is discharged.

Dear PT,
Please ask the medics about this, but to me it would sound like common-sense for your husband to self-quarantine after his operation, especially during the Covid-Fear right now. He seems especially vulnerable at this moment because of his immunological-self-defence-mechanism being compromised for a while during the healing process after the operation. Please take great care and best wishes from Kristina.