Effingham, IL -(Effingham Radio)- Heart attacks, strokes, accidents and injuries: These are just a few examples of medical emergencies that can occur at any time, in any place and to any one – even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham reminds all area communities it is open and available to provide all types of emergency medical care, 24/7, regardless of the current public health crisis.
A recent report from the American College of Emergency Physicians states some emergency departments across the country are seeing a reduction in patient volumes, as well as patients delaying seeking medical care for non-COVID-19 related emergencies – potentially due to patients being concerned about contracting COVID-19 during a hospital visit or overwhelming health care workers.
“We urge our community members to never forgo or delay seeking medical care for any type of emergency, even in the midst of a pandemic,” says Dr. Alex You, emergency medicine physician and medical director of St. Anthony’s emergency department. “We have highly-skilled, compassionate providers ready to care for you and protocols in place to prevent the spread of all infectious diseases, including COVID-19.”
The following are some examples of symptoms/incidents in which a trip to the emergency department or call to 911 would be necessary:
- Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
- Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
- Severe abdominal pain
- Bleeding that will not stop
- Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness
- Sudden changes in vision
- Sudden confusion
- Injury due to accident, burns or smoke inhalation, near drowning, deep or large wounds or other serious injuries
- Choking
- Difficulty speaking
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Head or spine injury
HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is located at 503 North Maple Street in Effingham. For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, visit stanthonyshospital.org.
About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our 15 Local Systems and physician practices in Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville, and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.
Comments