NWH: Is it Safe to Go To The ER?

NWH: Is it Safe to Go To The ER? Northern Westchester Hospital’s (NWH), Dr. James Dwyer, Chair of Emergency Medicine recently sent out a message to our communities to reassure everyone that it is safe to visit the hospitals Emergency Department (ED). His concern is predicated on an alarming decline of patients coming to NWH’s ED – part of a nationwide trend. This includes declines in ED visits for people with life threatening medical conditions including heart attack, stroke, appendicitis, trauma and infection.

“Before Covid-19, we saw about 82 patients per day. Now, we see half that number with non-Covid symptoms,” he said. He attributed this to people’s fear of being exposed to coronavirus. “Because people are disregarding serious (non-Covid) symptoms, untold numbers may be dying at home or risking long-term health consequences.” And among the patients who are going to ED with threatening medical conditions, there is evidence that they are dangerously delaying their visits and in some cases “waiting too long.”

Dr. Dwyer cited the uptick in the percentage of patients with appendicitis who delayed their ED visit until their appendix had ruptured. Before the coronavirus, just 5 to 10% of appendicitis patients reported in to the ED with a ruptured appendix. Now, half are. And 25% of stroke victims are waiting a full day before going to the ED. Double the rate prior to the coronavirus – despite symptoms that can include loss of vision, speech, sensation and weakness on one side. “The truth is, because of the coronavirus, more people are dying – and it’s not just from complications of the coronavirus. There’s a toll that’s taking place in the United States and internationally, due to people’s fears of going to the hospital because they think they will get Covid-19 there.”

“The likelihood that you’ll get Covid-19 at our ED is far less than your likelihood of getting it in the community,” he asserted. Dr. Dwyer acknowledged the significant declines in coronavirus cases in the county that suggest Westchester has “flattened the curve”. And went on to stress the measures that NWH is taking to ensure patient and health care worker safety. Including:

• We screen everyone at the front door.
• Everyone wears a mask.
• When you come into the ED, you go into a private room immediately.
• Protection for staff and patients prevents exposure to coronavirus.

We recommend everyone read Dr. Dwyer’s full post outlining the signs and symptoms of heart attack, stroke and appendicitis – the benefits of reporting in quickly to ED if you experience them and the dangers of delaying your visit.

More from Northern Westchester Hospital

A Health Baby Owen – Born to a COVID-Positive Mom

On a positive note, Northern Westchester Hospital recently reported that Katherine Ford recently gave birth at there while she was positive for COVID-19. Katherine was the first pregnant woman diagnosed with the coronavirus in the state of Connecticut. Her symptoms began in late February but her sore throat, post nasal drip and night-time cough were masked as common symptoms a woman might have in her third trimester. But when she became short of breath and developed a fever of 101.6 she tested positive for COVID-19, was hospitalized and began receiving oxygen.

Though still positive with COVID-19, Katherine was released from the hospital in late March with plans to give birth by C-section in early April. Then a blood test revealed that her liver was failing and she was rushed in for an Emergency C-Section that evening – flying solo since her husband was also positive with the coronavirus. You can read all about her successful delivery of a healthy 10 pound baby boy – one month early.