Don't Delay Your Care - Morning Aircheck with Carolyn Candiello

In the past few months, GBMC and many hospitals in the area have seen a decrease in admissions and Emergency Department (ED) visits. This may sound positive at first, but what it really means is that people who need care aren’t coming to get it. Carolyn Candiello, Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety at GBMC, joined host, Bryan Nehman, on WBAL Radio to explain why it’s critical to continue receiving medical care and talked about the community’s reaction to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

To understand the thoughts and feelings of the community, GBMC performed a survey that asked questions regarding safety and other related topics. “We found that about 52% of respondents indicated they did not feel safe coming to a hospital for care,” Carolyn said. Unfortunately, this has led to patients waiting to come to their provider’s office or the hospital and becoming much sicker than if they had sought care earlier.

“One of the things that I emphasize for our community is that it’s less safe to stay home and suffer with symptoms,” she explained. “If you’re having signs and symptoms of a heart attack, you need to be able to come to the hospital and feel comfortable doing so.” The same concept applies to screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies. When caught early, cancer and other conditions are more easily treated, and the patient will often have a better prognosis.

Carolyn assured listeners that GBMC is a safe place to come for care. GBMC has many precautions in place, including, but not limited to, extensive cleaning in between patients and throughout the day, temperature screenings at entrances, mask requirements for visitors and staff, and more. Each employee at GBMC who has direct patient interaction wears full personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves and the patients they care for. For non-emergent health issues, GBMC offers telehealth video visits to all patients.

Carolyn urged patients not to delay their care. “If you feel that you need to go to the emergency department, don’t hesitate for fears of COVID-19, it’s really important to seek care and treatment early on. Call your provider if you have questions – we are always here for you.”

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