COVID-19 is a reminder of the bond communities share with their hospitals

May is a special time of year for the healthcare community, as we recognize and celebrate the contributions of our Nurses (National Nurses Week), our Hospital Team (National Hospital Week) and our Emergency Medical Services First Responders (EMS Week).

This year in particular, the connection Mat-Su Regional Medical Center has with the community we serve has been especially poignant.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it crystal clear how much communities rely on their local hospitals and also how much we rely on you.

During the past few months, we’ve felt an outpouring of support and we are grateful to everyone who has delivered a meal, sewn a facemask or a gown, left a card, a sign or a chalk drawing, or who has simply reached out to one of our caregivers and support team to say – thank you. Thank you for doing that.

At Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, we are used to responding in times of crisis. But, this pandemic is unlike anything any of us has ever experienced. We also know it has created anxiety for many people, especially when it comes to seeking healthcare services. So, we want you to know two things.

First, you can count on us to maintain a safe environment for patients and employees. We are taking extraordinary measures – going above and beyond all our normal efforts to keep our hospital and affiliated medical practices clean and safe – because if you need healthcare, we want you to feel confident and to know you are protected. We are screening everyone who comes into the hospital, providing facemasks and other personal protective equipment to staff and patients, and we have rearranged our environments to enable social distancing. If in the event we ever do have any patients with COVID-19, we will care for them in an area that is separate and isolated from the rest of the hospital.

Of course, our Environmental Services team is disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and doing a terrific job of keeping the hospital clean.

We also want you to know that if you have sudden symptoms that may indicate an emergency health concern, you can – and you should – seek immediate medical attention. Tragically, people with serious emergencies, including heart attacks and stroke, are waiting too long for medical care. Getting fast medical treatment could be the difference between life and death – so please, don’t ignore or rationalize the signs of a health emergency. Call 911, come to the hospital, and get the help you need.

The same goes for chronic conditions and even routine healthcare needs. Many of our doctors offer telehealth/virtual visits for those who prefer not to come to the office. But, if an in-person visit is required, we are keeping our clinics safe – so you can visit your doctor, if needed.

I am so proud of our team and the way they have stepped up to this new normal. I’m proud of everyone in our community who has stayed home to help flatten the curve and limit the spread of COVID-19. We in the Mat-Su Valley have been especially fortunate that we have not experienced an extreme outbreak of this virus in its initial wave.

Standing together we have seen how powerful our human connection really is. So, keep standing together – six feet apart. Wash your hands frequently. Tell someone how much you appreciate them. And, if you need healthcare, please don’t be afraid. We are here and prepared to care for you, and also to keep you safe.

Dave Wallace is the Chief Executive Officer of Mat-Su Regional Medical Center