Don’t Be Scared: Be Prepared

04/28/2020

No one plans for a medical emergency and an unexpected admission into the hospital. It’s a stressful time, and to help provide the medical personnel with your care, it helps to have a ‘mini’ medical record in hand.

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NO ONE EXPECTS TO WIND UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A MEDICALEMERGENCY, BUT A LITTLE PREPARATION BEFOREHAND WILL HELP MEDICALSTAFF PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BEST TREATMENT POSSIBLE. YOU'RE WATCHINGTHE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK, BROUGHT TO YOU BY DURANGO PARTY RENTAL ANDCHOICE BUILDERS ACE HARDWARE IN CORTEZ. I'M WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE.DOCTOR SARAH BROWN, A PHYSICIAN WHO TREATS PATIENTS ADMITTED TO MERCYREGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, WANTS YOU TO BE PREPARED FOR A MEDICALEMERGENCY.  SHE'S ON A MISSION TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CARRY AMINI-VERSION OF THEIR MEDICAL RECORDS SO THAT SHE CAN QUICKLY ANDEFFICIENTLY PROVIDE THE SAFEST MEDICAL CARE POSSIBLE.  IT DOESN'THAVE TO BE COMPLICATED OR FANCY. WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU HAVETHE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON YOU AT ALL TIMES ON ONE SHEET OF PAPER:YOUR NAME AND BIRTHDATE. THE MEDICATIONS AND DOSES THAT YOU TAKE,INCLUDING VITAMINS AND OTHER SUPPLEMENTS. ANY ALLERGIES YOU MAY HAVE.AN EMERGENCY CONTACT AND RELIABLE PHONE NUMBER. BROWN SAYS MANYPATIENTS DURING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY ARE FRIGHTENED, CAN'T REMEMBER ORARE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE THE INFORMATION MEDICAL PERSONNEL NEED TOTREAT YOU PROPERLY.


AS A BONUS. IF YOU WANT TO GET AN A PLUS, PLUS YOU CAN PUT ONIF YOU HAVE A LIVING WILL OR ADVANCED DIRECTIVES AND WHERE THEY CANBE FOUND. MINE JUST VAGUELY SAYS SOMEWHERE UPSTAIRS. THAT'S GOODENOUGH. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THATIT'S, THAT IT'S DONE. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PRETTY. JUST GET IT DONE.MEDICATIONS, ALLERGIES, EMERGENCY CONTACT, STICK IT IN YOUR WALLET,JUST IN CASE.


WITH VISITOR AND QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE AT AREAHOSPITALS DURING THE PANDEMIC, BROWN ALSO SUGGESTS YOU CARRY OTHERITEMS WITH YOU LIKE YOUR MEDICAL INSURANCE CARD, PRESCRIPTION CARD,HEARING AIDES AND BATTERIES, READING GLASSES, A CELLPHONEAND CHARGER JUST IN CASE YOU WIND UP AS AN IN-PATIENT. THAT CRITICALMEDICAL INFORMATION AND DEVICES THAT CONNECT YOU TO THE OUTSIDE WORLDWILL REDUCE YOUR STRESS IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.  


IT JUST SAVES SO MUCH MISCOMMUNICATION, POSSIBLE MEDICATIONINTERACTIONS THAT COULD BE HARMFUL. IT SAVES TIME AND IT, AND IT'SSAFER.


THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS EDITION OF THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK. I'MWENDY GRAHAM SETTLE.

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