Direct Line from Steve Edwards: 3/26/21

COVID-19 update
The past few days have offered encouragement – as vaccinations have increased – and wariness as COVID-19 cases, fueled by variants, have risen around the globe. We now have nearly 54,000 total doses of vaccine administered through CoxHealth, and expect this number to dramatically increase in the coming days as more Missourians become eligible to receive it. Phase 2 opens on Monday (March 29) and Phase 3 on April 9. At that time, all adults in Missouri will be eligible for vaccination.

We are mindful and leery of the increased infections and hospitalizations occurring in much of Europe. The B117 variant, already identified in parts Missouri, will likely become dominant. These facts are why we feel it’s crucial that as many people be vaccinated as quickly as possible.

If you would like to hear more about these topics, we are hosting a virtual event via Facebook Live on Wednesday (3/31) at 10 a.m. during which Dr. Trotman will share more about COVID-19 vaccines and variants. We will also send a link to the recorded event in next week’s Direct Line in case you would like to watch it later, or share it with others.

Veterans Honor Program

The service of our United States Armed Forces veterans is very meaningful at CoxHealth. This reality led us to start our Veteran Honor Program, which officially launched this week and standardizes the ways we recognize veterans while they receive care at our hospitals.

Patients who are veterans or active duty military members will be identified during the registration process at CoxHealth hospitals. During their stay, veterans will receive a thank you card, signed by a key hospital leader at the campus where they are a patient; special food tray liner at breakfast; and an United States flag door magnet.

Many thanks go to Congressman Billy Long, whose office delivered four 5’x8’ United States flags for the Final Salute. The Final Salute is the next phase of the program in which we will honor veterans who pass away at our hospitals. It will begin in the coming months. To read more about the program, click here.

Concern over delayed screenings and care

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen that some patients are delaying health care. This is evident through data we have related to preventative screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, which show lower-than-usual figures. However, it’s also evident in our clinics and Emergency Departments, leading us to believe that people may be postponing care for chronic conditions or symptoms of serious, immediate issues.

Our concern is that there are people in need of medical attention who aren’t seeking it – and, when they do, are in a much more serious condition than if something was caught early.

I ask you to remind your friends and loved ones that they shouldn’t delay screenings or care for ongoing health needs, and to seek care when something seems to be wrong. Our hospitals and clinics are safe, and we want to be able to help intervene as quickly as possible when attention is needed.

Voice of the Patient

From the Cox Monett Facebook page: "I cannot remember all of their names, but every single person I came into contact with yesterday during my stay at Cox Monett was phenomenal! The care I received was nothing short of amazing. Everyone was so kind, attentive and compassionate toward me and my loved one. They checked on him and his needs just as much as mine. I pray I never need their services again, but if I do, I will NOT go anywhere else. Keep up the outstanding work!"

Vaccine Voices

From a Facebook message: “As a Scribe at Cox, I got the opportunity to check my mom in to her COVID-19 vaccine appointment. It’s been a very long year, and as part of a big family, we’re excited to get vaccinated so we can go out and do things together...safely.”

Thank you for all you do,

Steve