Utah hospital official makes plea to Utahns needing any treatment: 'Don’t delay care'


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7/9/2020 4:13:21 PM
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7/4/2020
Mark Briesacher, Intermountain Healthcare chief physician executive, speaks during a COVID-19 briefing at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020.

(Kristin Murphy, KSL)


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SALT LAKE CITY — If you are experiencing any sort of medical condition that requires hospital care, please seek help as soon as possible.

That was the reminder and plea from Intermountain Healthcare’s chief physician Thursday after hearing that some people were delaying care due to COVID-19 concerns inside hospitals.

"Our hospitals and clinics are safe and they are ready for any health care need that you have," Dr. Mark Briesacher said, referring to all hospitals and other health care systems across Utah.

"It’s really important that you don’t delay care," he continued. "It’s important for your health; it’s important for our community’s health, and delays in care can actually be life-threatening."

His message came during the state of Utah’s weekly COVID-19 press briefing, in which Gov. Gary Herbert also said he heard from health officials that some individuals have put off seeking help for various health conditions such as elective surgeries or treatments because of COVID-19 worries.

As of Thursday, the Utah Department of Health reported 184 current hospitalizations due to the coronavirus. Utah’s intensive care unit beds were 67% occupied and the state’s nonemergency beds were 54% occupied, according to the latest information provided by the state.

Briesacher said hospitals nationwide, including those in Utah, have seen a drop in people coming to hospitals for "emergent and life-threatening conditions" in the past few months. A study looking at over 800 hospitals published in May found a 40% decrease in people going to hospitals with stroke symptoms. A similar decline was also found in heart attack cases. Both of those health emergencies require quick care because "every minute counts," Briesacher said.

In terms of COVID-19 safety, health care has only accounted for 3.9% of all COVID-19 spread in the state since Utah reported its first case in March. That’s compared to 65% of cases coming from a known contact, and 11% from community spread.

Caregivers across Utah have precautions in place. They wear all sorts of personal protective equipment; there are air purifying devices at hospitals and clinics; and hospitals are split into separate sections to prevent COVID-19 patients from infecting other patients, Briesacher said.

"When you present to our clinics or present to our emergency department, we screen you; and if there’s a potential you have COVID-19, you’re moved to a specific area. If you’re presented for other things, like you’re having heart (attack) systems or stroke symptoms or other emergencies, then you’re moved to a different area and you are cared for in that area," he explained.

He also urged that people who need cancer screenings, or check-ups for diabetes, heart disease or any other condition need to continue to schedule those.

"Please check in with your provider and make sure the plan you have is the right one today," he added. "Make sure that the medications you’re taking are doing the right things for you and you’re not having any side effects from them."

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Carter Williams is an award-winning reporter who covers general news, outdoors, history and sports for KSL.com.

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