Tanner News

As the region’s hospitals continue to mobilize in response to the COVID-19 crisis, they are experiencing an unintended consequence: patients who don't think they have the virus are staying away.

Now, hospitals are continuing to see sicker patients who chose to forgo the medical care that could’ve helped much sooner.

“The acuity — the level of illness — that we’re seeing in the emergency department is worse now than it was before the pandemic,” said Richard Warren, MD, a board-certified emergency medicine physician with Tanner Health System. “People are waiting until they’re practically in cardiac arrest to seek care, and that’s simply dangerous.”

Christopher Arant, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist and past chief of staff at Tanner, has seen the same in his practice.

“People have delayed even routine medical care, and that’s leading to a host of health problems — diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease — that need treatment to keep them under control,” said Dr. Arant. “Regular medical care is essential for everyone. It’s how we find disease in its earliest stages and it’s how we best manage disease. While people are very concerned about the coronavirus, they also must be mindful of their other health problems. Early intervention can literally save lives.”

Throughout the health system — from the Tanner Medical Group clinics to the emergency department and inpatient units — Tanner has enforced policies and procedures to prevent exposure to COVID-19.  

Across the system, Tanner requires facial masks for all staff, patients and visitors.

Tanner Medical Group practices are separating patients with known or suspected COVID-19 infection from other patients, and screening patients for symptoms before they arrive. The clinics are also staggering appointments to reduce the number of people in the practices and are enforcing social distancing in their waiting areas.

The emergency departments in Carrollton and Villa Rica are offering appointments. Patients can call 770-812-9561 in Carrollton and 770-456-3186 in Villa Rica. Making an appointment helps the emergency department staff get patients back quicker for evaluation. All patients are triaged at the emergency department front desks and routed according to their medical needs, including isolation for those patients with suspected COVID-19.

“People shouldn’t be afraid to seek emergency medical care,” said Dr. Warren. “If you’re having an emergency, call 911 or come in — we’ll keep you safe.”

At Tanner, emergency department visits are down — a trend that mirrors the rest of the country.  

Another frightening trend around the country and at Tanner: emergency visits for strokes, heart attacks and trauma are also down.

“We know people are still having heart attacks,” said Dr. Arant. “Heart disease is our region’s leading cause of death. One-third of our population has some form of heart disease. But people aren’t coming in when they have cardiac emergencies until it’s become desperate, and that’s frightening.”

Dr. Warren encouraged those having emergencies to seek care — and to follow-up with their regular medical providers to keep their conditions under control.

“We have the resources and expertise to keep you safe,” he said. “We have a professional team of environmental services and infection prevention staff at work throughout the health system. You shouldn’t be afraid to come to the hospital, schedule a procedure or go to the doctor.”

More information on ways to access care — including telehealth options and walk-in care — can be found at tanner.org/careyourway.