If you need health care, Biloxi hospital says it is ready

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it crystal clear just how much communities rely on their local hospitals and also how much we rely on you. During the past few weeks, we have felt an outpouring of support and we are grateful to everyone who has delivered a meal, sewn a facemask, left a card, a sign or a chalk drawing, or who has just reached out to one of our caregivers and support team to say thank you. You have no idea how impactful your kindness has been to our team.

Merit Health Biloxi is used to responding in times of crisis. During the pandemic we have had zero COVID-19 related deaths and no member of our team has tested positive. We understand many have continued anxiety but please know we are COVID-19 SAFE. As we performed with excellence during the peak keeping staff and patients safe, you can trust we will do the same going forward.

So, we want you to know two things.

First, you can continue to count on us to maintain a safe environment for patients and employees. We are taking extraordinary measures – going above and beyond all of our normal efforts to keep our facilities 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, rearranging our environments to enable social distancing, and, in the event we ever do have any patients with COVID-19 at the hospital, we are caring for them in an area that is separate and isolated from the rest of the hospital. Of course, our cleaning staff is disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and doing a terrific job of keeping the hospital and clinics clean.

Second, 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 visits for those who prefer not to come into the office. But, if an in-person visit is required, we are keeping our offices 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 am proud of everyone in our community who has stayed home to help flatten the curve and limit the spread of COVID-19. The community, elected officials, local businesses, and national organizations have called our team Healthcare Heroes. Each time I heard that it made me smile because I already knew they were Healthcare Heroes.

Standing together we have seen how powerful our human connection really is. So, keep standing together – but stay six feet apart. Wash your hands frequently. Tell someone how much you appreciate them. Rather than a handshake, offer a virtual fist bump. And, if you need healthcare, please don’t be afraid. We are here and prepared to care for you, and also to keep you COVID-19 SAFE.

Tom McDougal is the CEO of Merit Health Biloxi.