Message

Dear Friends,

This is a difficult time for all of us. We are following the guidelines of the medical experts and have cancelled our clinics to protect each other and our clients, as well as to do our part to FLATTEN THE CURVE of exponentially increasing transmission of the COVID19 virus. We must do our best to slow down transmission and protect our whole health care system from being overwhelmed by a surge of critical cases.

This means:

1. We shelter in place
2. We avoid contact with others and try to stay 6 feet away when out to shop for essentials or take walks and hikes on our beautiful Hudson Valley back roads and trails.
3. We wash our hands frequently with soap and running water. When we touch any public surfaces like gas pumps or door handles we cleanse our hands with hand cleaner before touching the car door, or certainly before coming home. Remember, this virus lives up to 48 hours on hard surfaces.

We do all of this out of love and compassion for ourselves and for each other. But there is another really critical reason we maintain this regimen. As a former NYC Paramedic and Emergency Room Physician Assistant, this is very close to my heart:

WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS!

In the greater NYC area we are seeing a huge surge of sick patients coming to the ER’s, and consequently an increasing need for intensive care beds and respiratory assistance. Tragically, our country did not adequately prepare for this pandemic, and, as we see daily on our news media, health care workers are running out of essential personal protective equipment. This is terrifying for them and is a far too great a burden to place on them. There are also not enough beds and isolation wards and respirators for the inevitable number of patients.

Slowing the rate of transmission can give our health care system, nationally and locally, time to ramp up production and distribution of needed equipment and slow the onslaught of patients so the brave men and women on the front lines of this pandemic can hope to keep up with the demand without putting themselves in more danger than necessary. And give them the best chance to save the lives of others.

We can do this. We can shorten the life of this pandemic and we can save lives, together. And we can remember to personally thank each worker we see doing essential jobs for all of us.

Thank you, and stay well!

Susan Weeks, RPA-C
Founder and Executive Director
susan@hchrny.org