Professional Title: Outpatient Family Medicine Physician, Primary Care Service Line Physician Director

Class Year: 2001

Major: Romance Languages and Literatures

Location: Gastonia, N.C.

Medical Experience: 10 years

Please share your experience working with patients diagnosed with COVID-19

I feel blessed that out of the patients I have cared for, very few have been positive for COVID-19. In working with patients diagnosed with COVID-19, as a primary care physician, I have been responsible with providing them education about their symptoms, and how to best manage them at home. In addition, I work to let them know when they might need to seek in-person care at the hospital. I try to help them understand their symptoms, and how long they will be sick. We also work together to manage the anxiety of being diagnosed with such a scary virus as well as the isolation that comes along with the disease. I am looking forward to the day when we can vaccinate everyone against this terrible virus!

What advice would you give to people during this pandemic?

STAY HOME! Social distancing is working, and we really need people to continue it whenever possible to help decrease disease spread and possibly overwhelming of our healthcare system. If you must go out, take as few people as possible, and try to limit the places you go to. When returning home, be sure to remove shoes at the door, and wipe down items before you bring them into the house.
 
Wash your hands frequently! Wash hands whenever returning home or bringing in items from outside. Please be sure to keep hand sanitizer on you at all times when you are out.

Wear a mask or scarf whenever possible outside the home! Try to avoid touching your face or mask as well!

Be sure to wipe down all surfaces frequently. This includes doorknobs, countertops, remote controls, computer keyboards, and cell phones!

Please continue to manage all your chronic medical issues! Co-morbidities like uncontrolled diabetes, COPD, or asthma increase your risk of hospitalization when exposed to COVID-19. Now is the time to monitor your medical conditions carefully, and to follow your doctor’s recommendations!

Finally, don’t panic! We have been through pandemics before, and we will get through this one too!