Gene Dorio, M.D. – visiting patients at home and nursing homes.
(Snippets from the frontline)
COVID-19: A scary nursing home
I visit nursing homes once a month. With the COVID-19 crisis, they can easily be a nidus for community infection.
My visiting attire now has been a mask, gloves, and wife’s shower cap (which she forces me to wear!). I do not don a protective gown (don’t have one), nor have I yet been advised on any policy or protocol they require.
None of the nursing homes I visit have had a diagnosis of COVID-19, although recently it was front page news 20 miles to the east.
After seeing all my patients, I talked to the administrator at one of the homes who stated the facility had no extra masks, gowns, or shoe coverings. Plus, there were no available COVID-19 testing kits should a patient develop symptoms. While there, I heard no one cough.
Just the opposite at another. It seemed everyone was coughing. None of the staff utilized any PPE including gloves, and they also had no COVID-19 testing available.
Literally, I ran out and decontaminated at home, then reported them. My fear was it could become an epicenter contaminating the community.
I have extra shower caps I will be donating to them.
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
Thank you for keeping us informed. Linda