BVHS feels optimistic as area emerges from pandemic

Health care workers at Blanchard Valley Health System are feeling "a little lightness on our shoulders" as the community starts to emerge from the pandemic, said President and CEO Myron Lewis. But, he said, they still want to make sure they're taking steps to keep people safe. Lewis spoke during a presentation livestreamed on the health system's Facebook page Wednesday afternoon. He was joined by Dr. William Kose, vice president of special projects, and Roxanne Williams, director of corporate quality, associate and patient safety. Blanchard Valley leaders have been holding these presentations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Wednesday's, however, had a somewhat different feel to it. Many of the questions that came in from the public focused on steps toward getting back to normal. For example, some asked about visitation policies. The policies have already been somewhat relaxed at Blanchard Valley Hospital, and if Hancock County gets good news Thursday on its virus case numbers, may be relaxed further, to pre-COVID policies. However, anyone coming to the hospital must still "absolutely" wear a mask, and anyone with symptoms should not come to the hospital, Williams said. Although the mask mandate has been lifted in Ohio, it is still in place at health care facilities, because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended it. In addition, she said, temperature screenings will also still be done at the hospital, because of CDC recommendations. Lewis said if a patient's family is able to visit it is better for everyone involved — including the staff. And he said health care workers are seeing "enthusiasm and excitement" as people get vaccinated and more of the state opens back up. Williams said if someone is in the hospital who has tested positive for COVID-19, they cannot have visitors, except for end-of-life or compassionate care, because of the need to keep the virus contained. The number of patients hospitalized with the virus remains low, however, and was three as of Wednesday. And, when people are hospitalized, it is rare that they need to be put on ventilators. Another question was how someone who is fully vaccinated could still get COVID-19. Kose said no medication or treatment affects everyone the same way and, while these vaccines are considered about 95% effective, that still means a small percentage of people who get vaccinated may still end up getting sick. But, Williams said, people who get COVID-19 after being vaccinated tend to have less severe symptoms. Kose said the vaccines are at this point believed to be effective on the new variants that are causing concern, and if people do get sick with them they are not likely to get as severely ill. Asked if the health system was still requiring COVID-19 testing before outpatient surgery, Kose said they are "in the process of changing those rules." Generally someone who is asymptomatic won't need to be tested before a procedure like a colonoscopy, although testing might be required before, say, an ear, nose and throat procedure. Kose stressed that it's important to get screening tests like mammograms and colonoscopies, and to seek care immediately if you have heart attack or stroke symptoms. He said there's research indicating that people may be putting off other types of care they need because of fears around COVID-19. In response to another question, Kose said people who have been fully vaccinated should not generally feel unsafe going about traveling. He said airlines are still working on their policies, however, so he couldn't speak to them yet. "We're really hoping for a bright summer," Lewis said. Williams noted that Hancock Public Health, 2225 Keith Parkway, hosts walk-in vaccination clinics for people 18 and older from 12-1:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Vaccination clinics for adolescents are also in the works. And, Lewis said, Blanchard Valley hopes to make the vaccine available in its primary care offices in the near future. Kose said Gov. Mike DeWine has advocated for this and is trying to expedite the process, which has involved "an awful lot of paperwork" as well as concerns over wasting doses. Williams encouraged anyone who thinks they may have symptoms to call their primary care doctor for testing, or go to Physicians Plus, Blanchard Valley's urgent care clinic at 3949 N. Main St. Arthurs: 419-427-8494