By Shakeya Lovett/RN
1.) What are some things you and your family need to know?
It is important to designate 1-2 people to follow-up with the nurses and doctors on the care and progress of the family member. Follow-up is key, ensuring the patient is getting appropriate care as needed and alternatives started when possible or needed. Continue to encourage the patient daily. This can assist with anxiety and depression being that there are no visitors allowed at any time because of the pandemic.
2.) What should you have in place ASAP?
Will, Power of Attorney (POA) or Healthcare Surrogate. Especially if separated or in the process of a divorce or recent divorce. Need an advocate, someone who will carry out your wishes and willing to fight for you, holding people accountable if need be. If need further help in this area with a lawyer referral program, reach out to me.
3.) Things to ask the health care providers?
No decisions are made without consulting the POA/ family first, such as placing patients on a ventilator or encouraging them to sign a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR). Ensuring, you understand your rights as a patient. Unfortunately, because of fatality or scare of the virus, there could be times a patient is coerced into signing a DNR or agree to be placed on a ventilator. You still have rights as a human being. Don’t allow anyone to intimidate you or cause you to decide without a clear understanding of what you are signing, your life is important too.
Ensure things are in place when the patient is discharged. The reason being, your Primary care provider’s (PCP) office could be closed, or worse you may be unable to see your PCP if you have not tested negative. It is good to follow-up while in the hospital to plan for a follow-up appointment with your PCP once discharged or ask your family to do it. If the patient was exhibiting anxiety or slight depression during the hospital stay, see if the patient can be discharged on antianxiety or anti-depression medications, possibly a low dose, something to assist with the transition home. We understand Covid is traumatic on multiple organs, not only does it affect a patient’s organs, but it can affect their mood as well.
4.) What are some things the patient might experience?
Everyone is different and might experience symptoms not typical to Covid. However, the common symptoms associated with Covid are fever, shortness of breath, headache, body ache, fatigue or body weakness, cold-like symptoms, sore throat, loss of taste just to name a few. Covid is a scary virus. Unfortunately, for some of those without an advocate, there could be a possibility to be neglected or not get adequate care. This isn’t intentional but by default. Healthcare workers fear this virus as well and it’s not much known about it. There is no clear path of who can fall victim. Things to assist in avoiding Covid would be to wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds often, wear a mask when unable to maintain a distance of 6-ft from someone else, increase or boost your immune system and stay in if you don’t have to go out.
5.) What to do and look for after discharge?
The discharge of patients from hospitals has changed because of the pandemic. However, it is important to continue to monitor a person up to two weeks after discharge from the hospital. Follow discharge instructions, follow-up with the Primary Care Provider when possible, and continue to increase your immune system, limit any further exposure to those who might be sick, etc. If you don’t have family or close friends to assist with chores or grocery shopping, you can refer to a Home Care Agency in search of a companion and sitter, and homemaker for further help. Reach out to Honor Home Care Agency for any further help or questions, consultation is free.
Bonus:
What happens when appropriate resources aren’t in place for discharge?
It is important to follow-up with PCP and work with a hospital case manager to find out resources in the community for further help. Network with leaders in the community to find out resources available. The hospital’s goal is usually to stabilize the patient and discharge them. For Covid, lots of resources are limited and new resources have been added as well. The hospital discharge of patients has changed now and a bit challenging. The pandemic has changed the way Doctors, Nurses, Patient Care Assistant (PCA)/Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and healthcare staff interact and treat patients. As well as, how they react and treat one another.
Disclaimer:
This isn’t medical advice, only recommendations from a nurse’s point of view who has had a parent in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) diagnosed with Covid. You can add or subtract how you like because every person and family is different and react to the virus differently. Follow-up with PCP if possible as well to get further guidance. You can always reference the CDC guidelines through its website.