Internal Medicine Doctor and Med School Professor Answers Coronavirus FAQ's
By Lisa Padilla -
Tuesday Mar 24, 2020
University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine Negin Blattman, MD, answers common questions about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
What should I do if I can’t work from home?
If you can’t work from home then you should take every precaution to make yourself and others safe. Get your influenza vaccine. Follow the guidance provided by the CDC which includes washing your hands frequently, covering your cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm, practicing social distancing, not touching your face, wiping your workspace before and after your shift. Most importantly, stay home if you are sick.
Should I worry if I am not in one of the vulnerable populations?
We should all worry because it is not about “me;†it is about “us.†Prevention of spread is a social responsibility that rests with each and every one of us. The life you cost may not be your own but has no less value or implication.
What should I do if I think I have contracted COVID-19?
Don’t panic. Stay home. Self-quarantine. Continue to wash your hands and stay away from public places where you can expose others. Do not run to your doctor’s office or an emergency room unless you are truly sick and need medical evaluation and care. Testing is still limited, so even if a physician suspects you have it, you may not be tested if you are not sick enough to need hospital care. We are not testing everyone because we don’t have enough testing capability right now. We need to test those who are really sick.
How can I help my grandparents or elderly neighbors?
The best thing to do to protect them is to protect yourself from getting sick by following the recommendations from the CDC and minimizing your interactions with them. If you have grandparents or elderly neighbors that need help, make sure to keep your distance, wash your hands and minimize your visits to the least frequent and shortest amounts of time possible.
About the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix
Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to optimize health and health care in Arizona and beyond. By cultivating collaborative research locally and globally, the college accelerates discovery in a number of critical areas — including cancer, stroke, traumatic brain injury and cardiovascular disease. Championed as a student-centric campus, the college has graduated 500 physicians, all of whom received exceptional training from nine clinical partners and 1,800 diverse faculty members. As the anchor to the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, which is projected to have an economic impact of $3.1 billion by 2025, the college prides itself on engaging with the community, fostering education, inclusion, access and advocacy.
