Key points:

• Wear a mask. 
• Stay in your homegroup.
• Stay six feet away from others.
• If you get sick, isolate at home. 
  Stay in touch with your doctor.
• If you are exposed to COVID-19, quarantine. 
• If you have the virus, you can still infect others. 
  Even if you feel fine.
• You are not alone. Help is available. 

If you get sick:  

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are: 

• Runny Nose
• Congestion
• Fever
• Cough
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Muscle or Body Aches
• Loss of Taste or Smell
• Sore Throat
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

Stay home except to get medical care. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness. 
Most people recover without medical care. 

Go to the emergency department if you have serious symptoms:

• Trouble Breathing
• Pain or Pressure in Chest
• New Confusion
• Inability to Wake Up or Inability to Stay Awake
• Blue-Colored Lips or Face

Call 911. Notify the operator that you or the other person may have COVID-19. This list does not include all possible serious symptoms. Call your medical provider for symptoms that are concerning. 

If the symptoms are not serious, call your physician. Do not go there without calling. If it’s an emergency, call 911. Tell them your symptoms.  

If you do not have a primary care provider (PCP):

• The Erie County health department’s website has a list of PCPs taking new patients:https://www2.erie.gov/health/sites/www2.erie.gov.health/files/uploads/pdfs/FQHCPrimaryCareEC.pdf
• For other counties, contact your local health department or medical society, or your insurance company.

Take care of yourself. Rest, eat well, stay warm, and drink plenty of water. Talk to your doctor about over-the-counter medications. 

Monitor your symptoms. Get care immediately if you are having serious symptoms. 

Stay in touch with your doctor. Please do not call the health department with questions about your care. 

        

If you are sick or have tested positive for COVID-19, you should ISOLATE:

• For 10 days after your test or after the beginning of symptoms, avoid contact with other members of your household and pets. Stay in a separate room. Sleep in a separate room. Use a separate bathroom, if possible. Do not share personal items, like towels or utensils. Do not go anywhere, including school or work. Wear a mask when around others. 
• Tell your household and close contacts to quarantine (see below).
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks). Include the bathroom if sharing with others. 
• Cover your cough or sneezes with a tissue and throw it away. Wash your hands with soap and running water after touching the tissue. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.
• If you must leave isolation, wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart from others, wash your hands frequently, and clean all touched surfaces.
• Even if you do not feel sick, you can spread COVID-19 to others. Protect everyone as though they could become seriously ill.
• Information from the CDC on isolation is at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/isolation.html

If you are not sick but have to QUARANTINE: 

• Stay home for 14 days after your last contact a person with COVID-19. Do not go to work or to school, and do not run errands or visit with friends. 
• Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19. If any of these occur, notify your physician. 
• If possible, stay away from others in your home, especially people who are at high risk.
• Consider getting a COVID-19 diagnostic test 5 to 7 days after the last exposure.
• People who are unable to safely isolate or quarantine should call their doctor, or for Erie County residents, call (716) 858-2929. 

If you were tested for COVID-19:

• If you have symptoms, stay home. 
• If you were in contact with someone with COVID-19, stay home.
• Otherwise, wear a mask, stay six feet from others, and stay in your homegroup. 
• If you were tested for a procedure and you have no symptoms, you do not need to stay home.

When the test results come, discuss them with your doctor.

If your test is positive...

A government contact tracer will call you.

Notify people you’ve been in contact with. Tell them to quarantine and to call their doctor. Tell them to consider getting a COVID-19 test. 

If you have symptoms stay home until:

• You feel better.
• It’s been 10 days since you got sick. 
• You had no fever for one day.
• You haven’t taken fever medicine for 24 hours.

If you do not have symptoms:

• Stay home for 10 days after the test.

If your test is negative...

And you were in contact with someone with COVID-19:

• You could still have COVID-19.
• Stay home for 14 days after you saw the person. 

And you have symptoms: 

Talk to your doctor. While you have symptoms, stay away from work and school. Stay away from other public places. Consider getting another test.

And you do not have symptoms, protect yourself like always: 

• Keep to your homegroup.
• Stay six feet away from others.
• Wear a mask.

If you do not have enough food, or you need health insurance, legal help or anything else:

• There is a list of community resources on the Erie County health department’s website:https://www2.erie.gov/health/coronavirus
• If you are in isolation or quarantine and need help with basic needs, call 2-1-1(www.211wny.org) 
  or the Erie County COVID-19 Information Line at 858.2929.

If you want or need a test: 

• Call your doctor. 
• The Erie County health department has a list of sites in Erie County: https://erie.gov/covidtestsites
• New York State also has a list: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you

If you want more information, call your doctor, the county, or the state: 

• Erie County Department of Health COVID-19 Information Line: 858.2929; 
  Foreign language interpreting available (open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm M-F and 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Sat-Sun)
• NYSDOH COVID-19 Information Line: 888.364.3065; Ask a Question Online at NYSDOH COVID-19 Website

You can find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 at: 

• Erie County Department of Health: https://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=frequently-asked-questions-and-answers-about-covid-19-coronavirus
• New York State: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
• S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

BUFFALO, New York, November 29, 2020 – Great Lakes Cardiovascular and Wyoming County Community Health System are pleased to announce an all-new approach to cardiac care as Dr. Joseph Gomez, MD, FACC, steps into the role recently vacated by retiring physician, Dr. Joseph Lanigan. 

Dr. Gomez, who completed his medical training at the University of Rochester School of Medicine after earning his M.D. at Georgetown University, is looking forward to providing comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care to local cardiac patients, saving them lengthy trips to Buffalo or Rochester for regular treatment. 

“We have all the necessary, up-to-date technology to give our community’s patients the cardiovascular care they need, just minutes from home,” Dr. Gomez says. “We’ll be seeing patients in our office for checkups and testing, and working hand-in-hand with the hospital to offer evaluation and consultation to any heart patients there.” 

Joseph L. McTernan, Chief Executive Officer of Wyoming County Community Health System, agrees: “Wyoming County Community Health System is excited to welcome Dr. Gomez to our organization. Our partnership will further strengthen cardiology care in Wyoming County and provide a new level of service for our patients.”

That level of service will include a cooperative approach with Great Lakes Cardiovascular’s team of surgeons to ensure continuous care with minimal disruptions. For example, if a local patient needs to travel to Buffalo for surgery at Buffalo General Hospital, Dr. Gomez says, “We’ll take over follow-up care of that patient as soon as possible to allow the patient to recover close to home.”

Dr. Vijay Iyer, Medical Director for Great Lakes Cardiovascular, sees this as a great benefit to patients. “We are happy to partner with WCCHS in providing all outpatient and inpatient cardiology services for the patients of Dr. Joseph Gomez and PA Kelsey Adams in Wyoming County. Great Lakes Cardiovascular works hand-in-hand with the physicians at the world-renowned Gates Vascular Institute in Buffalo, and we look forward to serving the Warsaw-area patient community.” 

Dr. Gomez, who has been with Great Lakes Cardiovascular for two years, is excited to bring the practice’s renowned, world-class cardiovascular care to Wyoming County. To learn more about Dr. Gomez and the services he provides, visit https://www.greatlakescardiovascular.com/physicians/cardiology/joseph-gomez-md-facc. To learn more about Wyoming County Community Health System, visit https://www.wcchs.net. More information about Great Lakes Cardiovascular can be found at https://www.greatlakescardiovascular.com.

According to the CDC, diabetes affects more than 122 million Americans today, this includes both diabetes and prediabetes. It takes an incredible amount of work to keep your diabetes under control, and for the average person, managing diabetes is no small feat. Here are a few tips:

Know Your Numbers

After consulting with your doctor about your blood glucose targets, check them frequently to learn your trends. Your doctor will check your A1C every three months to determine your average blood glucose level. Also, check with your doctor on your blood pressure and cholesterol targets to keep those under control. Knowledge is power, and this will help you manage your diabetes. 

Get Active

It is essential to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. COVID-19 may keep us socially distanced, but getting outside to walk just 10-15 minutes each day can significantly improve your health. Regular exercise has been shown to improve blood glucose levels and is an excellent tool for diabetes management. 

Eat Right

Healthy eating is a huge part of diabetes management. Food is a powerful tool, and it is essential to fuel your body with healthy foods to keep blood glucose levels low. Incorporating foods that are naturally rich in nutrients and low in fat and calories such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, is an excellent place to start!

Take a Diabetes Education Class

Classes are led and taught by Certified Diabetes Educators and are offered to the community in 4-week sessions. These classes can help you learn how your diet impacts your diabetes, how to plan healthy meals and snacks, interpret your blood glucose and A1C readings, find group support, and more.

Or click here for more information: www.gppconline.com/specialties/clinical-support/nutrition-services

Don't Stress

Managing diabetes can seem overwhelming. If you feel stressed, anxious, or depressed, give your doctor a call. They can provide assistance and additional resources. You are not alone.

See Your Doctor

Get your flu shot and stay up-to-date on all other vaccinations. Make sure you have an annual foot and eye exam and check your feet daily to make sure there are no cuts, redness, swelling, corns, calluses, or sores. See your doctor regularly to eliminate any potential health risks that may arise with diabetes.

Use this month to take some time to reflect on your diabetes management and continue to be vigilant in your care. Diabetes can feel overwhelming at times, but remember, it is a disease that can be controlled!

 

Resources: 

www.diabetes.org/diabetes

www.cdc.gov/diabetes/index.html.