@asksterlingmd Dr. Michael Robinson: Dr. Sterling, what is the Coronavirus? And why at times it is called Novel COVID-19 or COVID-19 by Health Care Providers?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: Coronavirus is a family of viruses that notably cause infectious diseases, most notably respiratory diseases. Coronaviruses notably are a cause of the common cold. COVID-19 is a specific virus within that family. Novel just means new. The Novel Coronavirus classification was a designation before the assignment of COVID-19.
Dr. Michael Robinson: Can you share who is at the highest risk for contracting the Virus?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: Anyone is at risk for contracting the virus. The elderly and immunocompromised are at greatest risk from death from the disease.
Dr. Michael Robinson: Please explain what you mean by immunocompromised?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: Immunocompromised means having a weakened or absent immune system.
Dr. Michael Robinson: Why weren’t health professionals better prepared to test for Coronavirus? And if there had bee earlier testing would we be where we are now in what is the National State of Emergency?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: One can only use tests that are available. The US declined to use readily available supplies of tests from the World Health Organization in favor of creating supply from within the US. Unfortunately, the manufacture of domestic tests was met with flaws, causing ongoing delays. It’s speculative to suggest where we’d be, but we certainly would have better approximated and identified a more representative scope of the disease as it exists in the US.
Dr. Michael Robinson: From a Health Care Professional position, how would rate the overall Government response to this crisis?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: Delayed at best and suboptimal at worst. We are fortunate to have had so relatively few deaths to this point.
Dr. Michael Robinson: The Flu kills nearly 40,000 people a year, why is there not this level of angst with regards to the Flu as we are seeing with COVID-19?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: We have normalized flu deaths the same as we accept deaths from cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Also, misinformation related to the flu vaccines has left many Americans more vulnerable to the flu than they otherwise would have been.
Dr. Michael Robinson: Do you agree with the precautions universities are taking by moving to online learning? Additionally, now that the NBA has postponed their season, should the NHL and to some extent, MLB follow their lead?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: These precautions are consistent with public health best practices. We can anticipate ongoing quarantining and isolation until the full burden of the disease and risk has been quantified.
Dr. Michael Robinson: Can we expect by summer the Coronavirus would have run its course and we will begin to see fewer and fewer cases of it? And if that is the case, should we prepare for a new round of COVID-19 this time next year?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: No. It’s premature to make such speculations. There are epidemiologic models that conceivably have this disease extending out for a full year.
Dr. Michael Robinson: What are the steps people can take to limit their exposure to the Coronavirus? And what should they do if they suspect they have come in contact with someone who may have been exposed?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: Measures should include copious hand washing, sanitizing surfaces before and after contact, social distancing with avoidance of gatherings of more than ten individuals and testing when available.
Dr. Michael Robinson: There are many Americans with developmental and intellectual disabilities (DD/ID) who spend their day in Adult Day Programs and many of these Americans may be immunocompromised, what should managers of these types of organizations do to keep their clients safe?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: The same as mentioned before with a lower threshold for testing, evaluation, and testing based on the presence of symptoms such as fever, cough, sneezing, and shortness of breath.
BIO
Jeffrey E. Sterling, MD, MPH, FACEP is a physician, speaker, author, executive and international leader in community-based medicine, health care, and public health. He serves as President & CEO of Sterling Initiatives (SI), a healthcare consulting and implementation firm, assisting entities incorporate best practices.
SI has assisted health systems, health plans, state governments and medical practices in three-dozen states nationally. SI has gained particular notoriety for its work in creating “Centers of Excellence” among hospitals and other healthcare entities.
To learn more about Jeffrey E. Sterling visit his website by clicking here!
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: Coronavirus is a family of viruses that notably cause infectious diseases, most notably respiratory diseases. Coronaviruses notably are a cause of the common cold. COVID-19 is a specific virus within that family. Novel just means new. The Novel Coronavirus classification was a designation before the assignment of COVID-19.
Dr. Michael Robinson: Can you share who is at the highest risk for contracting the Virus?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: Anyone is at risk for contracting the virus. The elderly and immunocompromised are at greatest risk from death from the disease.
Dr. Michael Robinson: Please explain what you mean by immunocompromised?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: Immunocompromised means having a weakened or absent immune system.
Dr. Michael Robinson: Why weren’t health professionals better prepared to test for Coronavirus? And if there had bee earlier testing would we be where we are now in what is the National State of Emergency?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: One can only use tests that are available. The US declined to use readily available supplies of tests from the World Health Organization in favor of creating supply from within the US. Unfortunately, the manufacture of domestic tests was met with flaws, causing ongoing delays. It’s speculative to suggest where we’d be, but we certainly would have better approximated and identified a more representative scope of the disease as it exists in the US.
Dr. Michael Robinson: From a Health Care Professional position, how would rate the overall Government response to this crisis?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: Delayed at best and suboptimal at worst. We are fortunate to have had so relatively few deaths to this point.
Dr. Michael Robinson: The Flu kills nearly 40,000 people a year, why is there not this level of angst with regards to the Flu as we are seeing with COVID-19?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: We have normalized flu deaths the same as we accept deaths from cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Also, misinformation related to the flu vaccines has left many Americans more vulnerable to the flu than they otherwise would have been.
Dr. Michael Robinson: Do you agree with the precautions universities are taking by moving to online learning? Additionally, now that the NBA has postponed their season, should the NHL and to some extent, MLB follow their lead?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: These precautions are consistent with public health best practices. We can anticipate ongoing quarantining and isolation until the full burden of the disease and risk has been quantified.
Dr. Michael Robinson: Can we expect by summer the Coronavirus would have run its course and we will begin to see fewer and fewer cases of it? And if that is the case, should we prepare for a new round of COVID-19 this time next year?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: No. It’s premature to make such speculations. There are epidemiologic models that conceivably have this disease extending out for a full year.
Dr. Michael Robinson: What are the steps people can take to limit their exposure to the Coronavirus? And what should they do if they suspect they have come in contact with someone who may have been exposed?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: Measures should include copious hand washing, sanitizing surfaces before and after contact, social distancing with avoidance of gatherings of more than ten individuals and testing when available.
Dr. Michael Robinson: There are many Americans with developmental and intellectual disabilities (DD/ID) who spend their day in Adult Day Programs and many of these Americans may be immunocompromised, what should managers of these types of organizations do to keep their clients safe?
Dr. Jeffrey Sterling: The same as mentioned before with a lower threshold for testing, evaluation, and testing based on the presence of symptoms such as fever, cough, sneezing, and shortness of breath.
BIO
Jeffrey E. Sterling, MD, MPH, FACEP is a physician, speaker, author, executive and international leader in community-based medicine, health care, and public health. He serves as President & CEO of Sterling Initiatives (SI), a healthcare consulting and implementation firm, assisting entities incorporate best practices.
SI has assisted health systems, health plans, state governments and medical practices in three-dozen states nationally. SI has gained particular notoriety for its work in creating “Centers of Excellence” among hospitals and other healthcare entities.
To learn more about Jeffrey E. Sterling visit his website by clicking here!