When should I seek emergency care during COVID-19?

"Where have all the patients gone?" It's a question that has been worrying emergency departments since COVID-19 began as emergency rooms across the country have seen a significant decrease in patients.

"In our ER, we saw around a 50 percent decrease. Certainly people haven't stopped experiencing symptoms of heart attacks or strokes, so where are these patients," asked Dr. Nick Edwards, board-certified emergency medicine physician at MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center. "Our concern is people are ignoring their symptoms regardless of what they have. People were apologizing if they did come in because they knew how busy we were with COVID. But I'd tell them, 'No, you need to be here.'"

Emergencies can't wait, and you could be putting yourself at risk of serious complications or death if you don’t get care as soon as possible when you have symptoms of a heart attack, stroke or other serious condition. During a pandemic or not, there are always reasons for calling 911 or going to the emergency department, such as:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Stroke-like symptoms
• Bleeding that won't stop
• Broken bone
• Or any life-threatening symptom

The hospital and urgent care clinics are safe places to come if you need to seek care, and many precautions are in place. Everyone who enters the facility – colleagues, patients, and visitors – is screened at the entrance for respiratory symptoms and has their temperature checked. All are required to wear a mask at all times in the facility, and many MercyOne clinical team members are wearing eye protection or face shields. Social distancing and hand hygiene have also been increased to promote safe care.

In addition, anyone confirmed positive for, or suspected of having, COVID-19 are separated from non-COVID-19 patients.

Dr. Edwards has a key message for anyone who is unsure if they should come to the emergency room: "We're open for everybody. If there is something concerning you, feel free to come in and we'll check you out. We'd much rather have you come in and be seen than to stay home and have it be something serious. We're as much interested in your wellbeing as you are. That message hasn't changed."

Visit MercyOne.org to find your nearest MercyOne emergency department. And if you are experiencing an emergency, don't delay your care – call 911 or go immediately to the ER.