Seeking care with confidence during the pandemic
Meet Scott McMurren, travel writer extraordinaire and vacation guru. If you've ever flown to, from or traveled around Alaska, chances are sky-high that you've benefitted from Scott's expertise through his Alaska Travelgram online newsletter, newspaper articles, television appearances or annual Alaska Summer Showcase event.
When years of globetrotting caught up with Scott's left knee and his physician recommended surgery, Scott was momentarily hesitant to proceed during the pandemic.
“There's been plenty of anecdotal chatter about how you can get sick going to the doctor's office or the hospital,” he said. “However, I've made it a habit of listening to (State of Alaska Chief Medical Officer) Dr. Anne Zink for public health issues. She's made a point over the last couple of months that even as the number of cases goes up, the hospitals are still a safe place to seek treatment — whether it's COVID-related or otherwise. That was enough.”
It was good advice. Because we deal with infectious diseases on a daily basis, we are uniquely equipped to safely manage coronavirus. Elevated cleaning measures, constant housekeeping, use of alcohol-based hand gel and regular sanitation are all part of our daily routines. Since March, we have added enhanced protections, including universal masking, comprehensive screening, escorting patients to procedures to reduce risk of exposure and treating all COVID-19 patients in an isolated area of our facility. This ensures our hospital is a safe care environment, and that our patients, visitors and staff are protected from exposure to infectious diseases like COVID-19.
Overall, Scott said, his visit went very well. He appreciated the “giant room with giant windows,” but it was our fabulous employees who made his visit feel better. His Orthopedic & Spine Center caregivers included “Marissa, Alex, Joseph, Sarah and Chelsea, along with others I've likely forgotten. They were super kind and were happy to chat it up with me, which is what I needed!”
Always a journalist, even fresh from the operating room, Scott was interested in his caregivers' schooling experiences and what brought them to Alaska. “I was impressed by how many of them went to UAA Nursing School — and a couple of them moved to Alaska for the job — and love it here.”
Scott said he was back home with a new knee within 26 hours, and on the first day home, was already doing his exercises and getting down to the business of recovery — like a model patient!
Scott's story is a good reminder that healthcare needs don't stop for a pandemic, so please don't neglect your health during this time.
Call your physician when needed and keep your appointments. And if you or a loved one needs emergency care, don't delay — call 911 right away.