Several changes have been made to protect medical staff and patients. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

pandemic

Medical staff working to obtain supplies, one ventilator available in La Ronge

Mar 30, 2020 | 2:48 PM

Medical staff members in La Ronge are doing their best to prepare in case the number of COVID-19 patients grows in the tri-communities.

That’s according to Dr. Michael Bayda, who said there have been several changes made at the La Ronge Health Centre and La Ronge Medical Clinic in recent weeks. He noted it’s important for medical staff to be prepared as it is for all those in the profession throughout the province.

“All the doctors, nurses and staff are working really hard to prepare for the possibility COVID-19 spreads and really starts to effect people in our community,” Bayda said. “We’re just trying to be prepared for whatever might happen. We’re trying to minimize the risk if the number of cases start to grow here.”

For instance, doctors have switched to over the phone or online consultations at both the clinic and hospital to decrease the risk to staff and patients. Social distancing of at least two meters and having no more than 10 people in a group is also being taken very seriously. Bayda added there’s been a decrease in lab work being done with priority set for the emergency department, cancer centre and pre-natal patients.

Lab work, X-rays and ultrasounds also aren’t being conducted as they would normally.

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“We’re not getting that face-to-face contact as often, which is a big change,” he said. “If there are urgent things or if someone is uncertain if they should be coming in or not, then all of our staff is still available by phone at the clinic and hospital.”

Staff are also in the process of trying to obtain an appropriate amount of medication and medical supplies should COVID-19 hit the community hard. Bayda noted regular training is done with all staff with personal protective equipment and staff try to advise patients about the need to where personal protective equipment when it’s appropriate as well.

In regards to ventilators, which have proven to be essential in the most extreme cases of COVID-19, there is only one at the local hospital. A ventilator is used to keep a patient breathing when their lungs cannot function normally.

“It’s important for everyone to realize how hard the staff at the hospital, the clinic and surrounding communities are working to try and make sure all the facilities are prepared as possible,” Bayda said. “We have a really committed team here and that’s really positive. We’re really thankful for our patients as well for doing a good job at adapting to the proposed changes.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno

by Derek Cornet

Medical staff working to obtain supplies, one ventilator available in La Ronge

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