Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Sept. 30, 2020

El Paso Health Care Officials Urge Residents Not to Delay

Emergency Care During COVID-19 Pandemic
EL PASO, Texas – The COVID-19 pandemic has people across the nation being more cautious about
how they navigate their lives. But caution can have a downside when it comes to getting necessary
care for non-COVID health concerns.

Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso, University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC), Las Palmas Del Sol
Healthcare, The Hospitals of Providence, El Paso Children’s Hospital (EPCH) and William Beaumont
Army Medical Center (WBAMC) want to remind the public that they should not let coronavirus
fears prevent them from seeking care for heart attacks, strokes, child well-visits and other
emergencies.

A troubling trend of patients delaying or avoiding emergency care has emerged as COVID-19
continues to spread across the country.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, emergency department visits for acute, life-
threatening conditions declined significantly in the 10 weeks after the U.S. declared a national
emergency due to COVID-19.

The CDC found that myocardial infarction (heart attack) visits fell by 23 percent, stroke visits by 20
percent, and hyperglycemic crisis (high blood glucose associated with diabetes) visits by 10 percent.

The largest declines in heart attack and stroke visits were observed among adults 65 and older.
Incidents of stroke victims waiting too long to seek emergency care has resulted in a substantial
increase of patients who could no longer be helped with clot-busting drugs. As stroke-causing clots
harden, they become unresponsive to drugs that could potentially halt damage and restore blood
flow to the brain. Those numbers are still down compared to the same time last year. El Pasoans
are urged to get the care they need now and not delay any further.

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When people have acute or life-threatening conditions and need care, they should not hesitate to
come to the hospital – it’s a safe place for all patients. It’s much safer than not coming to the
hospital to receive care.

Health care officials also remind the public that it’s important for people with chronic health
conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and heart issues, to continue with their regular medical
appointments. Without consistent care, these conditions may worsen.

A CDC report compared emergency department visits from Jan.-May 2019 and Jan.-May 2020
during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2019 comparison period, 12 percent of all ED visits were in
children aged 10 years old or younger, compared with 6 percent during the early pandemic period.

Among children 10 years old and younger, the largest declines year-to-year in emergency
department visit were for:

• Influenza, 97 percent decrease

• Otitis media, 85 percent decrease
• Other specified upper respiratory conditions, 84 percent decrease
• Nausea and vomiting, 84 percent decrease
• Asthma, 84 percent decrease
• Viral infection, 79 percent decrease
• Respiratory signs and symptoms, 78 percent decrease
• Abdominal pain and other digestive or abdomen symptoms, 78 percent decrease
• Fever, 72 percent decrease

Other reasons for emergency department visits for all ages include appendicitis, chest pain,
poisoning, abdominal discomfort, sprains and broken bones.

Pediatric care sites have implemented safety protocols to ensure the best patient care is provided
during these times. If a child has an upcoming appointment, rest assured everything possible is
being done to keep patients and their families safe. Every case will be carefully discussed while
observing social distancing and recommended CDC guidelines. Parents should not delay treatment
or appointments for their child’s or family’s health and safety.

TTP El Paso, UMC, Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare, The Hospitals of Providence, EPCH and WBAMC
are vigilant when it comes to sanitation, screening, visitor restrictions, masking, and following
guidelines from the CDC to ensure emergency visits are as safe as possible.

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Hospitals and medical staff will do everything possible to heal and save lives. The ability to do this
for patients and their loved ones is greatly improved when help is sought out, when it’s needed.
Please, do not delay your care.

If you are having a medical emergency, call 911.

For more information about these health care providers’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic
and procedures to ensure the health and safety of patients, visit:

El Paso Children’s Hospital elpasochildrens.org

Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare laspalmasdelsolhealthcare.com
Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso eptexastechphysicians.org
The Hospitals of Providence thehospitalsofprovidence.com
University Medical Center of El Paso umcelpaso.org
Veterans Administration El Paso elpaso.va.gov
William Beaumont Army Medical Center wbamc.amedd.army.mil

MEDIA CONTACTS:
EPCH: Audrey Garcia at 915-603-1726 or Audrey.garcia@elpasochildrens.org
LPDS: Levente McCrary at 512-997-8834 or LMcCrary@EChristianPR.com
TTUHSC: Berenice Zubia at 915-253-9399 or news.ep@ttuhsc.edu
TTUHSC: Veronique Masterson at 915-433-7407 or news.ep@ttuhsc.edu
THOP: Monique Poessiger at 915-471-9565 or Monique.Poessiger@tenethealth.com
UMC: Ryan Mielke at 915-521-7656 or RMielke@UMCelpaso.org
VA: Ginette Bocanegra at 915-5646100 x7027 or Ginette.Bocanegra@va.gov
WBAMC: Amabilia G. Payen at 915-742-5088 or Amabilia.g.payen.civ@mail.mil

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