When is it OK to see a doctor, dentist, plumber, vet or mechanic during the pandemic?
The News Tribune asked some people working in industries that remain open in Western Washington during the coronavirus pandemic when South Sounders should seek their help and when they should postpone it.
I don’t have a medical emergency. Should I wait to get health care?
Dr. David Carlson, chief physician officer for MultiCare, said patients shouldn’t delay seeking care. You don’t have to have symptoms of COVID-19 to see a provider, and it does not have to be an emergency.
“Most of the care that we’re delivering currently is actually not due to the pandemic,” Carlson said Friday.
Some care can be done virtually. If someone needs to be seen in-person, Carlson said, precautions are in place to protect patients and visitors. All MultiCare facilities are open.
“It’s super important that people take care of their health during this epidemic and not ignore their health because of it,” he said. “... No health care problems have stopped because of COVID-19.”
Maybe an annual physical can wait, he said, but people should not delay getting the appropriate care for any concerning signs or symptoms. People with chronic conditions shouldn’t put off follow-up care and monitoring. He said seeking help won’t overwhelm the system.
“We’re less busy than usual,” Carlson said.
Asked about the financial implications of fewer people seeking medical care during the pandemic, he said the economics of hospitals are not very different from other businesses.
“If people don’t seek our services and our care, we don’t get paid,” he said. “... Pretty much anything you can think of, we’re doing less of.”
He also noted the system increased expenses to prepare for the pandemic.
CHI Franciscan also said its providers are taking calls for non-urgent appointments, and that they have increased virtual appointment offerings.
This tooth hurts. What counts as a ‘dental emergency,’ and where can I get it fixed?
Bracken Killpack, head of the Washington State Dental Association, said via email that the group encourages patients to refer to American Dental Association guidelines regarding what constitutes a dental emergency.
“... we have partnered with the Arcora Foundation to ensure people are able to receive urgent dental care,” Killpack wrote. “DentistLink is a referral service that is currently being utilized to connect patients seeking urgent dental care with dental providers in their area who are able to provide this care. Dentists who are able to provide urgent dental care can add their name to a directory on Dentistlink.org. Patients with an urgent dental need, such as pain or infection, can call or text 844-888-5465 to get connected to dental care.”
Killpack said about 88.4 percent of dental offices in the state were closed, and seeing emergency patients only as of the week of April 6, per the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute.
“Patients in need of urgent dental care should contact their dentist first,” Killpack wrote. “Please be assured that our state’s dentists are doing everything they can to ensure patients with urgent dental needs are getting the care they need.”
Dr. Mary Correll of Optima Dental Spa in Gig Harbor said things like routine cleanings and preventative therapies are delayed until after May 18, but people in pain can still get help.
“According to the American Dental Association, emergent care is anything that is potentially life-threatening and requires immediate attention to stop bleeding, swelling, infection, alleviate severe pain, etc.,” Correll wrote via email. “From a patient’s perspective, any situation where a patient feels uncomfortable and feels a need to take any type of pain reliever or feels tender or swollen is a reason to call us.”
Correll cautioned this is not the time to chew ice or to eat hard candy or other things that tend to break teeth. Be careful about how much sugar you eat and note that liquid sugars (think energy drinks and pop) are especially bad for teeth. She said things with Xylitol, such as sugar free gum, can be good between meals if a patient can’t brush.
“The best things people can do is to continue to practice good oral hygiene at home,” she wrote. “Brushing, flossing, fluoride and/or antibacterial rinses such as Listerine. We love sonic toothbrushes.”
Correll also said patients should think about scheduling an appointment now for when offices re-open to avoid a long wait.
“We may be a little swamped when things finally get back to normal,” she wrote.
Will a plumber come to my home during the pandemic? Can I put off fixing a leak?
Todd Allred of Allred’s Plumbing & Radiant in Tukwila said it’s important to call. What seems like a small problem can turn into a big one.
“Plumbing is the first line of defense in the health care system,” he said. “There’s like eight major diseases that we protect the health of the public from.”
Clogged drains can mean bacteria, and you don’t want that to sit and grow, he said.
Unaddressed leaks can mean mold.
“Water left to run or drip destroys wood and structures and mold can grow, and mold can be a way bigger problem,” he said.
Many insurance companies don’t cover mold, which means homeowners often pay out-of-pocket to fix it, he said.
He said his business has clients send photos to help decide if a visit is necessary. If it is, they ask the client if anyone in the home is sick or has recently traveled out of the country.
They also disinfect the area they’re going to work in and take other precautions to keep everyone safe.
“If you have an issue with your plumbing system, call your local service provider and discuss it with them,” Allred said. “... But basically, in my mind, any failure of the plumbing system warrants immediate attention.”
Customers can verify that a plumber is certified by doing a search on the state Department of Labor & Industries website, secure.lni.wa.gov/verify.
My pet is due for vaccines and a visit to the groomer. Should I wait?
Gary Marshall, president of the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association, said some care can be done by video, phone or email. Owners can send photos, for instance.
If you call a veterinarian and learn a visit is necessary, Marshall said, offices are taking precautions, such as having owners do curbside drop-offs at clinics and discussing results on the phone instead of in person.
He said routine care is being decreased as long as that doesn’t jeopardize the pet.
A lot of people are asking, for instance, if they should bring pets in for vaccines that are due.
“Professional judgment is kind of key on these cases,” Marshall said.
A booster shot might be able to wait, but it depends on the situation, he said.
“One part that I will stress is important is first vaccines for kittens and puppies,” Marshall said. “... The potential risk if they get some of these diseases when they have zero protection is going to be way worse.”
While curbside drop-off of pets is the new normal, euthanasia is an exception, he said. His clinic has been allowing owners to be present for those procedures when they want to be there to say goodbye.
Marshall encouraged people to ask their vet about changes during the pandemic — if they question why something is being done a certain way — and to show their appreciation.
“Legally we could do more, but we’re working really hard at limiting our business to help the community,” he said. “... I know there are going to be some veterinary clinics that don’t survive this, maybe because they’re doing the right thing.”
Hopefully, Marshall said, owners can keep their pets from having to go to the vet during the pandemic.
He warned against too much activity. The extra time pets are getting with the ball or Frisbee while their humans are stuck at home is great, he said, as long as owners don’t overdo it. Pets get sore from exercise, too.
He also cautioned against owners using scissors for at-home grooming jobs. What looks like a mat might have skin folded into it, and scissors in that situation could mean an emergency vet trip.
“I would have your own set of clippers, grooming-style, with a guard,” he said, if they don’t scare the pet too much.
Asked about trips to the groomer, he said matting that’s hurting a pet’s skin or an ingrown toenail that’s wrapping around into a paw shouldn’t wait.
A trip for a trim to make a pet look better for a family photo probably isn’t appropriate, he said. Humans aren’t getting hair cuts right now either, he noted.
Is it OK to get the oil in my car changed, or should I wait?
Casey Cooper with Coopers Auto Repair Specialists in Pierce County said most of the repairs they’ve been doing at the moment are serious ones, but that it’s a good idea for people with basic maintenance due or coming due soon to get it done.
Cooper expects shops to be extremely busy when things get back to normal and said the average age of vehicles on the road in the United States is 11.5 years, which goes up in a recession.
“A lot of people are going to be holding onto their vehicles right now,” Copper said. “... It’s going to be really busy when all this is over.”
The business has been picking up and dropping off vehicles for customers to minimize contact, sanitizing keys and using steering wheel covers and disinfectant, among other precautions.
It’d be good for vehicles that aren’t being used much now if owners took them around the block or for a quick trip on the freeway from time to time, Cooper said.
And checked their oil.
This story was originally published April 15, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
