ALLENTOWN, Pa. — This season, viral illnesses may seem more severe, but doctors at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) said admissions into the emergency department have been steady and normal — and even recently have dropped.
A care coordinator with LVHN said that, at least in part, can be attributed to what the coronavirus pandemic has taught both health care providers and the public.
- Some of the practices learned during the pandemic can apply today
- Establishing a relationship with a primary care doctor is a good start to taking care of your health
- Masking when necessary and frequent hand washing are effective ways to prevent illness
"The key things, I think, that we learned was to listen to our bodies more and also understand what's happening and how that impacts our health,” said Carol Michaels, an administrator of care coordination with LVHN.
Michaels said some of what was practiced during the pandemic can be applied to this season of illnesses.
“One of the key things that we learned is that treatment is important when something goes wrong and you need to seek that treatment,” she said.
“But the prevention side of things is so essential to maintaining our health and preventing ourselves from becoming chronically sick in the future.”
Michaels said many people learned that they need to take care of their overall health to avoid complications from viruses such as COVID-19.
She said that includes staying up on immunizations, getting age-appropriate screening, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting enough sleep.
"The key things, I think, that we learned was to listen to our bodies more and also understand what's happening and how that impacts our health."Carol Michaels, Administrator with Lehigh Valley Health Network
Michaels also suggested that people establish a relationship with a primary care doctor so that when they are sick, they have a baseline for care.
“A key part of that is having a relationship with primary care, and developing a relationship with a provider that you feel you can trust and go to,” she said.
Michaels also added that the basics practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as masking when necessary and frequent hand washing, are effective when fighting off diseases.
