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Show A-8 The Park Record Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, September 19-22, 2020 Pandemic challenging for Voting is Now Live! Park City Hospital worker Visit Parkrecord.com/parkcitys-best-2020/ to Voice Your Choice for the Best! Eileen Finan says others’ dedication keeps her going LUCIA AUERBACH Park Record intern Mid-March in Summit County was an unusual time to say the least. Eileen Finan, infection prevention and employee health coordinator at Park City Hospital, recalls a night during that time when Summit County’s coronavirus cases began to increase. After having trouble sleeping, Finan arrived at work early, around 4 a.m., and checked in with the staff around the units, as she would typically. Something about that day was different and the changes in their demeanor transparent. “I could see and hear the fear and concern that they had.” Finan said. “That’s what I think drove me ... to be here maybe extra hours than I normally would be because I just wanted to make sure that they know they’re supported.” Since then, she has watched as the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the majority of lives around the world. But for Finan and other health care workers, the change has been even more drastic. Finan’s job involves preparing personal protection equipment, monitoring medical equipment and addressing any employee questions or concerns. Over the last several months, Finan has added a lot more hours to her workday and has worked to strengthen her visibility within the hospital and to ensure the safety of the staff and patients who need care. While most workers in the hospital are treating outside patients, Finan considers her patients to be the employees, be they nurses or doctors or housekeepers or food service workers. The support from the hospital community and the tenacity of the people she works beside have invigorated Finan, she said, allowing her to persist through the challenging circumstances the pandemic has presented. “These are my heroes,” said Finan, “and that’s what gives me the passion to keep coming TANZI PROPST/PARK RECORD Eileen Finan, infection prevention and employee health coordinator at Park City Hospital, says the months since the coronavirus pandemic hit Summit County have been challenging. The support from others at the hospital, though, has been gratifying. back every day.” As the pandemic has progressed, Finan has noticed less reluctance toward interaction at the hospital. When the pandemic first started, Finan noticed that some patients were frightened to come to the hospital, avoiding eye contact and making a large effort to walk around each other, she said. Now, she is noticing more people going out of their way to make friendly eye contact, making up for the smiles that masks may cover. The hospital isn’t the only place that Finan has noticed the affects of the pandemic. She has seen Summit County change drastically, as well, as the community has grappled with the coronavirus. “You know, going to a grocery store has never been the same since March hit,” she said. Finan, who has worked in health care for more than three decades, said seeing community members struggle with finding the right and safe balance of interaction has been difficult. The change has been challenging for her, too. Coming from a big mid-Western family, Finan finds that connection is incredibly important. While the internet and social media have been effective in allowing her to keep up communication, Finan is still missing physical connection with her loved ones. But, she has been enjoying the outdoors with family she lives with in Francis, appreciating the beauty Utah has to offer. While case numbers have mostly been encouraging in Summit County since the initial wave of cases, Finan states that the battle against COVID-19 is not over yet. “We just have to stay nimble ... as far as realizing things can change as more data is available and more things become available,” she said. “We have to flex to that to make sure again that we’re keeping our folks, our caregivers, our employees, staff safe, as well as the patients.” Docs: Pandemic makes flu shot even more important The similarity with COVID symptoms concerns experts TIM VANDENACK Standard-Examiner Presented by: Sponsored by: OGDEN (AP) — As if COVID-19 weren’t enough to worry about, flu season is gearing up, giving those already jittery about every cough and sneeze more to fret over. Is the sore throat due to the flu or COVID-19? What about those aches and pains? Accordingly, Utah health officials are urging the public, now more than ever, to get vaccinated against the flu. “It is more important than ever to get your flu shot this season! This year we will be facing a bigger challenge than ever — seasonal influenza that is still not fully preventable confounded by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Filip Roos, chief medical officer for Ogden Regional Medical Center. The added urgency stems in part from the symptoms the ailments share and concerns about confusing them. “Many of the symptoms of influenza and COVID-19 are similar, and it can be difficult to figure out which infection a person has,” said Tamara Sheffield, medical director of community health and prevention for Intermountain Healthcare. “Symptoms that the two infections share are a dry cough, fever and Don’t get buried in news you don’t need. Call 435–649–9014 to get the news you care about chills, fatigue, achiness. People with COVID-19 sometimes have shortness of breath or difficulty breathing and sometimes have a loss of taste or smell, while people with influenza rarely have those symptoms. Headaches are more common in influenza than in COVID-19. Both occasionally show symptoms of sore throat, runny or stuffy nose or diarrhea.” What’s more, Roos said, vaccinating will keep instances of flu down, tempering the number of hospitalizations required for the ailment, thereby reserving medical resources to deal with COVID-19 cases. Sheffield said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is calling for a dramatic increase nationwide in flu vaccinations. Intermountain Healthcare facilities, accordingly, are bracing and preparing. McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden is an Intermountain Healthcare facility. “We have been asked to vaccinate hundreds of thousands more people in Utah against influenza than we usually do,” Sheffield said. To do so, “Intermountain Healthcare clinics and pharmacies have ordered extra vaccine and are creating extended hours, flu vaccine clinics and drive-up events to provide as much flu vaccine as possible to our communities.” Already, signs are popping up outside pharmacies offering flu shots. The public may call the Weber-Morgan Health Department at 801-399-7252 to make an appointment to get a shot, with a drive-through clinic scheduled for Oct. 1, according to Lori Buttars, the department spokesperson. But surveillance for the flu begins in earnest in early October, with the seasonal case count typically peaking in January or February, though it can come earlier or later, said Trevor Warner, spokesman for the Davis County Health Department. “The important message we want people to understand is that they need to get a flu shot, and then get a COVID-19 shot whenever it becomes available!” Warner said in an email. Roos said Utah Department of Health guidelines call for those with COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms to test for COVID-19 as a precaution. At the same time, Warner noted that it can be hard to differentiate between the ailments without a test. “Again, if you are sick stay home. Treat any flu-like symptoms like they are COVID-19 and make sure to follow all precautions outlined by the Department of Health. This includes self-isolation for up to 14 days,” Roos said. Sheffield said the CDC will soon be offering more detailed guidance on contending with influenza amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC already has a slew of information online differentiating between influenza and COVID-19 at cdc.gov/flu/ symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm. Health experts continue to recommend social distancing, frequent hand washing and use of face coverings to guard against COVID-19. |