Help healthcare workers

Dear Sanders County Ledger,

I am writing to ask our community for help. The last two months have been especially challenging for healthcare workers and patients in Montana due to very overloaded healthcare systems. This has significantly affected our local healthcare system in Sanders County. Sometimes I get requests asking what individuals can do to help. Here are some thoughts:

1. Maintain courtesy and civility. Remember that the healthcare workers and public health workers are also members of our community. Whether or not you agree with how the pandemic has been managed, you have the option to contribute to the positive morale of our local health-care workers (or not). Recently a small but increasing number of people have been engaging in behaviors that diminish and demoralize the caregivers in our community - for example, name-calling, making demands and threats, yelling, and posting or writing things that are belittling or unkind.

We need our healthcare workers. Whether we like it or not, most of us depend on healthcare teams if we become very ill or have an accident. In order to sustain and support our medical system, please consider how your actions affect other PEOPLE who are here to HELP. You may not agree with everything regarding COVID-19 prevention, precautions, or management. However, taking it out on healthcare workers and public health workers is not helpful and may be counter-productive.

2. Jump in and help! First, many hospitals, public health departments, and home-care services need workers. Consider applying for a job with one of these organizations. Second, our particular community is filled with elders and people with vulnerable health. Many people lack the social support needed to care for themselves through an illness or recover from hospitalization. Help people recover any way that you can- offering to do chores, bringing food, encouraging hydration and picking up medicines and supplies are a good starting point.

3. Be risk averse right now. Avoid activities that put you at risk for injury or illness. Do what you can to maintain your own health and not get sick. Social distancing, masking, hand washing, and vaccination against COVID-19 fall into this category. I realize some of these recommendations may be highly polarizing for some people. Even if you choose to not do all of these recommendations, please consider doing what you can. This helps keep hospital beds open for those who need one.

Jessica Valentine, MD,

Clark Fork Valley Hospital