(Jasper, IN)  — An Indiana doctor is shedding light on how rural areas are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic.  Dr. Stephen Sample from Memorial Hospital and Healthcare Center in Jasper says he feels like he’s in a ghost town, just waiting for the flood of COVID-19 patients.

“Most hospitals who are not actively involved in fighting this battle right now are really just sitting and waiting. Volumes in emergency departments are down anywhere between 30 and 60 percent nation wide. So there’s actually a lot of time to kill. ”

Confirmed cases in Dubois County have reached double digits yesterday with ten and Sample says as hospitals are starting to broaden the scope of testing he expects to see even more cases.  He says he’s sure there are more cases of coronavirus than what data is showing but he’s dispelling the notion that rural hospitals are less prepared. He says most rural hospitals do have more than just one or two ventilators, although they may not necessarily have access to a stockpile of advanced life support equipment.  Sample says he’s seeing less cases of heart attacks, strokes and surgical emergencies, but he worries that because patients are afraid of catching the deadly virus, they’re not coming in until their conditions are significantly worse. He is urging healthcare workers to remind their communities they are still open and while the way they do things may have changed, they still need to be seeing patients if they’re sick.

 

Additional quotes:

Dr. Stephen Sample says he’s worried about poor populations.

“Anytime a pandemic hits the poor are going to suffer disproportionately. Always.”

Dr. Sample says he’s worried about Hispanic families in his community who typically live in multi-generational homes.

“Many of them are considered essential. They’re food processing employees and I’m concerned about them taking it home to their elderly.”

Dr. Sample says it’s a shame people are still ignoring social distancing guidelines.

“I’ve got friends in the community, I’m hearing rumors about a big party this past weekend and I’ve heard friends being invited to another one this week. Thankfully they declined.”

 

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Madelaine Braggs

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