By Tammy Thornton
Shore Local would like to honor our Hometown Hero, the Essential Worker. While many of us have been staying safe by working from home, nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, other clinical and non-clinical staff, first responders, and all those providing essential services willingly put themselves in harm’s way. Even so, they know their call to duty not only puts their own health at risk, but could also expose the virus to their family members. Healthcare workers are planning for the worst, while hopeful that the potential numbers will be minimized as the community follows stay-at-home orders and practices social distancing guidelines when they absolutely must be in public. According to Jennifer Tornetta, Director of Media Relations and Public Affairs at AtlantiCare, “The best way to support healthcare workers and all those providing essential services is to stay home unless for essential travel or to get healthcare services. It is critically important that people follow all CDC guidelines – including calling their care providers before seeking care in any healthcare setting and using a face covering when they absolutely have to be in public.”
Dr. Alexander Onopchenko, MD, FACS Bariatric and General Surgeon for AtlanticCare, has witnessed a dramatic change in the life of a surgeon during this epidemic. While elective surgery has been suspended, doctors focus on acute care surgical procedures. But physicians and surgeons must be conserved as the surge of the virus reaches South Jersey. Dr. Onopchenko views the fight against COVID-19 as a war and he believes it must be attacked with that mindset. This includes “conserving the fighting strength”. While fighting on the front lines, nurses, respiratory therapists, technicians, anesthesiologists, and environmental and dietary personnel are more important than ever. They must be protected and conserved. While physicians and surgeons are following every precaution and protocol, changes are happening not just daily, but hourly. Dr. Onopchenko also believes keys to the fight are proper “troop” movement, communication that is accurate and timely, and supply chain management to ensure that healthcare workers will have essential personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, and a place to treat the sick.
Dr. Onopchenko, who is also the Assistant Regional Dean for Gesinger Commonwealth School of Medicine at AtlantiCare, sees this as a time of “exponential learning” and tells his medical students to “take notes” because, “some of the greatest advances in medicine and surgery have come from times of war.” People are sharing what they are learning in real time from hot spots such as New York, and telling what works and what doesn’t. “The students were sent home early last month and are now finishing their third year virtually in a curriculum that was quickly and ingeniously set up for them,” said Dr. Onopchenko. Telemedicine has also transformed healthcare as video calls can allow critical visits between patients and doctors without fear of exposure. Through AtlantiCare Telehealth, patients talk with their AtlantiCare provider in real time, from the comfort of home on a phone, computer, or tablet.
Patients can schedule a virtual appointment by calling the AtlantiCare Access Center at 1-888-569-1000. Learn more about how the AtlantiCare telehealth program works by visiting:
www.atlanticare.org/telehealth. AtlantiCare also offers a 24/7 COVID-19 hotline for those who have questions about coronavirus. The number is 1-888-ATLANTICARE (1-888-285-2684).
As times have changed, we have also recognized the critical work of those in the food supply industry. Complicated by certain customers hoarding, the constant demand to replenish shelves while keeping a safe environment has placed an extra strain on grocery stores and markets. Bob Reynolds, a part-time employee at ACME Markets in Somers Point, works the night shift. In the last fews weeks, he has seen precautions taken such as gloves and masks for employees, one-way shopping cart traffic routes, special hours for senior citizens, and pre-marked spacing, among other measures to protect customers and employees.
In times like these, we see how essential workers have always been there, but are often overlooked. We think of truckers, mail carriers, custodians, and trash collectors to name a few.
Shore Local News thanks all of our Hometown Heroes, Essential Workers.
Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.
