Take Care, Get Care

By Thomas Brabson, D.O., chairman, Emergency Services, AtlantiCare and vice president, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Medical Staff, and Edward Hamaty, D.O., chairman, Critical Care, and medical director, Neurosciences Institute, AtlantiCare.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it is vitally important that we all take care, and get care.

In Emergency and Critical Care medicine, we often talk about the importance of not taking risks – or putting others at risk.

Two disturbing trends that we have seen are people not practicing social distancing and people not seeking care when they need it.

Those not practicing social distancing put themselves and others at risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. We are in the midst of wide-spread community transmission of the virus. The majority of people who have COVID-19 have symptoms that are so minor they might not notice them – or they dismiss them as being something else. This means you can spread the virus and not know it.

We expected our emergency department visits to go down as a result of people practicing social distancing. With reduced road traffic and activities, there would naturally come a reduction in accidents and injuries.

Like hospitals across the nation, we have experienced a significant decrease in emergency visits due to fewer crashes and other activity-related injuries.

However, strokes and heart attacks don’t discriminate.

We did not expect the dramatic decrease in heart attack and stroke patients.

In an emergency


If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, it is vitally important to dial 911.

Our experienced team uses the most advance technology to diagnose and treat heart attacks, strokes, and other illnesses. But especially with heart attacks and strokes, getting to the right facility timely is critical.

Dialing 911 and sharing specific symptoms with the 911 dispatchers will activate the level of emergency medical response that is key to our starting treatment even before you or a loved one arrives at the hospital.

At all times


From what we have learned so far about COVID-19, those who have chronic illnesses – including diabetes and heart disease – can be at increased risk from COVID-19. If you have a chronic health condition, including diabetes, heart disease, emphysema, asthma or other health issues, please keep your regularly scheduled appointments.

If you notice a change in your condition, call your healthcare provider to make an appointment. Also, do your best to manage your condition while you socially isolate. Make sure you have and are taking prescribed medications as your healthcare provider has directed. Do not run out of your medications. Sleep, eat and exercise well.

Regardless of your state of health, if you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your healthcare provider for direction. If you have severe problems breathing, dial 911.

Our Emergency Medical Services, Heart and Vascular, Neurosciences, Trauma and other hospital teams are here to serve and protect you and your loved ones. We practice the safety measures the CDC and New Jersey Health Department recommend to prevent spread of COVID-19.

Our primary, urgent, and specialty care providers are available to meet with you through our Telehealth program and when necessary and appropriate, in person.

You might have heard that New Jersey and other areas are beginning to experience a flattening of the curve when it comes to the number of those hospitalized for COVID-19 cases. We urge you to continue to do your part to protect yourself and others by taking care to follow CDC and NJ DOH guidelines, and getting care when you or a loved one needs it. Taking risks by not doing so could be a matter of life and death.

We thank our colleagues and community members who are contributing to the health, well-being, and healing of our community. Keep up the healthy, life-saving work.