Page 82 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2020

MAINT?AINING YOUR HEALTH
DURING A PANDEMIC
story by Rachel Hoyt
Carrying out your day-to-day activities during a pandemic can be a struggle, especially when it comes to healthcare. You have countless questions and uncertainties. Do you keep your standing appointments and check-ups at your doctor’s o ce? When should you visit the emergency room? What do you do if you think you’re exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19? Dr. Nathan Boles has these answers.
82 | August 2020
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Boles is the co-chair of Memorial Hospital at Gulfport’s executive physician group
and the director
of the hospitalist
department. He
did his residency
in internal
medicine at the
University of South
Alabama and did fellowship training for his subspecialty
in palliative care medicine at Harvard University. He has worked at Memorial Hospital since 2006.
First and foremost, Boles advises patients to use telemedicine as a rst step where available.
“Telemedicine would be my rst option in following up with all my providers where it’s available.
While nothing can replace recommends the same caution a face-to-face visit, you would take any day. “The
your telemedicine emergency room should be used visit could be a for what it’s intended for, which is
gateway to a face- to-face visit if your
physician nds it necessary. It’s very
important to use this tool to stay up with
all your appointments,” Boles said.
emergencies,” he said.
If you believe you are exhibiting
symptoms of COVID-19, he again advises telemedicine with your primary care provider as your rst step. “Going to the emergency room with these symptoms could lead to exposure of yourself
or others to COVID,” he said. Should your doctor advise you to get a test, “Memorial has a vast network of outpatient testing areas available to the public,” Boles said.
While our world may look di erent, you can take comfort that your healthcare providers have the means to treat you safely, whether from your home, their clinics, or the emergency room.
However, if your doctor deems in-person appointment essential, Boles says not to be afraid to go. “Our o ces are being extremely careful. We are screening all patients. We are asking all patients to wear masks, limiting visitors, and all sta are wearing masks,” he said.
When it comes to a trip to the emergency room, Boles
a
“While our world may look di erent, you can take comfort that your healthcare providers have the means to treat you safely.”