‘This is the time to be as proactive as we can’

During a recent “State of Community Health” event hosted by the Canandaigua Area Chamber of Commerce, Ontario County Public Health Director Mary Beer and Thompson Health President/CEO Michael F. Stapleton, Jr. had a clear and unified message for the community.

In addition to urging everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19, the two said it is also very important for everyone to pay close attention to their overall health, keeping up with annual checkups, cancer screenings, routine lab work and the like.

Those with unmanaged chronic conditions and those who have hesitated to get care, Stapleton said, are winding up in the hospital and “incredibly sick.”

“The acuity of the patients we’re taking care of is just through the roof,” he said.

Dr. Michael Foote of Thompson’s Honeoye Family Practice said that while the majority of patients continue to do well in maintaining routine care and appointments, there has been reluctance on occasion for some to come into the office. 

“As a clinician, I find it much more worthwhile to see my patients face to face (versus telehealth options), allowing a more natural flow to visits and most importantly, a physical exam,” he said. “Patients should feel assured we are a medical office and have the know-how to facilitate a safe encounter, following guidelines from the CDC and New York State Department of Health.”

Thompson Health Care Manager Jaymie Spurling, MS, RN, works with patients in four of Thompson’s primary care locations – Canandaigua, Farmington, Lima and Macedon. She focuses on those needing complex/chronic care management. This involves calling the patients and following up with them, scheduling appointments, discussing medication and helping with medication reconciliation.

Spurling said the cornerstone of complex care management is preventative treatment, and an individual’s primary care provider is instrumental in management of chronic illness. 

Echoing Dr. Foote, she has this message for those who might be hesitant, due to pandemic-related concerns: “The office takes every precaution against COVID during these challenging times.  You can trust that we have your best interest in mind.”

Dr. Foote says he worries about patients putting off routine preventative screenings or other tests due to reluctance to enter a hospital or have a COVID swab, as deemed necessary to complete some tests. 

Dr. Jeffrey A. Goldstein worries about that, too.

A gastroenterologist based at the hospital’s Marilyn Sands Outpatient Clinic, he said, “We take such precautions here, that there’s a higher chance of getting it in the community.”

Some people have a natural  tendency to put things off, Goldstein noted, but COVID concerns should not be used as an excuse.

When it comes to things like colonoscopies, which he performs, time is of the essence because catching something early is crucial in ensuring a good outcome. “Once something is delayed, we can’t back up the clock,” he said.

In fact, Goldstein added, it’s more important than ever to take steps to prevent cancer, because having a weakened immune system makes one more vulnerable to the virus.

“This is the time to be as proactive as we can,” he said. “The best thing you can do is take care of yourself, for yourself and the people who need you.”

For patients overdue for mammography screenings – pandemic-related or not – Thompson’s Breast Imaging Center offered walk-in mammograms during April, seeing a dozen walk-in patients in just one week. Similarly, the CT Department at Thompson kept track of patients who were due for annual low-dose lung cancer screenings, reaching out and conducting up to 130 screenings per month to catch up.

By the same token, the OB/GYN practice at Thompson's Canandaigua Medical Group is urging its patients to keep up with their regular appointments.

"Seeing your gynecologist for regular care is crucial," said Dr. Jillian Babu, chief of OB/GYN care for Thompson. "The majority of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer have not had a Pap smear in the last five to ten years. In these women there was so much missed opportunity to prevent the cancer; instead they will suffer from surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or worse."

Stapleton, Thompson's CEO, said the importance of being proactive cannot be emphasized enough.

“Whether you’re due for a screening, have a health issue that’s been nagging at you or it’s just been a long time since you’ve been in to see your provider, we would urge you to pick up the phone or log in to MyChart and schedule an appointment," he said. "We would hate to see more people dealing with serious issues – especially those that could have been prevented – once we all emerge from this pandemic.”