CLEVELAND — Many people are currently staying away from hospitals because of the coronavirus. However, University Hospitals is urging patients to check with their doctors before delaying procedures or medical treatments.
“I checked in on the morning of April 10th, which was Good Friday and it truly was an extremely good Friday,” says Kelsey E. Friend Jr.
Kelsey is a 73-year-old retired judge from Pikeville, Kentucky. He traveled more than six hours to have a heart valve replaced at University Hospitals earlier this month.
“Everyone that examined me, everyone that talked to me was basically wearing a mask and very cautious about close proximity. With all they did, I felt, at no time jeopardized as to my health,” says Friend.
University Hospitals says patients need to speak with their doctors about procedures, like Kelsey did because some things, if postponed, could have life-changing or even life-threatening outcomes.
“That condition is not a completely elective procedure,” says Dr. Guilherme Attizzani, the Director of the Valve and Structural Heart Disease Center at UH’s Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute.
“This could have been a problem. He could have been admitted to the hospital for heart failure or worst case scenario, he could have died,”explains Dr. Attizzani.
Kelsey says he’s doing much better since the procedure and was so impressed with the caution taken, that he’s already planning his repeat visit.
“I’m coming back on May the 15th,” says Friend. “I have no reservations about coming up there and staying over the time to get that done. I consider the entire staff, including the doctors, to be godsends to my life.”