Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital (OHMCH) has served this community for over 80 years with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities we serve.
Right now, as covid-19 cases rise at an alarming rate across the country and within Muhlenberg County, that means each member of our team is working diligently on vaccination efforts and treating our current patients- those with and without covid-19. I am so proud of our team, and all the healthcare workers as we work together to end this pandemic.
Serving as the Chief Operating Officer here at OHMCH for the last seven years, I have seen firsthand how special this community truly is.
There are many great things about my job but one of the things I enjoy most is meeting patients and families of patients. During the pandemic, I have witnessed how tragic a covid-19 diagnosis can be. If you must be hospitalized from symptoms of covid-19, you must be kept in isolation, which is hard as a patient, but even worse for a patient’s family members who must stay away from their sick loved one.
Even though case numbers are rising- the vaccines are working. The latest numbers from both the CDC and Owensboro Health clearly indicate the importance of getting vaccinated to protect yourself and those around you. The vast majority of cases we have in our hospitals are unvaccinated (about 88%).
Even when breakthrough cases occur, the symptoms tend to be much milder in vaccinated individuals. All 18 covid-19 deaths at Owensboro Health since April have been unvaccinated individuals, as well as 91% of intubations and 89% of critical care admissions.
Please do your part to keep our community healthy. Wear your mask, watch your distance, wash your hands, and get your safe, effective and free Shot of Hope. It is not too late to get vaccinated. Even if you have been skeptical in the past, it is okay to change your mind and make a new decision. If you are nervous about the vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider to see if it is a safe option for you. We have given over 6000 vaccinations at OHMCH since last December. Our next vaccine clinic is this Thursday, August 12. You can make an appointment online at OwensboroHealth.org/vaccine or call 270-685-7100, or walk-in without an appointment between the hours of 8 to 11 a.m. and noon to 4 p.m.
Stay healthy, Muhlenberg County!
Ed Heath is Chief Operating Officer at Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital in Greenville
