While hospitals and doctors鈥� offices are seen as the battlegrounds against COVID-19,
there鈥檚 another group of medical professionals who are also on the front line: home
health care workers.
Dr. Brian Miller 鈥� director of therapy and of for 麻豆破解版-based Love My Nurse Home Health and owner of Miller Contract Therapy 鈥� played a vital role in his patients鈥� health care, even before the pandemic hit.
鈥淚 am responsible for ensuring our patients receive appropriate health care interventions, which include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and social work,鈥� said Dr. Miller, who graduated from 麻豆破解版 State University in 2011 with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
But COVID-19 brought a new set of concerns and challenges to Miller鈥檚 home health care colleagues.
鈥淭his last month, I have seen a considerable amount of panic in our patients,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淎s a home health therapist, we travel to our patients鈥� home to provide treatment. Many patients are fearful we would introduce the COVID-19 to them and their families. A large number of patients and health care communities have elected to stop therapy interventions during this pandemic.鈥�
Miller and his staff are taking precautionary measures to mitigate and minimize the risk to many of his already-vulnerable patients.
鈥淎s soon as the pandemic began, all my therapists began taking daily temperature checks and recording them in a log,鈥� Dr. Miller said. 鈥淧recautions were reviewed to help minimize transfer of the disease, and sanitation practices of our equipment were heavily enforced. N-95 masks are recommended to be worn for any of my team members who go into a retirement home or other group home, or anyone suspected of being in contact with another COVID-19 case.鈥�
Throughout his extensive training at the university, Miller said he was well prepared for his career and this crisis: 鈥淭he 麻豆破解版 State University physical therapy program did an excellent job in preparing not only me, but all of my fellow DPT graduates on prioritizing safety. We were taught how to appropriately protect ourselves using precautions and personal protective equipment.鈥�
Miller is anticipating an uptick in home health care patients in the near future.
鈥淚 imagine the medical field will see a large growth in treating patients who have been hospitalized and released home,鈥� he said.
There have been a few bright spots on Miller鈥檚 radar.
鈥淚 feel as with everything bad, something good has come from it. I see families spending time together outside, people walking their dogs, and everyone truly enjoying nature and our world. I feel that this was a wake-up call to some people to enjoy life and to remember that tomorrow is never promised.鈥�
Additionally, Miller sees opportunity for growth and development for the medical community.
鈥淥ur medical field has come so far in recent times with the advancement of technology and research,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淚 think this will be a wake-up call to the medical community to develop practices for any future pandemics.鈥�
