Local hospitals, health care workers deserve our thanks

I love a good April Fools' Day joke or prank, provided that it's in the spirit of good, clean fun.

Sadly, given the current circumstances of health and safety nationwide, writing an April Fools' Day-themed column is hardly appropriate.

What is more appropriate is taking the time to mention the efforts of health care workers in our region who are laboring day and night to limit the reach of COVID-19.

Harrisburg Medical Center and Ferrell Hospital both now have temporary screening tents erected to improve the availability of testing. Both hospitals have a protocol in place, by which a person who is concerned he or she may have COVID-19 should first call to be screened by phone. Depending on the phone screening, that person then may be directed to a testing site.

Southern Illinois Healthcare now has temporary testing facilities available in several local communities as well. SIH has been training for several years to be able to react to a pandemic and reduce a disease's impact on the southern Illinois area.

Egyptian Health Department, led by CEO Angie Hampton, tirelessly has given a daily report about testing done in EHD's three-county region.

Hampton, on Friday, March 27, gave a 20-minute address through EHD's Facebook livestream to discuss testing and answer questions submitted by residents of Saline, Gallatin and White counties.

All of those involved in protecting and preserving the health of the southern Illinois area deserve a "thank you," though following social distancing guidelines makes it a little more difficult than usual.

Another group that deserves a virtual pat on the back are staff members of area nursing homes and assisted-living centers. The WLC Management Firm, which owns multiple nursing homes in Saline County and surrounding counties, was among the earliest in our region to restrict visits to residents. While that reduced the chances of a resident being exposed to coronavirus, it also limited activities. However, staff has been filling in the gap, providing extra activities for residents.

I know I'm leaving out people in the health care field who have been working longer hours and putting themselves at increased risk. So, to all the doctors, nurses, administrators, staff, pharmacists and pharmacy techs, and all others who are ensuring that we still can get the health care we need, thank you.

And that's no joke.