We’re all being asked to wear masks, wash our hands, practice physical distancing… what’s the science behind this, how important are these measures and how long will we need to do this? “We are really entering a new normal, but hopefully it’s a safe normal that protects all people regardless of age, race or socio-economic status,” states Epidemiologist Patricia Cummings, PhD, MPH, Director, Department of Epidemiology Research and Evaluation, Eisenhower Health.
Patricia Cummings, PhD, MPH, Epidemiologist
In this Health Insights blog podcast, Cummings walks us through the role she and her epidemiology colleagues play in helping us to protect and prepare for the best outcomes from this COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Cummings discusses the science involved in their work and why it was important to build a model unique to the population of Coachella Valley:
We developed a model to project the spread of this virus across our Coachella Valley population. The model looks at the susceptible population and how people in that population, once they’re exposed to this virus, go from infected to either hospitalized, recovered or death. And the reason we did this is because our population is very different from other parts of Riverside County, the region, the state. We have a large elderly population and also other vulnerable or at-risk population such as those with chronic disease or those who are immune-suppressed. The results of this model helped our hospital and our community plan for COVID-19 community response.”
In addition to helping us understand why Epidemiologists have become so critical to managing the coronavirus pandemic, Cummings demystifies some of the terms we’ve heard bandied about (sometimes even used incorrectly by doctors), including:
• R0 – the R Naught
• Case Fatality Rate
• Mortality Rate
• Co-morbidity Issues
• Asymptomatic People
• Flattening the Curve
• Disease Severity
As we re-open the economy, it’s important to bear in mind that large numbers of people are not showing symptoms and passing the virus along before they even know they have it. This, and other reasons, argue for maintaining precautions until the data show COVID-19 is under control so we can protect ourselves, our families and our most vulnerable populations that can’t launch good immune responses. We all have a role in this!
U.S. News & World Report has released its prestigious annual hospital rankings. Eisenhower Health ranks #1 in the Inland Empire and #12 in California. Eisenhower Health was also rated High Performing in 20 types of care — the highest number of specialty recognitions earned by a hospital in the Inland Empire.
Click Below to Learn More About Eisenhower Health’s Accreditations & Recognition
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