DSM Forward Ask the Health Care Experts

The Greater Des Moines Partnership DSM Forward webinar series offers insight on moving the Greater Des Moines (DSM) region forward in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. As plans are made and businesses reopen, The Partnership has put together resources for employers at DSMpartnership.com/DSMForward.

Mike Colwell, executive director of entrepreneurial initiatives at The Partnership, discusses health care advice with Dr. Hijinio Carreon, chief medical officer at MercyOne Des Moines, Dr. Clint Hawthorne, medical director at UnityPoint Des Moines Emergency Services, and Dr. Yogesh Shah, chief medical officer at Broadlawns Medical Center. The “Ask the Health Care Experts” webinar focuses on advice for businesses looking to return employees to the workplace.

Getting Back into the Workplace

Dr. Shah shares his thoughts on how more testing will result in additional positive cases of COVID-19. He and Dr. Hawthorne agree that it’s important to sort through COVID-19 information and look at it from all angles when considering opening up businesses. Dr. Hawthorne points out that the simplest things are often the most effective. Dr. Carreon understands the economic impact of keeping employees at home and suggests instituting the right processes to minimize infection. To do this it’s important to know what the symptoms are for COVID-19.

COVID-19 Symptoms

Dr. Shah outlines the eight COVID-19 symptoms to watch for, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of Breath
• Muscle Ache/Headache
• Fatigue
• Loss of Taste/Smell
• Sore Throat
• Nausea/GI Symptoms

Travel + Quarantine

When traveling, Dr. Carreon says that the CDC has updated travel recommendations. At this time, there is no quarantine or self-isolation needed with domestic travel within the U.S. If you’ve traveled internationally, you would need to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Office Space

Dr. Shah says when you are physically near coworkers, it’s important to continue six feet of physical distancing and some form of face masks for staff. Dr. Hawthorne reiterates the importance of knowing the COVID-19 symptoms. As businesses look at screening for the virus, temperature checks and tracking symptoms can be helpful. Dr. Carreon explains the goal of face masks and how they minimize your own ability to infect someone else. He highlights that employers should educate employees on the appropriate use of face masks if you are going to use them. Ensure employees understand the purpose is to touch your face less often, not more. Face shields, as an alternative, can actually provide more protection and allow for better communication.

See the entire webinar below:

 

 

 

COVID-19 resources can be found at the following:

• MercyOne Des Moines
• UnityPoint Des Moines
• Broadlawns Medical Center

You can count on The Partnership to continue to share accurate and fact-based updates as well. See more on COVID-19 here.