Emergency room visits are decreasing locally due to people avoiding doctor visits, fearing they may contract COVID-19.
News 18 speaks with doctors from IU Health Arnett and Franciscan Health Lafayette East about the numbers and why it's a problem.
News 18's marvin bills joins us live at franciscan health lafayette east with why doctors say this is a growing trend and a problem.
Marvin?
Good evening jeff and good evening to you all home.
Doctors told me today that patients have had distant behavior mainly because of the social distancing guidelines.
But they want to stress that while practicing social distancing is important.
So is seeking medical attention that could save your life.
Director of the emergency department at franciscan health lafayette east dr. david farman says several people have had emergent medical issues but are choosing to wait before seeking medical treatment.
"i think that there's a general concern when people come to the hospital that they are going to be putting themselves at a higher risk for being exposed to covid-19."
In the last 6-weeks er visits at franciscan health lafayette east have dramatically dropped 50%.
Its er went from seeing 135 to 150 patients a day to only about 60 to 80 patients a day.
"in the last ten days i've seen the highest glucose numbers on diabetics than i've seen in the ten years of my career."
Down the road at iu health arnett doctors are experiencing the same problem.
"we started to experiencing some decline.
I'm not sure if it's the scare of covid-19 or just people thinking that we are not operational in the hospital."
Iu health arnett's er visits also dropped nearly 50%.
Doctors went from seeing more than 140 patients a day to only about 75 patients a day.
Dr. chris mansfield says their er had one patient who had an acute heart attack but stayed home for a few days and another patient who was experiencing stroke like symptoms but waited to seek help.
"it's concerning because i know that there are other patients outhere that need help from an emergency stand point.
Non covid-19 patients that i really wish would get cared for."
Both franciscan health lafayette east and iu health arnett have designated areas in the hospital to ensure patients are safe.
"it's safe to come to the hospital.
If you're having something whether it be chest pain or stroke like symptoms we don't want you to stay at home and think staying at home is the right thing to do."
Doctors encourage people who have a medical emergency to come into the hospital.
Live in lafayette, marvin bills, n18.
Hoosier farmers
Local hospitals see decrease in patient visits
