Folks living with chronic illness are prepared for just about anything when it comes to their health. You never know when an unexpected flare or odd symptoms may send you to the hospital on the quick. But right now, with reports of hospitals around the country being overcrowded with COVID-19 patients, it can be scary to think about what might happen if you need to call 911.
How can you be sure you’ll get the care you need, and that you won’t contract COVID in the process? We spoke to David K. Tan, M.D., president of the National Association of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Physicians, about what emergency medical technicians (EMTs) the first faces you see when you call an ambulance are doing to ensure every patient is prioritized. He helped shed some light on the current state of emergency healthcare and what to expect from an ambulance ride (if for some reason you need one).