Hospitals warn against delaying ER visits due to COVID-19 fears

Hospitals in the Kansas City metro want parents to know they are taking many steps to keep their families safe if they have to go there.

GROSSMAN BECAUSE IT'SA FEDERALLY RUNFACILITY.PARENTS - DON'T WAIT TOTAKE YOUR KIDS TO THEHOSPITAL --DOCTORS SAY TOO MANYPARENTS ARE DELAYING --BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAIDOF EXPOSING THEIR KIDSTO THE CORONAVIRUS.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER EMMA JAMESSHOWS US WHAT STEPSHOSPITALS ARE TAKING TOKEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE.EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"The hospital has taken a lotof steps to make it safe, asyou can see as soon as youwalk in you've got to getscreened.

The hospital wantsparents to know if there'ssomething wrong with theirkids they shouldn't be afraid tobring them here."JUST THIS WEEK - DR.COREY IQBAL ATOVERLAND PARKREGIONAL MEDICALCENTER PERFORMEDTHREE EMERGENCYAPPENDECTOMIES ONCHILDREN.HE SAYS THEIR PARENTSWAITED TOO LONG TOBRING THEM IN.THEY ALL HAD THE SAMEREASONING.DR. COREY IQBAL, MEDICALDIRECTOR, PEDIATRIC ANDFETAL SURGERY"I knew something was notright, but I was reallyconcerned about having totake my child to the hospitaland potentially exposing mychild and family to thecoronavirus."HE SAYS DELAYING A TRIPTO THE E-R CAN RESULT INA MUCH LONGER STAY INTHE HOSPITAL THANNECESSARY.DR. COREY IQBAL, MEDICALDIRECTOR, PEDIATRIC ANDFETAL SURGERY"I think the most importantthing for parents tounderstand is the hospitalsare safe."MEANWHILE - CHILDREN'SMERCY IS GETTING BACKTO IN-PERSONAPPOINTMENTS THISWEEK.PAUL KEMPINSKI, PRESIDENTAND CEO, CHILDREN'S MERCY"Now is really the opportunetime for us to begin to slowlyramp up our patient careTHE HOSPITAL WILL PHASEIN ITS RECOVERY PLANWITH ABOUT 60 PERCENTOF CHILDREN BEING SEENFACE TO FACE INSPECIALTY CLINICS.THE HOSPITAL ASKSPATIENTS WEAR MASKS.THEY'LL BE SCREENEDFOR SYMPTOMS WHENTHEY ARRIVE.PAUL KEMPINSKI, PRESIDENTAND CEO, CHILDREN'S MERCY"I think in many respectswe've never been safer"AS A FATHER - DR. IQBALKNOWS PARENTS HAVETHE BEST INTENTIONS FORTHEIR KIDS.IF THEY TRULY DON'T FEELCOMFORTABLE GOING TO AHOSPITAL HE SAYS THEYSHOULD AT LEAST CALL ANURSE HOTLINE OR REACHOUT TO THEIRPEDIATRICIAN.IF THEY DON'T - THEY'REONLY PUTTING THEIRCHILDREN IN MOREDANGER.DR. COREY IQBAL, MEDICALDIRECTOR, PEDIATRIC ANDFETAL SURGERY"Just don't let those signs andsymptoms that something'snot right with your child goun-assessed.

"IN OVERLAND PARK, EMMAJAMES, 41 ACTION NEW