Doc Osner

  Have fun and be safe this holiday weekend! Here are some recommendations. In short: - Be safe in general. Don't drink and drive and please be careful with fireworks--hospitals are busy enough. - Test yourself for COVID19 before you go to a party (rapid tests are great for this! Get free rapid tests at www.covid.gov ). - Outdoor parties are better, indoor is higher risk. - Mask if you're indoors and/or if you have risk factors (lung issues, weakened immune system, diabetes, cancer, older age, etc). - Get tested about 5 days after a big party/exposure or if you develop symptoms. - If you have symptoms and your home test is negative, either do another home test in 24-48 hours or get a lab PCR test. - Get vaccinated/boosted. - If you're sick, don't go to the party: There are other viruses out there too, such as the flu (and no one wants to share your virus!) - Again, be careful in general and also note that fireworks and alcohol don't mix well. Have a great long weeke...

  Public Service Announcement...and a funny dog photo. Case counts are unfortunately rising in the DE/PA/NJ region. I saw more covid cases in my last 2 shifts than in the past 6+ weeks (some were pretty sick, most are doing ok), and we're also seeing influenza... SO, if you're going to any big events or parties and you don't want to share viruses: - Be nice and test yourself beforehand. - Outside is best. - If inside, mask if possible and open some doors/windows (still some risk). - Don't cough on other people...duh. - Get your boosters, please. - Be reasonable humans: if you're sick, don't go. Have a nice day!

  I realized that I haven't written anything about COVID since January--I'm pretty happy about that! January was horrible in the hospitals, but it has gotten much better. I can now go several shifts without seeing any COVID! Having said that, we are seeing an uptrend in cases in Europe and the UK (see graphic), and some regional increases in US wastewater. This is a bit concerning--no need to panic, just be aware and prepare. And be happy that we're moving back toward a state of normality, with caution. Here are some quick recommendations: 1. MONITOR YOUR LOCAL NUMBERS: Your risk depends on what's around you. Like monitoring the weather, I monitor my local numbers. Keep in mind that actual case numbers may be higher than they appear due to many people performing home tests. Wastewater surveillance is also a promising method to monitor for many infectious diseases, including COVID. To keep an eye on my local cases and hospitalizations I like https://covidactnow.org/ or ...

Our hospital system in the Delaware/Pennsylvania/Maryland area put out a press release that they are postponing elective surgeries. This is a big deal. The healthcare system in many parts of the country is crumbling under pressure. Yes, this is really bad. Postponing surgeries was a necessary step for many health systems. The entire region (and much of the country) is dealing with overwhelmed hospitals, staffing shortages, few available beds, very long ED wait times, and a steeply increasing COVID surge; while also managing everything else (heart attacks, strokes, trauma, etc). Before the holidays, please protect yourself and your family: Get vaccinated (if you haven't) Get the booster (everyone 16+ years old and 6+months out from Pfizer/Moderna and 2 months from J&J is eligible) Get tested before big gatherings See your doctor in the office for regular care/minor problems before they become big problems. Be extra careful...wear your seatbelt, be extra careful on ladders, wear ...

We’re all tired of COVID. We’re also only a day away from Thanksgiving. As the holidays quickly approach, please be sure to celebrate with some caution. COVID-19 is NOT gone. In fact it is increasing (again, unfortunately). We are seeing more cases in the emergency department and in many areas of the country. It’s been a while since I posted anything about COVID, but as the holidays approach and cases increase, I only hope to not have a repeat of last year. Last December/January was really bad. So, let’s answer a few questions: Q: “Can we have holiday gatherings this year?” A:  This year is different from last year. Vaccinations and testing are widely available. These are VERY helpful, IF you use them. If your whole family is vaccinated, the risk is much lower. If several members of your family/group are not vaccinated, then the risk is higher. See below for some additional suggestions and links. Q: “What are some other things we can do to stay safe?” A: The best plan would be...

Home COVID-19 testing swab When the COVID19 pandemic started in early 2020 there were many unknowns. In February and March of 2020, COVID19 tests were very difficult to get. Even from the emergency department, we had to get approval to send a test to the state—the only method of testing available at the time. Since that time, we have moved into a new phase of the COVID19 pandemic in the US. Vaccines are widely available. Tests are easier to perform—even at home! See below for information about types of tests, available home tests, and our videos on how to perform home COVID-19 tests. Types of tests available: Viral Tests: PCR/NAAT tests: For these tests, a swab is sent to a lab and results usually take 1-3 days. These tests check for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA genetic material. If positive, these tests indicate a current or very recent infection. Antigen tests:  Sometimes referred to as "lateral flow tests," these “rapid” tests can be performed at a pharmacy, lab, doctor’s o...

I can’t believe it was 20 years ago. 20 years ago, I was a senior in college in southern New Jersey. 20 years ago, I was also a volunteer firefighter/EMT in my northern NJ hometown. 20 years ago, I woke up to go to class; it was a beautiful sunny day. 20 years ago, my girlfriend (now wife) called me from Atlanta and told me to turn on the TV. She was understandably worried as her brother was living and working in NYC. She couldn’t get in touch with him because phones weren’t working (he ended up being ok). 20 years ago, there was widespread fear and panic; many families were very worried, some received horrible news. In the following days, we saw something amazing happen: People came together like nothing I had ever seen before (or have since, other than perhaps during the early weeks of the pandemic). Residents of my hometown donated items to help the WTC workers, and within days a tractor-trailer was full. I was a firefighter/EMT at the time, and on September 15th I wen...