An Ounce of Prevention

Noted American statesman, scientist, and inventor, Benjamin Franklin, once stated that, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It is a metaphor not lost on James Lin, DO, Geriatric Medicine Specialist and President of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Institute for Successful Aging, who, in the early days of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, made the difficult, but prudent, decision to lockdown the LECOM long-term care facilities to outside visitors. His decision, though seemingly controversial as reported by local media, was, in fact, prescient and necessarily protective of the residents. Though other care homes across the state and nation were ravaged by the virus, the LECOM Senior Living Center, the LECOM Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and LECOM at Village Square remained insulated. Dr. Lin made the call to close the doors to protect the residents with the care, compassion, and competency that is the hallmark of LECOM.

It seems that James Lin, DO, has lived by that hallmark. His is a life committed to worthy accomplishment, a testament to action, to objective, to purpose. Dr. Lin’s objective has been to empower the aging population to live vigorous, medication-free lives through natural osteopathic care and healthful lifestyles.

Indeed, Dr. Lin is known for providing the full continuum of care for geriatric patients. He serves as President of the LECOM Institute for Successful Aging, the leading academic center of excellence providing education, research, and clinical services throughout the region.

As a graduate of LECOM and specialist of Internal and Geriatric Medicine, Dr. Lin finds the purpose of his calling in working with the increasingly older populace of Pennsylvania and as such, he has been instrumental in the advancement of geriatric medicine.

Known for providing appropriate, compassionate, and effective patient-centered care for the treatment of health problems and with a view toward the promotion of health, Dr. Lin’s motivation to close the centers to visitors was “to protect the most vulnerable and to be ahead of the game.” The March 10, 2020 temporary visitor ban ensured that the beloved residents of the facilities were safe from the virus that so devastatingly affected seniors.

Dr. Lin was well ahead of the developing onslaught of disease long before the situation devolved. He had equipped the senior centers with N95 masks, knowing their superior quality and that they would become scarce as the events worsened. He led and participated in educational community seminars to inform Erie County citizens about proper protocols and procedures to protect themselves against Coronavirus. Dr. Lin's comprehensive Coronavirus preparedness plan included his rapid creation of several well-conceived educational videos that were made available to the public and to the senior centers informing them about the virus and the best ways to stay healthy and safe from infection.

Moving through the developing early stages of the pandemic, Dr. Lin prepared the facilities under his auspices as would a skilled general, leading those in his charge to safety. Having been in Taiwan during the SARS outbreak in 2003 to care for his ailing father, Dr. Lin was very familiar with rapidly moving viruses; and the Coronavirus flagged his attention early on. He was instrumental in creating a dedicated unit to respond to Coronavirus. The Command Center was the coordination point for employees and patients as the unit addressed community preparedness, supply inventory, and public education. The fully dedicated unit remains able to accommodate post-acute care patients from area hospitals.

The stand-alone wing with its separate entrance for new admissions houses an initial screening station, complete with a thermalimaging camera for checking the temperature of incoming patients and staff as well as a station supplied with personal protective equipment for staff to don before they enter the unit. A highly effective negative pressure air-handling system ensures safeguards regarding disease transmission.

In addition to temporarily banning visitors to the centers, LECOM Health skilled-nursing facilities also restricted any unnecessary vendors and required vendors to wear face masks while on-site. Residents were requested to wash and sanitize their hands frequently and they were issued face masks to wear if they so desired.

The sound decision made by Dr. Lin to protect those in his care demonstrated that he places the health and wellbeing of those in his charge above all else.

Dr. Lin receives from the people that he serves and from the community that he cherishes the sacred trust of the eldest of its inhabitants. There is no greater testament to a man’s purpose and no greater tribute to a doctor’s calling.