Issue 117.4 - Good Riddance, 2020!! by topdoctormagazine

TODAY IN MEDICINE

PRACTICE BREAKTHROUGHS

LIFESTYLE

Good Riddance, 2020!! A Review of 2020 and How Medical Practices Rose to the Challenge and Overcame and How You Can Too

LIFE, MEDICINE &

ALL THINGS HEALTH

ISSUE 117.4

CONTENTS

STRATEGIES TOP PSYCHOLOGISTS USE TO STAY SANE WHILE STUCK AT HOME

DROP-IN PRETERM BIRTHS DURING COVID HAS DOCTORS CONFUSED

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE IN A COVID 19 WARD

IN MOTION DENTISTS DR. WADE BANNER

THE YEAR OF WALL-E! THESE ROBOTS COMFORT COVID-19 PATIENTS

THE RESILIENCE OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY

REOPENING OF SCHOOLS IS IT SAFE?

EDNA HUDSON: A FRONTLINE HERO

HOW PERSONALIZED MEDICINE WILL REVOLUTIONIZE FUTURE HEALTH CARE MARKETS

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SANTA’S ELVES

MASK KILLER: THE ANSWER

JOIN OUR MARKETING SCHOOL FOR DENTISTS SO YOU WENT THROUGH MANY YEARS OF SCHOOLING AND MEDICAL INTERNSHIPS TO GET WHERE YOU ARE AND ONLY TO REALIZE NO ONE REALLY TAUGHT YOU HOW TO BUILD A SUCCESFUL PRACTICE AND ATTRACT ENVIABLE AMOUNTS OF NEW PATIENTS.

WE HAVE YOU COVERED

LET'S GROW TOGETHER

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STRATEGIES TOP PSYCHOLOGISTS USE TO STAY SANE WHILE STUCK AT HOME By Brianna Connors On rainy days, everyone knows the feeling of looking out their window to see the gloomy skies and trickling raindrops and thinking, “There’s nothing I’d rather do than stay home and curl up in my favorite cozy blanket with a cup of tea and a good book.” Sadly, stay-at-home orders and quarantines that have gone on for months longer than anyone anticipated has shattered that cozy ideal for even the most introverted of homebodies. Since mid-March, when California became the first state to declare a state of quarantine or “stay at home” order, mental health professionals have been ware of the hidden dangers of Coronavirus, and have been predicting upheaval far less tangible than the physical symptoms or economic issues caused by the pandemic.

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A group from John’s Hopkins Department of Mental Health began conducting a survey in order to grasp the enormity of the impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of American citizens. Over the course of six months, they amassed a collection of data that revealed concerning results. Participants of the survey answered questions about their mental health that allowed the researchers to compare their mental state two weeks prior to the onset of the virus, and currently. Data showed that consumption of both social media and mainstream media had increased by over 150%, and that anxiety was rising concurrently. They discovered that this fact held true for participants with a history of mental health concerns and without. Another survey conducted by Preventive Medicine asked almost ten thousand participants to share about their mental health. Data was gathered on how often contributors experienced feelings of anxiety, depression, nervousness, isolation, insomnia, and if these feelings contributed to a panic attack or other physical response. 15% of the participants reported experiencing at least two different symptoms-either anxiety, depression, loneliness, or insomnia, for three days of the week. 13% had three or more of the symptoms.

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More than a quarter of US citizens with no history of mental health struggles found their mental health to be a concern in the early days of the pandemic. Sadly, not only did these studies reveal that people have been struggling with their mental health from the early days of the pandemic, but most have not been able to pursue medical help. Many healthcare organizations have streamlined their symptoms to focus on patients with Covid-19, or have put a hold on providing services, in the name of social distancing and reducing contact. People who truly need help are unable to use normal avenues because it was unavailable, or now doctors are overwhelmed with a backlog of patients. So what can people do to stay sane while they’re stuck at home? Are there ways to boost your mental health while you wait for your counselling appointment? Absolutely. One of the biggest things causing anxiety is all the uncertainty: how long things will be like this, if normality will ever return, and if you are coming down with the virus. While it is impossible to know how long social distancing and other preventative measures will be in place, it can be extremely helpful to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of Covid19. Even the most vigilant hypochondriac can become aware of what is a true concern and what is mind over matter. Additionally, coming up with and adhering to standards that feel personally comfortable to you, regardless of what friends and family have settled on can provide peace of mind.

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Knowing where to get tested, what to do if you receive a positive diagnosis, and treatment options can also help relieve the anxiety caused by unknowns. Having a plan in place and knowing who to call can be an immense relief. Another way to safeguard your mental health is to limit the amount of time spent consuming news updates via social media or news outlets. Interacting with friends and family through social media is a great way to use the tool of social media to have a positive, helpful experience to address feelings of isolation or loneliness, but this is a far cry from passively absorbing large amounts of information and news. Finding ways to get out of the house and unwind safely is another great way to rejuvenate your mental state. Going for a hike, planning a picnic outing for you and your loved ones, or even renting a cabin somewhere is a wonderful way of getting outside your four walls and experiencing nature. He further commented that the abundance of data and diagnostic information within healthcare industries could be leveraged to provide even more statistical analysis, which will accelerate the implementation of additional precision medicine practices. Finally, if you are a person of faith, staying connected with your religious organization has proven to have a significant impact for the better. Participating in streamed services, video chat meetings, and any other avenues of continuing to be involved as best as you can is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. If none of these things are helping, do not hesitate to find a form of healthcare that is accessible for you.

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE IN A COVID 19 WARD By Catherine Bonandin Pandemic policy might not be conducive to healthy mental and emotional states, especially for those isolated in a COVID-19 ward. Before masks, social distancing, and quarantine, our society was already moving toward a screen-centric life, and away from many traditional communal routines. Noting the cell phone addiction in modern culture, Jane E Brody wrote a pre-pandemic article for the New York Times titled,

“Social Interaction is Critical for Mental and Physical Health”.

Ms. Brody likely had no idea how relevant this information would become in 2020, as COVID patients are condemned to lonely isolated experiences, sometimes left to die without the ability to say goodbye to loved ones. While there is no broad sweeping policy keeping family and friends from saying goodbye to their COVID infected beloveds, most hospitals across the globe have instituted a no-visitor policy during COVID.

No Visitor Policies Create Increased Anxiety for Patients and Family These policies extend beyond the COVID ward, and apply to the entire hospital, as I learned first hand when my mother was admitted into the emergency room at MD Anderson last month during her cancer treatment. I was left to cry in the lobby, begging to see my mother, and met with a firm and sympathetic “no”. They did allow me to drop off flowers and photos to be 05

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hand-delivered to her, but I was left feeling empty, defeated, and so very angry. I am one of the lucky ones, my mother is alive and here with us, and I have had the opportunity to hug her since she was discharged. In other instances, families are not so lucky. Dr. Sumedha Tiwari, Sr. Registrar Department of Psychiatry Rajawadi hospital is working as a psychiatrist in a COVID ward in Mumbai, India. She reports the extreme distress and anxiety experienced by individuals who are diagnosed with COVID and forced to stay isolated away from their family and friends. In one instant a couple was brought in together, and the husband did not survive. Because the wife was infected, she was unable to grieve with the support of her family, and was left to mourn in isolation. Dr. Tiwari also describes the trauma that many patients experience in the COVID ward when they witness other patients die in front of them. Not only are patients isolated, but they are experiencing added trauma in the hospital room, which can compound the level of anxiety they feel. Another Doctor in Mumbai reports watching patients beg to be released, pleading with doctors to not be “trapped” in the COVID isolation ward. She claims “one patient asked me, ‘why are we being shunned from society and being put literally behind bars’?”.

Unintended Consequence of Isolation Induced Anxiety Could we possibly be creating more death, disease and illness through these no visitor policies? If historical medical research can give us any indication, the answer might be “yes”. A 1965 study conducted in Alameda County, California, concluded that people are three times more likely to die when they lack strong social ties. One of the most interesting conclusions of this study is that people with unhealthy lifestyles who had strong social connections actually lived longer than people with healthy lifestyles who lacked social connection. In other words, our people help us to live longer.

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Another study conducted by Harvard Medical School concluded that men who have lower stress and stronger social connections were more likely to recover from a heart attack than those with high stress and isolation.

Why Mental Health is Important During a Pandemic

“With other important prognostic factors controlled for, the patients classified as being socially isolated and having a high degree of life stress had more than four times the risk of death of the men with low levels of both stress and isolation.”

In general, our mental health has a great impact on our physical health and longevity. Harvard Women’s Health Watch reports that “Dozens of studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships with family, friends and their community are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer.” Right now our society has become very focused on the physical symptoms of the COVID 19 pandemic. We have been focused on mitigating the spread of the disease through hand washing, mask wearing, and social isolation, while an unseen mental health crisis grows amongst us.

It is worth noting that Harvard Medical School has determined that…. “the life-enhancing effects of social support extend to giver as well as to receiver.” The benefits of social interaction to not only help the patient, but the family and friends who show up to support and comfort them. This means the pain and anxiety felt by the patients is going to impact their friends and family as well. I learned this the excruciatingly hard way from my first hand of experience with these policies as a visitor (mentioned above).

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If the stress and anxiety factor is not taken into consideration, the impact on our survival through this pandemic may be huge. It is time for medical practitioners and institutions to take mental health into consideration, especially for patients and their loved ones during this pandemic. For all we know, more human interaction (with COVID safety protocols in place) is the antidote we need to reach greater recovery rates.

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THE YEAR OF WALL-E! THESE ROBOTS COMFORT COVID-19 PATIENTS Help Wanted: Robot hospital workers with excellent communication skills By Michael Angel One of the many challenging side effects of COVID-19 is the isolation that hospitalized patients suffer during quarantine. Separating patients from the general public, family and staff is a necessary part of preventing further spread of the outbreak, but it comes at an emotional and psychological cost. Being separated from your loved ones is a harsh reality many have faced this year. In one hospital in Mexico City, there’s a staff worker who’s been hired specifically to help remedy the situation. Oh, and did I mention they’re a robot?

A helping hand in Mexico This robot identifies itself as LaLuchy Robotina as it travels room to room checking on COVID-19 patients. LaLuchy “moves around on wheels and has a camera and display screen enabling relatives and doctors to chat with patients or staff in full protective gear in the coronavirus ward.”

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The robot "’...helps us with the mental health of the patient,’ said Sandra Munoz, who coordinates the hospital's strategy against the virus, which has killed more than 60,000 people in Mexico.” Staff and patients alike seem to be adjusting well to the idea of using robots in the hospital environment, especially since they’re solving real problems in coronavirus wards. With an obvious aim at reducing the chances of infecting others during treatment, LaLuchy is just one example of a world-wide trend utilizing hospital robots, acting as an artificial therapist’s assistant of sorts, not just assisting the patients, but their relatives as well.

Open source, opening communication Working towards similar goals is Italian researcher and robotics professor Antonio Bicchi, who has “developed a robot called LHF-Connect.” Bicchi has accomplished this using “... an open source and affordable robot that anyone can build”. Partly based upon iRobot software libraries, LHFConnect is mobile and is controlled via remote. The robot can be connected to patient schedules, so hospital staff coordinate with the LHF-Connect’s operator who remains safely out of the range of the infected patients. This allows family and patients to communicate without any risk to staff.

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Artificial animal therapy In Texas, Sandra Peterson is integrating the use of “social” robots for a unique form of ‘pet’ therapy. As the Program Director of the University of Texas’ nursing department in addition to her own geriatric house-call practice in Dallas-Forth Worth, Peterson is able to see first hand the effect that COVID-19 has on those who are separated from loved ones throughout their illness. Petersen’s “bot of choice is Paro, an adorable, playful device from Japan that helps her patients feel less lonely.” She states: “The role of social robots like Paro is becoming more important, especially as we see this sector of our population targeted by this virus… It's built for a time such as this.”

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At $6000, Paro weighs equal to an infant, and looks like a baby seal. Invented by roboticist Takanori Shibata, the chief research scientist at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Paro may be helping Petersen’s patients, but it has also inspired some ethical hand-wringing about the role of robots in caretaking.

More human than human? In the midst of this virus outbreak, it’s a perfect scenario to work out the deeper questions of ethics and the effect on patients and society. One has to wonder if similar worries over the emotional impact of wearing masks across society are all part of a greater conversation.

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One might say that the greater question is how we are to remain human in times that require a great measure of humanity? The truth is, that we see wide-reaching evidence that humans form a very similar bond to A.I. companions like Paro as they do to pets, but Paro comes with the benefit of low maintenance that attendants tend to prefer over the real thing. Studies using Paro have even shown-short term memory improvements for Alzheimer patients in previous studies. From nursing homes to COVID-19 wards, we see the growing use of robot assistants, helping caretaking and companionship, and the common thread for now, seems to be that it is “better than nothing” but still not a substitute for a real human presence. There are numerous other digital companions entering the scene, from Japan to Israel,

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Atlanta to Mexico City, bringing the open market competition which helps lower the price and increase the range of options from seals to dogs and other artificially furry friends. It seems that we’re all being thrust into the future at a quicker pace since the coronavirus came along. This presents a good opportunity to ask ourselves whether robots as caretakers, assistants, and emotional companions are a good idea, or whether they provide a temporary gobetween while we seek ways to maintain human closeness on a safe, but more meaningful level.

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REOPENING OF SCHOOLS - IS IT SAFE? By Catherine Bonandin As society moves toward the reopening of schools and businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent government shut down, many people are left wondering if it is a safe decision. In late August of 2020 Dr. Robert Leverence of UT Health San Antonio made a media appearance claiming he was “cautiously optimistic” about schools reopening in his community. Dr. Leverence made this statement after looking specifically at the numbers of hospitalizations for COVID-19, as opposed to the new case numbers. This is because the new case numbers are dependent on how many tests are conducted, and can be impacted by small outbreaks in specific areas. When we focus on the number of people who are actually hospitalized, we can get a picture of how severe the outbreaks really are.

In late August the data models indicated that there would be a small surge of COVID-19 infections once schools reopened, but nothing overwhelming like the surge that happened over the Fourth of July, which Dr Leverence predicted the week prior in June of 2020. In fact, in Dr. Leverence has changed his opinion on the reopening of schools and businesses since the beginning of this summer, when he stated, “ I don’t think it’s going to be safe to open up for...public gatherings later this fall. But we’ll find out. We’ll find out.” And we are finding out. San Antonio schools have opened their doors to students and the data shows that there have been a total of more than 80 positive COVID-19 cases in the San Antonio school district since their reopening in August of this year, an infection rate of .05%. The data indicates that teachers and staff make up 65 of the 86 confirmed cases, which shows that staff have been more greatly impacted by COVID-19 outbreaks than students.

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Often children stay asymptomatic when they are infected with COVID-19, and not all students have returned to in-person school, which might be contributing to these statistics. Ultimately, as Dr. Leverence indicated, the infection rates are not necessarily indicative of the true spread of the virus throughout the community. Children are less likely to show symptoms of the virus, and yet can still spread the virus through a process called “shedding” for up to three weeks. This means that children can become the conduit to community spread, without showing a spike in infection rate through school statistics. With some families choosing to use distance learning options instead of in-person education, these low numbers of infection could be attributed to behavioral choices made by the families and school districts themselves. That is exactly what Dr. Leverence said would make the difference between a large or small surge when schools reopened, human choices. According to Dr. Leverence, the behaviors we engage in (avoiding large crowds, social distancing, hand washing, etc…) are going to make the greatest impact on these COVID-19 numbers, and are the only measures that will keep the spread of the virus to a lower rate. In fact, schools that rushed to reopen on the other side of the planet this summer showed the importance of these measures to stop the spread. Isreail schools reopened in May and there was not enough time given to administrators to prepare and implement new systems for all of the children. The result was mass COVID-19 outbreaks. One school alone had 197 positive cases between both students and teachers.

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At the time, the Isreali government thought it was safe to reopen due to the decline in cases in May of 2020, despite the warning of experts. Eli Waxman was the former chairman of the team advising Israel's National Security Council on the pandemic, and has stepped down from his position after the council refused to heed his warning about reopening the schools so quickly and abruptly. The experience in Israel has given us a lot to learn from. Rushing children into crowded environments where social distancing is not an option can put our entire community at risk.

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The data coming from the San Antonio schools reopening shows a more positive outcome than what happened in Israel and three weeks later, it seems Dr. Laverence’s optimism has paid off - the numbers are in alignment with his databacked predictions, but what does this mean for the reopening of schools and businesses across the nation? Right now, every state is taking a different approach, so the results are going to vary. In the words of Dr. Leverence, “We will see. We will see. “

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HOW PERSONALIZED MEDICINE WILL REVOLUTIONIZE FUTURE HEALTH CARE MARKETS BY CATHERINE BONANDIN

Technology has been rapidly reshaping the healthcare market for decades, but lately it’s become clear that the era of one-size-fits-all medicine is increasingly irrelevant in today’s customized culture. One of the fastest-growing markets in healthcare is personalized medicine, and it’s an area that investors should carefully prioritize when considering market growth for the next decade. Rapid advances in this field, also called precision medicine, because of its ability to precisely target and provide solutions for complex issues in individuals.

What is personalized medicine? Precision, or personalized medicine provides for the customization of targeted treatments in patients, by using a wide body of data and diagnostics to provide the best care for each patient as an individual. This level of consideration given to the differences in individual’s prior medical histories, genetics, and more allows people to get the correct care for their unique circumstances, without wasting time and money on generalized treatments that are not optimally effective for people with different medical histories or genetic risk factors. 15

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Personalized medicine involves and benefits a wide range of groups and industries, from patients, consumers and healthcare providers, to academic researchers, biopharmaceutical companies, and advocacy groups. While the COVID-19 situation has upended many markets in the global economy, the field of personalized medicine is one that’s absolutely thriving under these new pressures. In fact, the field of personalized medicine has great potential for developing maximally effective treatments for COVID, because they can target specific genetic markers in individuals, and offer different solutions depending on their data analysis.

This makes treatment plans more likely to be effective the first time, which saves time, money, and sometimes, the lives of our patients. The potential for precision medicine’s market growth will only increase, as the prohibitive costs of health care continue to pose challenges for both individuals and insurance payors. In the keynote speech delivered by Jöerg Michael Rupp at the Global Bio Conference this September, he remarked that the personalized medicine market has the potential to create a sustainable healthcare environment, because of how efficient it allows medical care providers to be in allocating viable resources. He further commented that the abundance of data and diagnostic information within healthcare industries could be leveraged to provide even more statistical analysis, which will accelerate the implementation of additional precision medicine practices.

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Analysis of information gathered from a variety of technology-based sources, including electronic medical records, mobile apps, and diagnostic surveys, can bring needed insights into the farreaching effects of medical decisionmaking, including opportunity costs and overall marketable value of new treatments and medications as they apply to individuals. As medical care providers work to increase the accessibility of personalized medicine, it will be necessary to collaborate with government regulators and policymakers to help implement widespread adaptation of new tools and technologies. Insurance companies and healthcare regulations must evolve and shift toward managing smaller patient populations based on their genetic profiles, and new laws and policies will need to be created that incentivize new avenues of research, to further increase the acceptance and adoption of personalized medicine technologies.

Over time, this will further accelerate the market potential for personalized medicine as the emerging gold standard in modern health care.

Why is the personalized medicine market so powerful, exactly? COVID-19 has taught us that healthcare solutions do not exist in a vacuum and that any treatment, medication, or protocol must be able to withstand the test of value in terms of its socio-economic viability. In terms of consistency, there is no single source or monitoring system to handle coronavirus testing - and digital automation would greatly streamline the process, making it more straightforward to get fast, traceable answers. Personalized medicine requires a large amount of data inputs to work efficiently, but it’s clear that applying the rigors of automation to medical data sets results in dramatically more organized and actionable results for healthcare providers to work with.

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Why is the personalized medicine market so powerful, exactly?

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Thanks to advanced analytic techniques and AI, we are gaining new insights about the ways in which not only genetics, but the biological and environmental factors which affect expression of those genetics, influence a patient's risk of illness, as well as how they respond to certain treatments. This in-depth analysis allows us to further explore the field of preventive medicine, which is critically important to the future. Additionally, personalized medicine greatly reduces the number of adverse drug reactions in patients, which is currently one of the top causes of death in the United States. Finally, applying personalized medicine technologies can unlock previously undiscovered uses for existing medicines, thereby finding new candidates for treatment. The field of personalized medicine is expanding rapidly and in diverse directions, from biotechnology to diagnostic and remote treatment advances. The market potential for personalized medicine is undeniably oriented toward exponential growth during the coming years, and is quite possibly defining the newest horizons of quality health care.

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Drop-in Preterm Births During COVID has Doctors Confused By Brianna Connors

A baffling new phenomenon is emerging in labor and delivery wards across the globe, and it’s something of a pleasant surprise to medical professionals: Since COVID-19, the premature birth rate in many countries has sharply dropped, resulting in more full-term births and fewer costly and deadly complications.

Premature birth is defined as a live delivery that happens before 37 weeks of gestation. Most common is late preterm (34-36 weeks); then mid-preterm (32-34 weeks); while births earlier than 32 weeks are considered very preterm, and those are associated with the most dangerous and deadly risks. During pregnancy, your due date is understood to be an estimate, and a fullterm birth can happen anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation. According to data from the March of Dimes, in 2018 the premature birth rate in the United States had risen to over 10% of total births, and is generally expected to continue to rise. Globally, the rate of preterm birth is about 11%, and over 1 million children under the age of 5 die annually from complications due to preterm birth.

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The impact of premature birth affects both short-term and long-term development. These challenges include breathing and swallowing issues, digestive and circulatory problems, as well as complications involving the brain, metabolism, and immune system. With such a vast collection of serious complications, there has been ample study devoted to decreasing the prevalence of preterm birth - and new insights into the phenomena of preterm birth will be of significant importance to overall public health.

However, there is still much that the medical community does not understand regarding the issue of preterm birth. The most compelling risk factors for preterm birth include intrauterine infection or medical complications of pregnancy like diabetes and hypertension. 20

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The recommendations for reducing your risk of giving birth prematurely include lowering your stress levels, eating a nourishing diet, avoiding known risk factors for infections and illness, and avoiding alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug use.

Since COVID-19 has contributed to a massive spike in global stress and fear, doctors initially expected that rates of premature birth would be on the rise--but in many areas, the opposite has held true! Interestingly, new reports from around the globe are showing rather drastic drops in premature birth rates beginning in April of this year, with independent news reports from NICUs in Canada, Australia, Ireland and Denmark, among other nations.

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In fact, one hospital crunched the numbers and found that between March and June 2020, there had been less than one-quarter the number of “extremely premature” infants born - which is a baffling and significant drop, the likes of which have not been seen during the entire twenty years prior.

Many researchers are captivated by what other factors play into the potential for causing premature birth. They are currently designing studies around various hypotheses that may lend insight into our overall understanding of preterm birth, and therefore can be more proactive in its prevention. Possible speculation is underway as to what may be influencing the preterm birth rate drop, including the increased vigilance around immune support and personal hygiene, thereby decreasing the prevalence of viral infections in expectant mothers. Another potential angle for research involves the increased incidence

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of working remotely or not working, which may lead to less stress in expectant mothers, thereby reducing their risk of premature birth. Finally, expectant mothers are being exposed to significantly lower amounts of environmental pollutants due to less burning of fossil fuels during COVID, which is improving air quality in metro areas. Air pollution is one clearly defined risk factor in preterm birth.

These and many other scenarios could potentially be co-factors in the decrease of preterm birth that many hospitals and families are currently enjoying. While the correlations between preterm birth rates and stress, environmental pollutants, and maternal infection are more clearly defined, there are many other potential contributing factors to the rate of preterm birth that are not as welldocumented.

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For example, COVID could be reducing access to addictive and toxic substances, especially illicit drugs, for the most atrisk populations. During COVID, many expectant mothers are spending more free time at home, and this may correlate with an increase in home cooking (and therefore, better nutrition in expectant mothers), or more time for personal care. Perhaps they are spending more time with family members, and less time commuting and working - and this could be a key factor in improving expectant mothers’ overall wellbeing. Other factors include a reduction - or increase - in time spent outdoors, and telemedicine instead of in-person prenatal exams. As the pandemic continues to unfold, new trends may emerge, and as lockdowns and restrictions expire, it’s possible that we may see a tragic reversal of this trend. Hopefully researchers will uncover some helpful correlations in the data so that medical care providers will be better equipped to prevent preterm birth in the future.

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In Motion Dentists Dr. Wade Banner By Brianna Connors

Introduction In the past year, we have seen the COVID-19 pandemic affect the lives of billions worldwide. Whether it was financial hardships, emotional and mental stress, physical health complications, or a combination of the listed, everyone has had to overcome crisis after crisis. But amidst this chaos, fear, and confusion, a common trend has emerged. As Bob Riley, the 52nd Governor of Alabama, said: "Hard times don't create heroes. It is during the hard times when the hero within us is revealed." At Top Doctor Magazine, we believe that these heroes are the same brave, talented, and amazingly dedicated men and women who serve in the medical community. Through this trying time, doctors, nurses, and other medical experts have become a shining beacon in this dark time. They are our modern-day heroes, and these are their stories. 23

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Introducing Dr. Wade Banner and In Motion Dentists The Founder of In Motion Dentists, Dr. Banner, is a Board-Certified Dentist who has a passion for working with elderly, disabled, and special needs populations. Originally from Idaho, he moved to California in 2010 and attended the Western University College of Dental Medicine. During his fourth year of dental school, Dr. Banner became involved with a non-profit organization that served special needs and disabled patients. He shadowed the organization’s dentist for a year before going to work with them. In this time, he realized his passion for and ability to help these unique populations, and in 2014 In Motion Dentists was created. By Operating in both Los Angeles and Orange County, Dr. Banner is able to further his passion for helping those who need house-call dentistry.

How In Motion Dentists Is Responding To The COVID-19 Pandemic During the early stages of the pandemic in March and April, In Motion Dentists limited services to emergency treatments only. Then, starting in June, Dr. Banner and his team began seeing an uptick in calls from patients desperately seeking dental services. Going back to an almost full-time workload in June, In Motion Dentists also saw a large demographic of patients coming from those who were uncomfortable going back into a traditional dental office. Answering the need for providing quality care to their patients, they were able to bring on a third doctor and two hygienists this year. Like many other doctors and medical companies came to realize, it was difficult to find enough PPE during the earlier months of the pandemic. 24

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This was true for Dr. Banner and his team. However, as time has continued and manufacturers are able to answer the demand, getting PPE is less of a concern. Dr. Banner explained that adjusting to wearing all of the PPE needed to keep patients and staff safe was not all that drastic of a change. Since many of their patients are medically compromised, they were already wearing masks, gowns, and shoe coverings for each appointment. The additional PPE and disinfecting procedures for equipment and vehicles adopted in the last several months have been received widely by both staff and patients with appreciation. Compared to most practices, Dr. Banner did not have to adjust his practice to the many unique sanitation rules, such as removing coffee makers and magazines from waiting areas. Due to their unique operating style, everything is done digitally. There is no need for physical in-office precautions. However, one important precaution that they take is asking patients, caregivers, and care-facilities if there are any COVID-19 outbreaks or sicknesses before arriving at the appointment.

"With doing house-call dentistry in general, the people that we hire have to be fluid in how they work because we're in a different situation at every appointment. ...The personalities of the people we hire are fairly easy-going and adapt well to changes," said Dr. Banner of his team. Dr. Banner and his team are doing their part to stop the spread of the virus, protecting themselves and their patients. Before, during, and after patient visits, they are physically distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands, among other precautions. However, as Dr. Banner said, there isn't much more to be done beyond these particular measures. "COVID-19 is a virus, so if it's going to get you, it's going to get you," he said. His personal opinion is that the most important 25

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thing to understand is that this virus is real, poses a threat, and is not going away anytime soon, so doing your part to mitigate the spread is extremely valuable. Dr. Banner has not seen his family since last Christmas to protect both his pregnant wife and patient population. Taking trips, flying, and being in large gatherings are unnecessary risks that he is unwilling to take. "Measures have been directed by the CDC and the government, so adherence to those measures will help the spread," he said. In Motion Dentists, with the approaching winter season, is investing in gowns, hand sanitizer, and protective equipment to keep them and their patients safe. With the approaching flu season, the pandemic presents a special opportunity for practices to reevaluate their safety protocols and be proactive in their preventative measures. For the New Year, Dr. Banner is already in the process of building a brick and mortar practice in which to see patients that want in-person dental visits. Many of the family members of In Motion Dentists’ current patients have expressed interest for this and will be among the first appointments made. Not only will having a physical practice allow In Motion Dentists to meet the needs of current patients and their family members, but it will also broaden their reach for new clientele.

Overall, Dr. Banner tries to keep his mind focused on what he can control, "My philosophy is that I worry about the things I can control and don't worry about the things I can't." This year has been hard for all of us in many ways, yet we must continue to keep our eyes on the future and the areas in our lives we control.

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THE RESILIENCE OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY Problems, Adjustments, and Our Common Well-Being

By Brianna Connors Resilience is described as the act of quickly recovering from difficulties to spring back into action. Commonly associated with the strong, the leading, and the pathfinders - at its etymological core, resilience is an action, a mindset, and a character trait. Our collective human experience highlights our medical community as one group that embodies resilience, perhaps better than many others. With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical community was thrust into a series of crises with death tolls that echoes our somber remembrance of World War One and World War Two.

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This cornerstone of our community answered the call, to brave the storm, and to take the battle head on. Of course, there were losses on the way, but the medical community never surrendered. Even though some medical practices had to close, it wasn’t the end of the fight. Through acts of resilience, these brave men and women are recovering from their difficulties and springing back into action. The face of resiliency is embodied by your friends, neighbors, and loved ones who all serve in the medical community. The recognition of resilience for all of those who were on the other side of the medical community, those afflicted and plagued by COVID-19, have remained

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The recognition of resilience for all of those who were on the other side of the medical community, those afflicted and plagued by COVID-19, have remained resilient in their pursuit of life, even to their last breath. Resilience may have been a perceived rarity before, but the fire forges of COVID-19 have tempered many into resilient, brave individuals. The medical community is united by common problems that require adjustments to concerns across common well-being. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a lack of consensus on best practices and politicking that detracts from medical communities ability to perform their duties. Despite challenges of confusion, closures and increasing demands for service, our medical professionals have faced the realities of individual patients daily. Dr Lali Sekhon “Here’s what we know, it's worse than the flu was with the deaths somewhere between WW1, WW2. We are now using the emergency room and hospital room as an emergency ward.” Dr Sehkon cautions us of the staff burnout causing concern continuing to comment on covid, “Every week the picture seems to change.”

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This lack of consistency and consensus requires medical professionals to use their training and intuition - of course these skills come with a hefty cost. Increasingly aware of the oversell with vaccines, Dr. Sehkon told TopDoctor Magazine, “(Vaccine progress is) Very encouraging that we have so many (contenders) this early and by next winter this is all behind us.” Dr. Max Zaslavsky The irregularities of COVID-19 play like a film script. Dr. Zaslavsky provides perspective on the failings of the public trust that restrict the communication of counsel from the healthcare community. He exclaimed, “Weird when there is a mask shortage and my barber is selling masks." Followed up with the strange reality that “Lysol is like a blackmarket - really tough." Dr. Zaslavsky responded to COVID through a range of adaptations that include a UV Light in his HVAC system. In navigating the onslaught of patient concerns, Dr. Zaslavsky echoed the staff shortage warnings, “Do they have covid or just the sniffles? Getting hygienists has been reality difficult down here(location).”

Lo-Wei Bruno Bruno told us, “COVID-19 has had an impact on everyone in every industry. The Infusion Center has been completely operational throughout the pandemic, but we had to make some adjustments, like extensive screening for symptoms of patients and their families.” He told us his group is “very satisfied” with the amount of protection the administration (at Hospital) has provided. Dr. John Renk began to wipe down anything his patients touch and implement screening practices - seeing one patient at a time has not changed how he runs his practice. Dr. Cesar Solano Originally from Chicago, Dr. Solano was first trained in El Salvador where his family is from. Following his return to the United States to pursue a career in dentistry, he worked his way up from humble beginnings as an assistant to the owner of a lab.

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After selling the lab and going back to school to get his dental license, Dr. Solano became an associate and is now a Clinical Director in the Fresno and San Francisco Area. Dr. Salono explained that the pandemic must be addressed in two ways. First, from the perspective of running a business, and second, from a public health standpoint. Speaking directly from his experience as a dentist, Dr. Solano was quick to agree that because of the training dentists receive in the effort to stop diseases such as AIDS or tuberculosis from spreading made adapting to COVID-19 restrictions a little easier.

“A lot of the barriers we [already] used were the same ones we still have to use,” said Dr. Solano, “We just have to put more things on top of those… For example, we have no issue wearing masks all the time.” The range of experience for the medical community is highlighted by consistencies for Oncologists and Dentists who deal with the seriousness of infection. These subtle and drastic changes in day-to-day operations comes with a consensus from these professionals to wash your hands. There was a lot of adapting to be done in the areas of how many people can be inside the offices at one time and how to bring the patients back in safely. But perhaps one of the most challenging issues that Dr. Solano and these other professionals have to overcome is ensuring enough PPE is available so the offices remain open and functional. While some doctors encourage holding out for survival to a vaccine, Dr. Renk stated, “people have a lot of mixed feelings on that(vaccine), some people are very for it and some people are extremely hesitant to get it. There is no information longterm on what it is… I feel like anything is speculation at this point, its turned into a political thing.” Dr. Renk is a Prosthodontist who specializes in mouth rehabs, incorrect cases, cancer cases, complicated reconstructions, and problems with implants.

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He told us, “Our specialty isn’t well known and the patient is often upset by the time they get to me, so it's difficult to work on patient who already upset from first one.” HIs general practice wisdom is relevant to the healthcare community today - exhausted yet encouraged, depleted yet determined, patients battle fear in the unknowns of a novel virus. Specialists like Dr. Renk have counterparts across the healthcare industry with Dr. Jason Emer background, using lasers, celebrity cosmetics} Their experience with HIV, Tuberculosis and Oncology training reinforce the seriousness of disease spread, as Dr. Emer states, "Removing the negative, like removing a mirror." Emer told us the new regulations caused a shift in his patients behavior to go to a place they trust with protective measures in place. His patients are wanting to do bigger procedures, come less often, do treatments at home, but come in every couple months for big treatments. For some, COVID has increased accessibility to treatment while others have been unable to receive treatment they so desperately need. The confusion of information throughout COVID has continued to tax the public trust. Consensus on guidelines and politics have retained a rift between ideals - especially the medical and scientific communities. The aforementioned tax is not only meta-, Dr. Sehkon told us, “Medicare planning on cutting surgeon reimbursement 15%. 50% goes to overhead and then rest goes to taxes. (There is an) inflated idea of income physicians take home. “ This reference connects with the massive amount of debt that most healthcare workers take on. Financial frustrations of healthcare workers do not receive due attention. 31

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"News used to be who, what, when, where and how, the opinion pieces now occupy the same as the reality opinions… (You) can find whatever opinion you want.” For those like Dr. Sehkon who believes we will see “the worst of (COVID) in the next couple weeks”, the Mask, Distance, Sanitize recommendations are “the cornerstone” in their professional opinions. Dr. Zaslavsky has had heavy disagreements with colleagues and friends. These professionals reflect on the shame of the medical industry that we are all in this position, that this is not a political issue and we should be ashamed that medical opinions have been put on the wayside. The arguments between elderly and comorbidity are valid, but not all of the COVID deaths are these causes. “This is a scenario where every decision made was going to be a bad one.” Dr. Sehkon The race to treat COVID contrasts our historical health experiences with an unprecedented sense of urgency. Why did we not treat HIV like COVID? Dr. Zaslavsky states, ““So close to a vaccine for this but can't figure out cancer for the last 50 years, 1bn into the vaccine but what about cancer? The intro to every zombie movie is the government vaccine… I’m being facetious, but it's weird to me we are so close with a vaccine for this and can’t figure out pancreatic cancer.” These alternative perspectives are echoed by the alternative treatments in Mountain View Hosp, where BRUNO played a pivotal role in expansion and today the Infusion Center with private rooms for blood transfusions, chemotherapy, biotherapy, antibiotics, and iron treatments, using aromatherapy and music therapy to manage chemotherapy side effects like nausea, pain and anxiety. Mountain View Hosp utilizes the first and only scalp cooling device in Nevada, offering our cancer patients a way to reduce hair loss caused by chemotherapy. TopDoctor magazine celebrates Bruno’s wisdom, 32

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“So many times patients complain about the wait times for a doctor’s visit, if they are at home waiting for a facetime conference with the doctor, it is much less stressful as well as safer. Telemedicine is a great tool that is often used in the clinic setting and in many of our outpatient clinics, such as primary care and cardiology. However, within the hospital, options for telemedicine in our setting, and the ER setting, are limited.”. Accessibility for patients unable to see a doctor has caused delays where medical providers offer preventive solutions. For Dr. Emer and his cosmetic patients, there is less “embarrassment” and ability to see dark circles and angles through a different lens. For dentistry, Dr. Renk states dentists have to be hands on while remote examination technology is being designed for dentists to use without patients coming in… “I dont think thats possible because a lot of things are tactile in dentistry - you have to look in person for at least what I’m doing.” Dr. Emer’s specialty surgery requires serious consideration as he creatively applies his skill to return smiling structure. Healthcare professionals come from all walks of life, but their dedication and service render a humble entry point for their character to maintain throughout their careers. BRUNO The response-ability of our resilient medical community have been prepared for these challenges through their discipline, training and research. Dr. Renk cautions,

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"Because of how much debt people get into for dental school and residence… expecting to make more, but if you get taxed on it, then you pay such a high level of student loans back. It does create a lot of issues. People don't understand how much it takes to do what we are doing. Not just being a doctor or business owner but going into debt.” ZASLAVSKY “I’m living my life but if you’ve driven in south florida people in south florida are pretty crazy also, could be my last day on I-95, I’m wearing my seatbelt when I’m driving and wearing PPE when working on a patient”

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BRUNO: There is a certain amount of fatigue that everyone is feeling, being masked all day, and constant meticulous hand washing, and not seeing an end to this any time soon. " I can only speak in medical terms and saving lives is the priority, and I will do my part to help ease human suffering"

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Edna Hudson: A Frontline Hero By Brianna Connors Edna Hudson grew up in the small town of Orange Bend near Leesburg, Florida, where she now lives and works. Graduating in 1982 from nursing school, Edna has thirty-eight years of experience and is currently a charge nurse at the Ambulatory Surgery Unit of Leesburg Regional Medical Center.

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Becoming a single mother at the age of 24 when her husband passed away, Edna’s two sons are now in their forties and following in her shoes. Willie Hudson is a nurse practitioner and works for a neurologist, and Tremaine Hudson, a registered nurse, is working at a rehabilitation facility.“I never said, get into nursing. I never encouraged one way or another. I just let them do what they wanted to do, and it’s amazing how they have centered their life around the medical field because never did I say go into the medical field, but for some reason, they decided to go that way,” said Edna.

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Edna shared with Top Doctor Magazine that her five-year goal is to open a private clinic together in the Leesburg area with her sons, daughter-in-law Sonia, a medical staff credentialing specialist, and soon to be daughter-in-law Lajuana, a doctorate nurse practitioner. Speaking about her school experience, Edna shared that she was going through earning her two-year degree right after the loss of her husband. Even though it was tough being a single parent and going to school at the time, she recognized the blessing of not having to work, parent, and study all at once because her husband left her financially prepared to go to school. Through school, Edna admits that it was a lot of touch and go, of wondering if she passed and could move on to the next class. 36

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Where one student might spend four hours studying, she would need closer to eight.But thanks to teachers who were attuned to her needs and her desire to succeed, Edna graduated with a two-year degree and returned several years later to earn her Bachelors of Nursing.

“It took a lot for me, but once I got it, I got it. I had an anatomy and physiology teacher who told me that basically, some people get it easy, but for some people, it comes more difficult. You just have to stick with it. And, of course, I was able to.”

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When asked what drew her to becoming a nurse, Edna explained that it is a lifelong goal. At the age of eight or nine, she remembers watching nurses running around in their white hats and uniforms, thinking, “I want to be that when I grow up.” And, 38 years later, nursing is still a passion and joy in Edna’s life. “[Nursing] is a career that I have grown to really love and is one of the things I most value and treasure. Never in my 38 years of working have I ever said I hate going into work today, and that’s how I know it’s my passion. There is nothing bad I could say about what I do because I love it so much.” In the past year, Edna has seen drastic changes in the healthcare industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While these changes have been quickly adapted to by the professionals on the medical frontlines, there are potential impacts that could affect healthcare for the foreseeable future if not adequately addressed. A survivor of the Coronavirus herself, Edna believes that one of the biggest concerns facing the medical community is an impending shortage of nurses.

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“I think there will be a severe shortage of nurses because a lot of the hospital personnel I see are getting out of the field. It’s the fatigue that nurses are facing. They’re thinking if I could do anything besides this, I’m going to get out of it.” In her management role at the Leesburg Regional Medical Center, Edna has talked to nurses all over the hospital and found a common complaint. They talk about the shortage of personnel, the extreme fatigue they’re working under, and the unknowns that COVID-19 presents. For many, it’s a juggling act of monitoring patients to provide the best possible care, trying to figure out how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, or being the sole financial provider for their families. Working on the frontlines, Edna advises that the best way for nurses and other medical personnel to protect themselves and stave off a shortage of staff is to take care of themselves - this applies to physical, mental, and emotional health.

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“I think we have to take care of ourselves physically; mentally, we have to give ourselves a check-up and make sure we stay strong. We comfort others all day every day, but no one takes the time to console themselves.” Amid this year’s pandemic, one of the significant changes seen in the healthcare industry is the advancement of Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) services. For many, these digital platforms were the only way to check in with their patients or were a much-needed means of protecting vulnerable populations against the spread of COVID-19. A supporter of RPM and Telehealth services, Edna believes that it will be a saving grace for patients, families, and the country as a whole.

“It’s state of the art technology to make sure we keep everyone safe, including medical professionals.” Through Telehealth, it is possible to protect the patient and their family as well. Unnecessary exposure to the Coronavirus or other illnesses is limited, while those in need of medical attention are still getting an actual assessment complete with visualization, questions and answers, and education, all from the comfort of one’s home. This is especially important for the older demographics of patients who might be in a higher risk category. In her own mother's case, Edna has found that RPM's monitoring capabilities make physical doctor visits easier and help avoid unnecessary medication. Suffering from severe white coat syndrome, Edna’s mother can experience extremely high blood pressure when in her doctor’s office.

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However, because Edna monitors her blood pressure at home throughout the week and establishes a baseline, she can inform the doctor of the actual blood pressure readings. This is just one of the many helpful monitoring tools RPM gives to patients and doctors. Because of these benefits and more, Edna is an investor for TopDocRX, an RPM company headquartered in Las Vegas, and will be utilizing Telehealth in the private practice she intends to open with her sons.

“It [TopDocRX] is very innovative and very state of the art. I’m so glad to be part of a leading company with Telehealth and RPM. I know that all my patients that come in contact with it are benefiting.” It was a privilege to speak with Edna Hudson about her life and what she sees on the medical community's frontlines. Having spoken with many of those who have dedicated their lives to helping others, it is apparent that she has a real heart for her patients and the nursing profession. In closing, she asked me to include one of the mantras by which she lives her life and career.

“Duty is a matter of the mind. Commitment is a matter of the heart.”

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Exclusive Interview with Santa’s Elves How Santa and his elves are handling

COVID-19 and still delivering presents this year

By Lillian Myers As this year has seen the rise of COVID-19 worldwide, we may all be feeling a little discouraged about the holiday season. Christmas may be looking a lot different from previous years, traditions may have to be altered, and overall we may be feeling anxious about how we will be able to celebrate during this pandemic. However, the most important question is: will Santa Claus still be delivering presents around the globe? Because this question has been circling within the minds of everyone age one to ninety-two, we decided to take it upon ourselves to hold an exclusive interview with one of Santa’s top-level Elves. Dingle the Elf has been working with Santa ever since he became old enough to apprentice for the toymakers. Years later, he has advanced through the ranks and now finds himself at the head of a medical task force put together specifically for navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us as we dive into exactly how Santa is going to be keeping himself and the world safe this Christmas. Lillian: Welcome, Dingle! It’s so great having you here on Zoom to answer a few important questions regarding this holiday season! Dingle: Thank you for having me; it’s a pleasure being here! Lillian: Tell me, where is Santa in the process of getting ready for the big night? 41

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Dingle: We have reached the point in the year where everything is running at full speed. Letters are coming in each day from all over the world, and the elves are busy creating those presents. This continues right up to the second Santa leaves on the night of Christmas Eve. Fueled by hot cocoa and candy canes, many elves are working extremely long days and nights. However, it is our pride and joy to bring Christmas to so many families, which is why we never mind working overtime. Lillian: This year is, unfortunately, looking a bit different because of COVID-19. How are you and the other elves keeping safe and still getting the job done? Dingle: Fortunately, here at the North Pole, the number of Coronavirus cases is nonexistent because we have no interaction with the outside world except Santa’s famous ride and the occasional zoom call to anonymous parties. Even so, we have built several extra warehouses in order to spread out and keep ourselves distanced. Santa created a special board of health supervisors that I have the pleasure of being part of, and we are taking every precaution possible. We have designed a special hand sanitizer using spearmint and stardust with an icicle base that has been incredibly successful in keeping away any extra germs. There has even been a special mixture made for dusting on the packages right before delivery. All in all, we are extremely confident in the measures we have taken to keep everyone safe. Lillian: That’s wonderful! Congratulations on creating such a successful way of keeping the germs at bay. Is there any talk up in the North Pole of a vaccine being used or developed? Dingle: The board of health supervisors has actually developed a medicinally charged hot chocolate that Santa will be taking during his sleigh ride. While he is immune to such human viruses, we are not taking any chances with such a big event. This hot chocolate contains spearmint and stardust as well, which both seem extraordinary when it comes to boosting the immune system and killing off bacteria.

Lillian: I’m so glad to hear that Santa is taking such vital precautions. Does your board have any concerns at all for the night of Christmas Eve? What are some words of comfort you can give to those who fear that Santa might not make it to their house this year?

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Dingle: All I have to say is not to worry. We’ve considered everything and planned for every variable. The biggest problem we imagine is that many letters to Santa will be coming in late due to how backed up the mail system is, which is why we will have elves working on Christmas Eve to create and send expedited packages to Santa’s sleigh via delivery reindeer all the way up to the very last second before Christmas morning. As for COVID-19, we have sanitized all the packages and included other confidential safety measures installed directly on the sleigh to keep Santa and all the presents 100% COVID-19 free. We are prepared, and no one should worry about having to cancel Christmas. Santa will be coming just like every year before. Lillian: I know for many, both young and old, that is incredibly reassuring to hear. Is there anything you would like to say in closing to all of those out there struggling with the effects of this global pandemic? Dingle: All I can think of is, the hope we feel around Christmas does not have to be just a seasonal hope. Keeping the spirit of Christmas in our hearts the whole year round is critical, especially after such a hard year. That lasting hope is found in Jesus Christ, who is the very reason we celebrate Christmas. He was born in a manger and died for our sins so that we can have eternal life through him. The world might seem dark, but Jesus is the light that shines brighter. We will get through this together and come out on the other side stronger than ever. Oh, and you had better be good for goodness sakes. Lillian: Wonderful; thank you so much for your time! Dingle: Not a problem; it was my pleasure. Merry Christmas!

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12 WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS DURING COVID Make your safety a priority 1

ATTEND A SOCIALLY DISTANCED OUTSIDE EVENT

HOST A PICNIC Outdoor gatherings are considered to be lower risk than indoor gatherings, especially if social distancing is observed and masks are worn. For

Check your town's newspaper or website to find a

this reason, many families are considering moving

list of local holiday happenings. You might be able

their holiday meals outside.

to visit an outdoor Christmas tree or holiday market.

SCHEDULE A HOLIDAY MOVIE WATCH PARTY

PUT TOGETHER A HOLIDAY PUZZLE. Doing a puzzle is a relaxing way to spend

Watching a movie is the perfect way to spend the

Christmas day or night. While you work, be sure to

time between presents and dinner, or to unwind

set the mood with a fire or candle.

after the festivities end.

HAVE A HOLIDAY RECIPE PARTY VIA ZOOM

MAKE MASKS You can make these cute masks out of paper plates for a fun craft. And when you're done, you can use

For a lot of families, cooking together is a

them to take photo booth-style pictures to

cherished holiday tradition. Thanks to video

commemorate the holiday.

communication apps, that can still happen this year.

Just because you can't get together in person

BUNDLE UP, GRAB A THERMOS OF HOT TEA OR COFFEE, AND GO FOR A WALK

doesn't mean you can't see your friends and family

The winter season doesn’t have to mean outdoor

on Christmas. Send everyone a Zoom link and host

get-togethers end. If you live near your family, this

your party online. Make sure you've got a few

is a relatively safe way to spend time with them in

games and conversation starters ready too.

person. Put on your hat, gloves, and coat and head

HOST A VIRTUAL PARTY

outside for some fresh air. Just make sure to stay six feet apart.

TRY A GIFT EXCHANGE. You can use websites to draw names, Secret Santa

style. Send gifts leading up to the holidays and open them together on camera. Leave clues in

DECORATE AS FESTIVELY AS POSSIBLE You're going to spend a lot of time at home this

each package as to who you are, but don’t put a

holiday season, so you might as well make your

return address on them. See how many gifts it

space the winter wonderland of your dreams. Set a

takes to guess who the gifter is!

budget and pick up some new decorations or open your craft bin and make some DIY ones.

SING KARAOKE You don't need to be a musical family or friend group to have fun belting out holiday tunes during

BAKE TREATS FOR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS

Christmas karaoke. Take this game up a notch by

Bake your favorite muffins, breads or scones and

investing in a karaoke mic.

deliver them to neighbors and area friends. Guaranteed to give you a sense of holiday cheer!

www.topdoctormagazine.com

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MASK KILLER: THE ANSWER By: Justin Miller Now is the best time to get serious about your health. With the continuing rise of COVID-19 cases, it is imperative not only for yourself but also for your neighbors to learn what your fever number is. By identifying your fever number, you are in control of your health and can help to control the spread of infectious diseases. Medical professionals nationwide already recognize the importance of a low-grade fever. Where the problem lies, is the realization that the general public does not yet understand the need for temperature monitoring and the importance of a low-grade fever. This is why Bob Kocher of Ideal Innovations Inc. and his team have been trying to raise awareness concerning the issue (i.e., What’s Your Fever Number). It is recommended that you purchase a thermometer that you can use to track your daily temperature. The easiest way to do this is to take your temperature each morning and record the results on a notepad or device. 44

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What you must understand is that your average temperature is not the same as everyone else and is influenced by multiple factors. Such factors include age, weight, pre-existing conditions, and overall health. With this in mind, you can monitor your average temperature and respond proactively when a variation arises.

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If you find that your temperature is naturally 97.5 degrees and wake up one morning with a temperature of 99 degrees, you would know that your body is fighting something because you are actively monitoring your temperature. During the pandemic, this would be an indicator that you need to get tested and quarantine. Often, rapid COVID-19 tests give false negatives before false positives. This is why quarantining with a temperature of 99 is imperative regardless of the test results, even if your temperature is below the national fever average of 100.4. By quarantining with a temperature lower than the national fever average, you are being proactive in slowing the spread of COVID-19. However, the importance of temperature monitoring goes beyond the pandemic. Temperature monitoring is a lifelong beneficial practice that has the potential to become the most important habit of your life. Your temperature is an indispensable tool of your body. When you are ill, a fever is one of the few ways your body can warn you that something is wrong. However, your body cannot inform you of something if you are not looking to be informed. If you choose to ignore the warning signs, an illness will not simply go away. By ignoring your temperature, you are increasing the risk of becoming a carrier and spreader. Slowing the spread of infectious diseases is a group effort. If you want to see change, be the change that you want to see. Global results are only within the realm of possibility, depending on how proactive you are. This works directly into how monitoring your temperature protects your neighbor, just as much as it protects you.

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Slowing the spread of infectious diseases is a group effort. If you want to see change, be the change that you want to see. Global results are only within the realm of possibility, depending on how proactive you are. This works directly into how monitoring your temperature protects your neighbor, just as much as it protects you. As we have already covered, monitoring your temperature daily is an active preventative measure against the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Unfortunately, temperature monitoring is only useful if everyone participates. Active monitoring could eliminate the need for masks and governor mandates. If those who feel ill and have a fever immediately get tested and quarantine, they will not be spreading the virus. This would provide an opportunity for those who have a normal temperature not to need masks or to stay at home. Although, all of this revolves around a group-effort-system of getting tested and quarantining when presenting a temperature of 99 degrees or higher.

Ultimately, the future is in your hands. If you want quarantines to end, promote thermometers, and if you want an end to mask mandates, advocate for temperature monitoring. Because, as long as low-grade fevers are being ignored, there will continue to be an influx of infections. Masks don’t seem to be working to stop the spread of COVID-19, albeit they provide some protection. However, what if a simple thermometer could be the one thing that changes the course of this pandemic? So, pick up a thermometer, start a new habit, encourage your friends to join you, and watch how you impact the world for the better.

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A Word from the Editors Top Doctor Magazine is a magazine from doctors for doctors and patients. We cover everything from cutting edge medical techniques and procedures to enterprising doctors, dentists, surgeon, naturopaths, chiropaths, orthodontists and more who are thought leaders within their own medical practice and changing the way we all experience medicine for the better. We wish to be your one-stop digest for inspiration by other professionals in your field who are making waves and setting trends and if you too are a trend-setter, reach out to us so that we can interview you for your own spotlight within an upcoming Top Doctor Magazine issue!

Brianna Connors

Justin Miller

Derek Archer

Bio

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