Watermark Urgent Care saw a slowdown in patients this week, an encouraging sign of people are sheltering-in-place for non-acute issues. This is consistent with what other hospitals and clinics in the area are experiencing, and yet we are still preparing to see larger volumes of patients in the coming weeks. We are pursuing telehealth medicine, which would allow us to speak with patients over the phone or through live videos to reduce physical interactions. This will hopefully contribute to a longer-term solution for tackling COVID-19.
We’ve been encouraged that while our patient volume has slowed down, spiritual care has not. Patients have been very receptive to the gospel throughout the past couple of weeks. This week, we’ve had multiple people choose to start a relationship with Christ in our building. This is the very reason we are open! Continue to pray that patients would come to see the goodness of God as we seek to meet both their physical and spiritual needs.
Our staff team is doing well, and we are incredibly grateful for how Watermark members have supported us, our volunteers, and patients. The meals that have been provided have been such a gift. These meals have really met a felt need, considering most of our staff works long hours, and grocery stores and restaurants are closed by the time their shifts end.
Thank you to everyone who has donated personal protective equipment. We are so grateful for all that has already been donated and are still in need for more. Not only are these donations for our clinics, but they will also allow us to serve other healthcare facilities in the area.
Additionally, over the past two weeks we have seen the body show up in a big way by donating items for patient families, including many items for families that are looking for shelter-in-place activities. Multiple patients have walked away with tears in their eyes this week, grateful for the quarantine kits we’ve been giving out. Not only are they getting medical care and spiritual counsel, but they are leaving with a tangible reminder that the God’s people love them!
Continue to stay up to date on what is happening at our clinics by following their Facebook or Instagram pages. The Watermark Health website is also useful for major updates.
Meanwhile, you can also help our clinics in their fantastic mission! Below are a handful of ways the Watermark family can serve our clinics’ staff and volunteers, as well as others you know “on the front lines” of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Share Your Masks with Watermark Urgent Care
One of the most pressing needs at our clinic is N95 Respirator masks. Due to the general public buying many of these masks, there is a shortage for those who need them most. In the event of the virus becoming widespread, healthcare professionals will face extreme risk. Watermark Urgent Care will also be at risk of closing its doors entirely, if our clinics are not able to adequately protect staff and volunteers with these masks.
Likewise, traditional surgical masks are highly needed as well. If you have any unopened boxes of N95 Respirators or surgical masks, please consider donating them to Watermark Urgent Care this week. You can deliver them to Watermark in blue bins in the West Tower lobby. If our clinics receive more masks than they need, they will share them with area ICUs and ERs.
Serve Health Care Professionals
Healthcare professionals – doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants, and many others – have spent numerous hours caring for the sick in their jobs. But then some of these professionals have spent their off hours serving in similar ways at our clinics!
Perhaps someone in your community group or a friend already serves with Watermark Urgent Care (staff or volunteer). You also likely know neighbors, friends, or family involved in healthcare professions. These people are serving our community in a special way during this time.
So please consider how you might help clinic volunteers and/or healthcare professionals in ways that allow them to work more or take additional rest. Here are a few ideas:
- Send this article written by our Watermark Health team to a medical professional in your life. It will show you appreciation as they serve in this difficult season.
- Bring a meal to their house or to our Skillman clinic (New opportunities for meals or snacks at our clinics can be found at this link: Skillman Clinic)
- Take care of yardwork or other home needs
- Offer to babysit – especially if you know their children will be home unexpectedly due to school closures
- Help with education of kids
- Send notes of encouragement
- Discover other specific needs and meet them creatively!
We would love to provide clinic volunteers and staff some tangible encouragement, as well. An Amazon wish list has been set up, or you can bring the following items to the Watermark Dallas West Tower reception area:
- Instant coffee
- Protein bars
- $5-$10 Starbucks gift card
- Nice pens
- Notes of encouragement, thanking them for what they are doing
Any or all of these are useful to us. Please bring them to the blue bins in the lobby of the West Tower at Watermark Dallas between 9AM and 2PM.
Continue Donating Items to Help Patients
Many of our patients cannot afford or access basic necessities. You can continue to help by providing these medical essentials, either through the Amazon wish list or donating at Watermark:
- New digital, oral thermometers
- Small, unopened packs of tissues
- Small, unopened bottles of hand sanitizer
All items will be collected in blue bins in the lobby of the West Tower at Watermark Dallas. Please bring items between 9AM and 2PM.
Help Us Keep Reaching the Most Vulnerable
We still want to be thoughtful not to overload the health system unnecessarily, whether that is at Watermark Urgent Care, your doctor’s office, or local hospitals. If you are feeling sick, the Watermark Health team suggests using a questionnaire like the one from our friends at Medical City before assuming it might be COVID-19. Watermark Urgent Care has also provided some helpful resources to help discern if an office visit or staying at home will be your best next step.
If you want to stay in the loop and receive medical information regarding COVID-19, you can find our email sign-up on Watermark Urgent Care’s home page or follow Watermark Health on social media.