I am humbled this week at the care we have been able to provide to our communities in need as we remain open to emergencies during this crucial time. We are accepting every patient with an emergency that calls or knocks on our door.
I hear repeatedly from patients that they are struggling to find any open dental practice in our area, and can hear the relief in their voices when we tell them we can see them right away.
On Tuesday at ADC Clearwater, we started the day with three emergency patients scheduled – two with broken teeth and one who had fallen on her face and came in with a black eye and broken anterior teeth. We were happy to treat each of these patients with same day care, but before we knew it the phone was ringing off the hook with patients in pain.
As these patients began rolling into the office, I saw them in tears, rocking back and forth in the waiting room in agony — I provided Motrin tablets and water as they waited, and helped turn over rooms and seat patients. Dr. Emily Relkin and her assistant, Kim Ross, worked quickly and efficiently to help every patient I put on their schedule – back to back, they worked through their lunch without complaint.
After our fourth or fifth emergency checked out, thanking us profusely for being here, I felt myself become slightly emotional at the impact our teams that are still out there working and providing care are making on our patients’ lives.
In these hopeless times, we are staying focused and energized knowing we are doing our part to serve our communities.
We know we are not alone working tirelessly right now, and want to thank all of you that are still open and seeing patients — we are all comrades in this together!
