ON THIS EPISODE OF "CYCLE OF HEALTH..." COVID-19, WHERE ARE WE NOW?

WE ASKED YOU, THE VIEWERS, WHAT YOU WANTED TO ASK OUR EXPERTS ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF COVID-19.

JOIN US AS WE ASK YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT VACCINES, VARIANTS, LONG COVID AND MUCH MORE.

TAPED IN FRONT OF A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE, THIS IS ONE YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS, COMING UP ON THE SEASON PREMIER OF "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

NURSING IS THE HARDEST JOB I'VE EVER HAD.

THOSE DAYS WHEN THINGS ARE JUST CRAZY, BUT THIS IS THE BEAST OF THE JOB AND YOU LOVE IT.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT BEING HERE THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER HOSPITAL.

>> AND HERE AT ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTH, YOU HAVE A VOICE AND YOU ARE INVOLVED IN EVERY DECISION MADE AT THE BED SIDE.

>> ST. JOE'S NURSES ARE DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER NURSE.

THEY JUST ARE.

GIVE IT UP FOR THE HOST OF "CYCLE OF HEALTH," Dr. RICH O'NEILL!

[ APPLAUSE ] HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE SEASON 14 PREMIERE OF CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M DOCTOR RICH O'NEILL.

AS YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED, TONIGHT'S SHOW IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE!

A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO OUR AUDIENCE FOR COMING TONIGHT!

ANOTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS CONSULT WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN FOR PERSONAL MEDICAL ADVICE.

TONIGHT'S SHOW IS MEANT TO BE INFORMATIVE, BUT EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT, SO PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR SPECIFIC ADVICE.

NOW, IT'S BEEN OVER TWO YEARS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, AND WE'VE BEEN INUNDATED WITH AN EVER-CHANGING CYCLE OF INFORMATION.

LIKE THE TERMS “SOCIAL DISTANCING, ” “COMMUNITY SPREAD ”" AND “FLATTENING THE CURVE ” FEELS LIKE AGES AGO THAT THOSE WORDS BECAME PART OF OUR EVERYDAY CONVERSATION.

THE HARSH REALITY IS, WE ARE STILL VERY MUCH IN THIS PANDEMIC, EVEN AS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND MASK MANDATES LOOSEN, AND A NEW WAY OF LIFE EMERGES.

SO, HERE'S HOW TONIGHT WILL WORK.

WE'VE ASKED YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, TO SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT “WHERE WE ARE NOW ” WITH COVID-19.

WE WILL SHARE THOSE QUESTIONS WITH OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS WHO WILL TELL US WHAT THEY THINK.

AND, AT THE END, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO OUR IN-STUDIO AUDIENCE TO ASK QUESTIONS AS WELL.

NOW, LET'S MEET OUR EXPERTS!

ALL FOUR PRACTICE DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES JUST UP THE ROAD AT ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTH, THEY ARE: DR. PHILIP FALCONE, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, DR. SARAH MARSH, PEDIATRICIAN, DR. RUSSEL SILVERMAN, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL CARDIOLOGY AND MS. STEPHANIE S. JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE RESOURCES THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

BEFORE WE BEGIN WITH THE QUESTIONS FROM OUR AUDIENCE, I HAVE A QUESTION, WHICH IS FOR YOU Dr. FALCONE, WHAT DOES A CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER DO DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT HAS BEEN DIFFERENT THAN OTHER TIMES?

>> SO I OVERSEE THE MEDICAL CARE THAT IS PROVIDED AT ST. JOE'S BY OUR NURSES, PHYSICIANS AND CLINICAL STAFF.

CERTAINLY THE PANDEMIC CHANGED THAT DRAMATICALLY.

WE WERE SUDDENLY THRUST INTO A DAYS SITUATION WHERE WE WERE TAKING CARE OF A DISEASE NONE OF US HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE.

THAT'S WHY IT WAS CALLED THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS.

IT WAS BRAND NEW, NEVER IDENTIFIED IN THE PAST AND SOMETHING WE WERE TREATING DAY TO DAY, NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WE WERE UP AGAINST.

IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM THE PAST WHERE MANY OF THE DISEASES THAT WE WERE TAKING CARE OF THAT WE WERE FULLY AWARE OF AND COMFORTABLE TAKING CARE OF.

THIS WAS A DIFFERENCE SITUATION AND WE WERE ON THE FLY MAKING DECISIONS TRYING TO TAKE THE BEST CARE OF OUR PATIENTS THAT WE COULD WITH LIMITED INFORMATION AND I THINK THAT WAS DISCONCERTING TO SAY THE LEAST FOR A LOT OF OUR PHYSICIANS.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE KNOWLEDGE OR TOOLS THAT THEY NEEDED TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF OUR PATIENTS.

>> DIDN'T LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT THIS IN MEDICAL SCHOOL.

THIS WAS A NEWBIE.

GLILT IS A TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASE WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF OVER THE YEARS BUT THIS WAS A BRAND NEW ONE THAT WE HAD VERY LITTLE INFORMATION TO GO ON SO IT WAS A STRUGGLE.

>> SO Ms. JOHNSON, AS THE DIRECTOR OF QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE RESOURCES, WHAT WAS YOUR-- WHAT IS YOUR ROLE DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> SO NORMALLY MY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE OVERSEEING OUR ADHERENCE TO STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS; ALONG WITH INFECTION CONTROL STANDARDS AND RISK MANAGEMENT ISSUES, IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO OPERATIONALIZE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CARE DELIVERED AT THE ORGANIZATION.

>> BY THESE FOLKS, DOWN THE LINE ON THE FLOOR, YOU ARE TELLING THEM HEY, LET'S DO THIS, YEAH?

>> RIGHT.

SO DURING THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES SORT OF SHIFTED TO BE COVID FOCUSED AND WAS WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH Dr. FALCONE, WITH OUR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM, FOCUSED ON SAFETY AND REALLY JUST RECEIVING ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS COMING FROM THE CDC, THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.

AND REALLY WORKED TOGETHER WITH AN INTERDISCIPLINARY GROUP TO DIGEST THAT INFORMATION AND DEVELOP A PLAN FOR WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AT ST. JOSEPH'S AND HOW DO WE MAKE THAT PART OF OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES?

>> TO OUR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE, FROM THE PUBLIC.

SOMEBODY WANTED TO KNOW, I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T OR WON'T GET COVID.

IS THAT TRUE?

AND IF SO, WHY?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT IS NECESSARILY TRUE.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THEY HAVE IT.

THAT, I THINK, HAS COME UP IN THE PAST.

PEOPLE MAY BE ASYMPTOMATIC AND YET HAVE GOTTEN INFECTED.

SO THEY MAY NOT ACTUALLY DEVELOP A LOT OF SYMPTOMS BUT THEY MAY IN FACT HAVE GOTTEN INFECTED.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS NECESSARILY TRUE BUT I THINK SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE VERY MILD CASES AND MAY NOT SEEM TO BE VERY SICK SO THAT COULD COME OFF AS NOT HAVING GOTTEN IT AT ALL BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT'S TRUE.

>> CERTAINLY NO ONE IS BORN WITH IMMUNITY TO ANYTHING.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW,LIKE WITH ALL THE TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASES, SOME ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE THAN OTHERS.

IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.

THE OLD AND THE YOUNG.

WE HAD TO FIGURE THIS OUT ON THE FLY.

IT SEEMED TO AFFECT OLDER PEOPLE MORE THAN YOUNGER PEOPLE, DO THE YOUNGER PEOPLE NOT GET IT OR ARE THEY SPREADING IT AROUND?

WE HAVEN'T APESSED THIS ENTIRELY BUT WITH THE VACCINE DEVELOPMENT AND WITH ALL OF US GETTING USED TO THE IDEA OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WASHING OUR HANDS AND WEARING MASKS, THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THIS.

>> SO MISS JOHNSON, THIS MAY PERTAIN TO YOUR SPECIALTY, WEARING MASKS.

IS, AT THIS POINT, EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, SHOULD YOU WEAR A MASK IN CROWDED PLACES AND WHAT ABOUT STAFF IN THE HOSPITAL?

>> SURE.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

ITIS A LITTLE BIT HARD FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF THE HEALTHCARE FACILITY TO COME INTO A HEALTHCARE FACILITY AND UNDERSTAND WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.

BECAUSE WE FOLLOW SPECIAL CRITERIA FROM THE CDC RELATED TO AFFECT FACILITIES SO WHEN YOU COME TO VISIT OR COME TO WORK AT ST. JOSEPH'S, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK INTERFACING WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN THAT SPACE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IS WHAT PART OF THE REGULATIONS ARE FOR HEALTHCARE FACILITIES.

CERTAINLY IF YOU ARE OUT IN THE PUBLIC, GOING TO A SPORTING EVENT, THERE IS DIFFERENT CRITERIA FOR OUTSIDE VENUES THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO HEALTHCARE.

SO YOU KNOW, IN MY EXPERIENCE IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE AT RISK, YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK IN THOSE PUBLIC SPACES BUT CERTAINLY IN THE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES WE STILL DO PRACTICE WEARING PPE TO PROTECT OUR COLLEAGUES AND OUR PATIENTS.

>> GOOD TO KNOW.

>> IF ANYONE WANTED TO KNOW THE TRANSMISSION RATES IN THE COMMUNITY, THE CDC HAS A VERY USER FRIENDLY INTERFACE WHERE YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR COUNTY AND IT WILL GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION AND FROM THERE, IT WILL GIVE YOU RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WEARING MASKS OR NOT.

>> GREAT.

NOW, SAY IF I HAVE A PREEXISTING HEART CONDITION CAN CONTRACTING COVID EXAS EXACERBATE MY CONDITION?

>> THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE IT MAY OR MAY NOT EXACERBATE A PREEXISTING CONDITION BUT A PREEXISTING CONDITION MAY MAKE YOU SUSCEPTIC TO A WORSE OUTCOME TO A COVID INFECTION, EVEN HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR DIABETES, MAKES YOU MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE DISEASE AND LESS LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT THE DISEASE AS WE WOULD WANT YOU TO.

SO AND THERE ARE CERTAIN DISEASES THAT ARE RELATED TO CLOTTING ABNORMALITIES IN THE BLOOD WHICH MAY BE MADE WORSE BY COVID INFECTIONS SO IT IS TRUE THAT PREEXISTING CARDIAC DISEASE MAY BE MADE WORSE BY COVID INFECTION BUT CERTAINLY PREEXISTING COMORBIDITY LIKE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND DIABETES IS GOING TO MAKE THE INFECTION WORSE FOR YOU.

>> SO IF YOU HAVE A PREEXISTING CONDITION, VERY GOOD REASON TO GET VACCED AND BOOSTED.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT GETTING VACCINATED HAS CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE OF WHAT WE DEAL WITH ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS AND HAS REALLY MADE THE LIKELIHOOD OF DYING FROM COVID A LOT LESS.

SO IT'S NOT-- IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE VACCINE DOES NOT PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING A COVID INFECTION.

THE VACCINE REDUCES THE SEVERITY OF THE INFECTION SO THAT WHEN YOU GET THE INFECTION, INSTEAD OF GETTING RESPIRATORY FAILURE AND ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL, YOU MAY GET A COUGH, SORE THROAT, STUFFY NOSE, SOME OF THE LESS SEVERE SYMPTOMS THAT COME WITH COVID, JUST FROM GETTING THE INFECTION.

>> SO BEFORE WE ABOUT TO-- WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION IN THE LINE.

BUT Dr. MARSH, YOU WERE GIVING US A GREAT DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT A VACCINE DOES BEFORE IN THE GREEN ROOM.

CAN YOU DO THAT AGAIN FOR US?

>> SURE.

SO I'M A PEDIATRICIAN SO I'M USED TO MAKING THINGS SIMPLE NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.

THE WAY I EXPLAIN VACCINES TO PEOPLE IS THAT WHEN I VACCINATE SOMEONE AGAINST WHATEVER, I'M SHOWING THEM A PICTURE OF THE BAD GUY.

SEE THIS?

THIS IS THE BAD GUY.

REMEMBER WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE SO WHEN THE DISEASE HAPPENS TO COME ALONG, MY BODY DOESN'T HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, IS THIS GUY BAD?

IT CAN RECALL, WAIT, THAT'S THE BAD GUY AND MOUNT A MUCH QUICKER RESPONSE.

>> THAT'S THE GUY ON THE PICTURE IN THE POST OFFICE THEY USED TO HAVE... >> PEOPLE ASK THE VARIANTS AND IT SEEMS THAT COVID IS FOLLOW AGO LONG SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE, IN FACT IN THE PANDEMIC FORM AND IN ENDEMIC FORM, WHICH IS THE FLU.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE FACT THAT YOUR FLU SHOT, YOU SEEM TO KEEP HAVING TO GET THAT THING BECAUSE THE FLU CHANGES JUST LIKE COVID CHANGES.

SO IN THE SAME WAY MY ANALOGY GOES OF SHOWING YOU A PICTURE OF THE BAD GUY, PERIODICALLY I HAVE TO SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF HIS COUSIN OR HIS BROTHER AND UNCLE OR HIS AUNT, JUST TO, SO THAT OUR BODY CAN KEEP MOUNTING RESPONSES TO THE ONE THAT IT HAS CHANGED INTO THIS TIME.

>> MISS JOHNSON, YOU ARE MONITORING ALL THE TIME THE STUFF FROM THE CDC, RIGHT?

SO IS IT LIKELY THAT THE PUBLIC WILL BE ASKED TO GET, YOU KNOW, AN ANNUAL COVID VACCINE FROM WHAT YOU HEAR FROM THE CDC OR WILL BE ASKED TO GET PERIODIC BOOSTERS?

WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THAT?

>> RIGHT NOW THERE ISN'T ANY COMMUNICATION ABOUT THAT FROM THE CDC BUT IT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING AS MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO US.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE LIKELY HONESTLY.

I FEEL LIKE THE MOST RECENT RESEARCH THAT HAS COME OUT THAT HAS HAD OMICRON SPECIFIC VACCINES HAVE FOUND THOSE TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE THIS DEVELOPING GRADUALLY.

IT'S NOT FULLY DEVELOPED YET BUT I FEEL LIKE WE ARE HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION WHERE THERE IS GOING TO BE AN ANNUAL VACCINE.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WILL PROBABLY END UP SEEING AS WELL WITH ALL THE KIDS THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO GET VACCINATED ON MULTIPLE LEVELS IN ORDER TO STAY AS PROTECTED AS POSSIBLE.

>> SO NOW WE'VE GOT NEW VACCINES FOR KIDS.

>> WE DO.

>> Dr. MARSH, TELL US, IS THERE ONE BETTER THAN THE OTHER?

HOW MANY DOSES WILL MY KID NEED AND TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> SO THIS IS OFF THE PRESS NEWS, BOTH MODERNA AND PFIZER GOT THEIR VACCINES APPROVED FOR THE AGES 6 MONTHS TO FOUR YEARS IN THE CASE OF PFIZER BECAUSE IT HAD A 5 TO 17-YEAR-OLD AND MODERNA IS 6 MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS.

THREE-DOSE SERIES FOR REGULAR CHILDREN.

IF YOU ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, I THINK AT SOME POINT THERE IS A FOURTH DOSE.

BUT THE WAY IT WILL WORK IS THAT WE GIVE ONE AND THEN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF WEEKS LATER GIVE ANOTHER AND A CERTAIN NUMBER OF WEEKS LATER WE GIVE ANOTHER AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW THAT IT DOES CAUSE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO RECOGNIZE YOUR EVIL GUY.

AND THE STUDIES THAT WE HAVE DONE SO THAT.

HOW WE ARE GOING TO DEPLOY THIS IS ANOTHER QUESTION ENTIRELY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LINING UP 21 YEAR OLDS AND EVEN 15 YEAR OLDS AT THE STATE FAIR OR WHEREVER YOU WANT TO GET YOUR IMMUNIZATION IS ONE THING.

BRINGING THE ONE-YEAR-OLD IS A DIFFERENT STORY.

>> THEY'RE ALL COMING TO YOUR OFFICE.

>> OH NO.

AND SOME OF THAT, YOUR PEDIATRICIANS OR FAMILY MEDICINE DOCTOR'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE VACCINE AND HOW FAST THEY CAN GET THAT DONE HAS TO DO WITH REFRIGERATION AND STORAGE, STAFFING, MAKING SURE THAT ENOUGH PEOPLE COME TO GET VACCINATED ON THE SAME DAY SO THAT YOU ARE NOT WASTING VACCINES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BE PATIENT WITH US.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET THIS ORGANIZED BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT KIDS GRET GET VACCINATED.

AT LEAST 200 CHILDREN HAVE DIED FROM COVID AND SO THAT'S COMPARED TO MUCH SMALLER NUMBERS THAT USUALLY DIE OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE VACCINATE AGAINST ALREADY.

>> THIS IS SERIOUS FOR LITTLE KIDS, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE THINK YOU DON'T GET IT BAD WHEN YOU ARE A LITTLE KID BUT KIDS DIE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THEY DO.

AND THEY GET MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYSTEMS AND THINGS THAT MAKE THEM VERY SICK.

>> IF COVID-19 IS HERE TO STAY, WHERE DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF PRIMARY CARE GOING AND WHERE DO YOU SEE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE HOSPITALS?

LET'S START WITH YOU, MISS JOHNSON.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE HOSPITALS GOING FORWARD?

>> A LOT HAS CHANGED CERTAINLY AS THE DISEASE HAS EVOLVED AND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO TREAT IT.

SO FIRST WE HAD DEDICATED COVID UNITS WHERE PEOPLE WOULD GO AND IT WAS ALL NEGATIVE PRESSURE.

AND THE MORE THAT WE LEARNED, THE MORE THAT WE UNDERSTOOD THAT, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT THIS IS AN ENDEMIC DISEASE THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, WE CAN REALLY-- >> ENDEMIC MEANS IT'S EVERYWHERE?

>> RIGHT.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO STOP IT AND MAKE IT GO AWAY.

>> WE CAN'T SEND YOU TO THE AIRPORT AND SAY PUT THAT-- >> WHAT HAS CHANGED FOR US IS THAT YOU KNOW, PATIENTS ARE PLACED IN THE HOSPITAL ON THE SPECIALTY FLOOR WHERE THEY SHOULD BE PLACED, HEART SURGERY PATIENTS GO TO THE HEART SURGERY FLOOR.

HIP PATIENTS GO TO THE ORTHOPEDIC FLOOR.

AND IF THEY DO HAPPEN TO HAVE COVID, THEN WE WOULD IMPLEMENT OUR STANDARD INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES SUCH AS IMPLEMENTING ISOLATION PROTOCOLS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE PPE, WHICH IS THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO KEEP BOTH PATIENT AND COLLEAGUES TAKING CARE OF THE PATIENT SAFE.

>> WHAT ABOUT TELEHEALTH?

THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD-- >> SO TELEHEALTH AND Dr. MARSH WILL ALSO COMMENT ON THIS, BUT TELEHEALTH, WE WOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE WITH TELEHEALTH IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE PANDEMIC.

WE WOULD PROBABLY BE FIVE YEARS BEFORE WE ARE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

BUT THAT CAUSED SUCH AN INCREASE IN THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY SO THAT WE COULD STILL DELIVER CARE, TRY TO DO IT EFFECTIVELY.

THERE IS NOTHING AS GOOD AS SEEING SOMEBODY OR LISTENING TO THEIR HEART OR LUNGS.

>> LIVE.

>> LIVE.

BUT, BUT THERE IS TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE AND ST. JOE'S, WE DEVELOPED A TELEHEALTH ALMOST LIKE A ROBOT BUT IT'S REALLY ON WHEELS, WITH A STETHOSCOPE THAT IS A BLUE TOOTH STETDZ SCOPE SO I CAN HAVE A NURSE OR SOMEBODY PUT A STETHOSCOPE ON A PATIENT'S CHEST AND LISTEN TO THE HEART HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY BECAUSE OF THE TELEHEALTH TECHNOLOGY.

>> SO THIS MAKES YOU AVAILABLE IN PLACES YOU COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE.

>> IT WAS REALLY AMAZING TO DO THIS.

SCOA WE DON'T GO TO THAT EXTREME EVERY DAY.

BUT WE DO TELEHEALTH EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK FOR PATIENTS THAT, NOT TO AVOID COVID BUT JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MAKE IT INTO THE OFFICE.

AND OR THEY DON'T HAVE A LOVED ONE TO BRING THEM TO THE OFFICE OR THEY FELL AND HURT THEIR KNEE AND THEY CAN'T WALK INTO THE OFFICE.

WE DO TELEHEALTH FOR THEM.

>> WE ARE GOING TO BRING SOME PEOPLE IN FROM THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS, TO YOUR OFFICE RIGHT HERE.

AND I THINK WE HAVE JIM.

YOU ARE GOING TO COME UP AND ASK US A QUESTION IF YOU WOULD.

>> HI THERE.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

HAS THE ICE ISOLATION CREATED MORE GENERAL ANXIETY CASES AND DEPRESSION CASES THAT YOU'VE SEEN?

>> SO ACTUALLY, I HAD DONE SOME READING ON THIS RECENTLY AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ESTIMATES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE HAD A 25% INCREASE IN DEPRESSION AND EXIT.

ANXIETY, THAT SAID THE GOOD NEWS IS THE SUICIDE RATE HAS GONE DOWN.

SOMETHING A LOT OF DOCTORS WERE WORRIED ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING WAS THAT THIS ISOLATION WAS GOING TO TIP PEOPLE OVER THE EDGE.

GRATEFULLY THE U SIDE RATE IN 2020 WAS LOWER THAN 2019 AND LOWER THAN 2018 AND WE ARE HOPEFUL TO KEEP IT GOING DOWN.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF FACTORS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH STUFF, ESPECIALLY IN THE BEGINNING IN MY OFFICE.

I SAW A LOT OF TEENAGERS WHO WERE VERY DEPRESSED.

THEY WERE ALONE, THEY NEVER SAW THEIR FRIENDS BECAUSE ESPECIALLY THE HIGH SCHOOLERS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD STAY HOME AND DON'T GO NEAR ANYONE FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I WENT FROM SEEING LIKE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE WITH CRITICAL MENTAL ILLNESS A WEEK TO SEEING ONE OR TWO A DAY.

AND I'M GRATEFUL TO REPORT THAT IT HAS GONE DOWN SINCE CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS ARE HAVING MORE REAL LIFE AND I WOULD EXPECT, YOU KNOW, THAT ADULTS PROBABLY FEEL THE SAME.

ONCE WE GET MORE INTO LIFE, THE LESS THESE ISSUES ARE.

>> SOCIALIZING REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE, DOESN'T IT?

IT REALLY DOES IMPACT.

AND THANK YOU.

JIM H., I BELIEVE, UP FOR A QUESTION.

>> HI, MY QUESTION IS ABOUT LONG COVID.

MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH GOT COVID.

WE WERE VACCINATED IN DECEMBER.

AND WE WERE TREATED WITH ANTIBODIES AND NOW SIX MONTHS LATER AFTER RECOVERY, HE HAS LONG COVID.

HIS SYMPTOMS INCLUDE FATIGUE, JOINT PAIN AND NAUSEA.

SOME DAYS ARE SYMPTOM FREE AND SOME DAYS ARE DIFFICULT.

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY TREATMENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE NOW OR IF THERE IS SOMETHING COMING ON THE HORIZON FOR LONG COVID.

THANK YOU.

>> I WILL TAKE PART OF THAT AND Dr. MARSH, IF SHE FEELS... POST-COVID SYNDROME IS A MULTITUDE OF SYMPTOMS AND IT INVOLVES YOUR GENERAL, HOW YOU FEEL GENERALLY, ACHES AND PAINS, FATIGUE, IT CAN INVOLVE YOUR HEART WITH SYNDROME KNOWN AS P.O.T.S.

OR POTS SYNDROME WHICH IS WHERE YOU STAND UP, YOU GET DIZZY, YOUR HEART RACES, YOU CAN'T DO THINGS YOU WANT TO DO.

WE SEE IT IN THE YOUNGER POPULATION SUCH AS Dr. MARSH'S POPULATION, TEENAGE AND THAT'S ONE TYPE.

THERE IS A G.I., WHICH YOU HAVE EXPRESSED, DIARRHEA, I THINK YOU SAID.

AND THERE IS THE NEUROLOGIC CAN BE BRAIN FOG, JUST CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT AND SO AND THE ONLY THING RIGHT NOW THAT TREATS IT IS TIME.

WE DO NOT HAVE MEDICATIONS SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT.

THERE ARE MEDICATIONS WE USE FOR THE CARDIAC COMPLAINTS ARE PALPITATIONSES AND LOW BLOOD PRESSURE.

WE TRY NOT TO INSTITUTE THOSE BUT IF WE HAVE TO, WE DO.

AND I HAVE TREATED A NUMBER OF YOUNGER PEOPLE, NOT YOUNG, BUT IN THE 16 TO 50 AGE GROUP, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE AGE GROUP THAT SEEMS TO GET MOST OF THE POST COVID SYNDROME.

>> SADLY, THAT IS A YOUNGER AGE GROUP FOR ME.

>> IT IS FOR ME, TOO.

AND WE DO TREAT THEM WITH MEDICATIONS BUT GENERALLY AND WE TAPER THEM OFF AND LET THEM TRY TO GET BACK TO LIFE.

BUT AS FAR AS SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT YOU HAVE DESCRIBED, DON'T TOUCH THEM WITH MEDICINES.

IT'S JUST TIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE, BUT I WANT TO THANK OUR ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTH EXPERTS AGAIN FOR JOINING US DR. PHILIP FALCONE, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER DR. SARAH MARSH, PEDIATRICIAN DR. RUSSEL SILVERMAN, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL CARDIOLOGY AND MS. STEPHANIE S. JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE RESOURCES I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE AND THOSE OF YOU AT HOME FOR YOUR GREAT QUESTIONS!

BE SURE TO VISIT WCNY.ORG/CYCLEOFHEALTH TO SEE ADDITIONAL CONTENT, PRIOR EPISODES, AND OUR LATEST CHECKUP FROM OUR NECKUP.

FOR CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M DOCTOR RICH O'NEILL.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

[ APPLAUSE ] ON THE NEXT "CYCLE OF HEALTH," ACTIVE AGING.

BRING YOUR YOGA MAT AND WALKING SHOES AS WE DISCOVER NEARBY PROGRAMS THAT CAN IMPROVE OUR LIFE.

THEN JOIN THE CONVERSATION AS OUR GUESTS SHARE TIPS ON CREATING A WELLNESS CENTERED LIFESTYLE.

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS ALL ON THE NEXT "CYCLE OF HEALTH."