Neurosurgeon Erol Veznedaroglu, MD, is warning patients against delaying treatment for neurological conditions due to concerns about COVID-19 transmission, Delco Times reports.
Dr. Veznedaroglu, Robert A. Groff Chair in Neurosurgery at the Global Neurosciences Institute in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., has noted a significant delay in patients coming to the hospital in April.
The hospital typically treats 50 to 60 neurologic patients per month, but has seen a steep decline in patients coming to the facility for conditions such as stroke.
Other hospitals in the state have seen a notable increase in the number of stroke cases during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in younger patients.
With 2 million brain cells dying during a stroke every minute, delaying treatment for neurologic conditions can be detrimental to a patient's health, according to Dr. Veznedaroglu.
GNI has implemented additional safety protocols to protect patients from contracting the virus, including screenings for patients and staff, and reducing the number of medical personnel in the OR from seven to three.