covid Archives | Carson Tahoe Health

COVID Vaccine – All You Need To Know

It’s been about a year since the COVID-19 pandemic started and it has certainly changed our lives. We started washing our hands more often, practicing safe social distancing, and wearing masks to protect not only ourselves, but also our loved ones and neighbors. Although the virus continues to wreak havoc in many communities, we have hope that, with continued mask diligence and the release of the COVID-19 vaccine, better days will come. What do I need to know about the vaccine? There are three FDA-approved COVID-19 Vaccines currently available in the United States. Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have shown “effectiveness of about 95% in preventing COVID-19 disease in adults” and both vaccines …


Coping With Pandemic Fatigue? You’re Not Alone …

We’ve been discussing the virus at family dinners, work meetings, and our social media pages from February until November, and counting. As we are living through unprecedented times brought on by the pandemic, life continues to be challenging and abnormal for the majority of us because there is still so much unknown. You may be thinking, “When will there be a COVID-19 vaccine?” or “When we can go back to somewhat regular life?” These questions and countless others, media overload, and the real fear around it all has a great number of people experiencing COVID-burnout. What Is ‘COVID-19 Burnout’? Most of us have experienced some type of burnout at some point in our lives. It’s that time period where you …


Navigating COVID with a Disability

It has been nearly six months since the country first started to shelter in place to avoid the potential spread of COVID-19. While many companies race to find a vaccine, we continue to adapt to our new normal. Obviously there is nothing normal about wearing masks and keeping a strict six-foot distance from one another, but we do our best to stay positive, productive, and keep our health in check. Staying healthy might be more challenging for those with small school-aged children, those with pre-existing conditions, the elderly, and those with disabilities. Having an impairment doesn’t necessarily put you at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19, however, there are certain disabilities that can make illness more complicated. For example: people …


It’s COVID-19 AND Flu Season?

It’s COVID season. It’s rabbit season. It’s duck season. And, soon it will be flu season. According to the CDC, approximately 8 percent of the U.S. population, or approximately 26,176,000 people, get sick with the flu annually. The idea of flu season creeping in as we are still responding to the immense struggles and changes COVID-19 has laid out for us may be overwhelming. In certain parts of the country (and the world) hospitals are adjusting to a limited stockpile of personal protective equipment and facing the challenges of creating new respiratory clinics to better serve their patients. Additionally, many people’s immune systems may have been weakened from staying indoors for months on end with little to no physical contact, …


Carson Tahoe Celebrates First COVID-19, Intubated Patient Release Since Pandemic Began

August 18, at approximately 4:20 p.m., Carson Tahoe Health wheeled its first COVID-positive, intubated patient, Linda McCain, out of the Regional Medical Center and back home to her family. Staff gathered in an Honor Walk to cheer on McCain, who had been using a ventilator to assist in breathing and fighting the severe respiratory illness, COVID-19. She was brought to tears by the support of Carson Tahoe throughout her stay, as well as during her farewell … as were several staff members. “I would like thank everyone within our organization who has had a piece in caring for every COVID patient that has entered our facility,” says Jenna Clark, Critical Care Nurse Manager at Carson Tahoe Health. “While Linda’s story …