SCVNews.com | Opinion/Commentary: Crash Course in Technology | Doctor’s Diary with Dr. Gene Dorio

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside

Weather

Calendar

Today in
S.C.V. History

November 22

1843 - Rancho Castec (Lebec-Tejon area) granted to French immigrant Jose Covarrubias [story]

Crash Course in Technology | Doctor’s Diary with Dr. Gene Dorio

Dr. Gene Dorio | Thursday, May 28, 2020

Click Here to Get Our 'SCV This Morning' Newsletter

Tweet This

Facebook

Digg This

Bookmark

Stumble

RSS

Visitation is highly restricted for nursing homes, as they are hotspots of life and death.

If your loved one uses a smart phone, family communication is maintained. For those with less technical skills, many nursing homes now compassionately lend residents cell phones for usage.

One of my patients was positive for COVID-19 and quarantined in a coronavirus ward. There, they would not lend residents a cell phone (probably for fear of contamination), so all communication with her daughter halted. The patient was hospitalized.

She lost her appetite, decreased weight, became dehydrated, dropped blood pressure, and went into early renal failure. Hospitalized for a week, she returned to the nursing home.

I had her transferred out of the COVID-19 quarantine ward, arguing the 14-day time expired, and thereafter she was able to use a smart phone to communicate with her daughter. She has flourished and done fine.

If you anticipate your loved one could be admitted to a nursing home or hospital, think about giving them a crash course in using a smart phone.

Maintaining communication might be the difference between life and death.

Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D., is a geriatric house-call physician who serves as president of the Los Angeles County Commission for Older Adults and Assemblyman to the California Senior Legislature. He has practiced in the Santa Clarita Valley for 32 years.

Comment On This Story

COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Click here to cancel reply.

Opinion Section Policy

All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.

Mayor Cameron Smyth | Experience Holiday Cheer on the Tracks

Thursday, Nov 21, 2024

The holiday season is just around the corner and it’s one of the most magical times of the year.

Barger on Protections for Youth in Juvenile Halls

Wednesday, Nov 20, 2024

Supervisor Kathryn Barger commented on Attorney General Rob Bonta’s announcement that he is pursuing additional monitoring and strengthened protections for youth in Los Angeles County’s juvenile halls.

Marcia Mayeda | Winter, Holiday Safety Tips for Pets

Wednesday, Nov 13, 2024

I think we’re all glad that the extreme heat of the past few months here in southern California has passed, and we are now enjoying some beautiful fall days.

Kathryn Barger | Oath of Office

Monday, Nov 11, 2024

This week, I took my Oath of Office for my third and final term as Fifth District Supervisor.

Mike West | CIF-SS Message from the Commissioner

Monday, Nov 11, 2024

As we conclude the 2024 Fall season, I would like to thank all the athletic directors, school administrators, athletic trainers and anyone else responsible for helping implement and navigate our new Health and Safety Bylaws.

Jason Gibbs | Get Your Passport at the Santa Clarita Public Library

Thursday, Nov 7, 2024

Did you know that our local Santa Clarita Public Library offers passport acceptance services? Whether you’re planning a vacation, studying abroad or reconnecting with family, the Santa Clarita Public Library is here to support your journey.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com


CARB Incentive Plan Focuses on Fleets for Small Businesses The California Air Resources Board has approved a $34.94 million incentives funding plan that will continue support ongoing efforts to increase access to medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission trucks, buses and equipment, with a focus on small businesses.	Recycle Broken Holiday Lights at SAFE Collection Centers Preparing to decorate for the holidays? If you come across broken string lights that are no longer usable, instead of tossing in the trash you can now drop them off for recycling at one of the SAFE collection centers	Dec. 8: ‘Charles Phoenix Holidayland’ at Newhall Family Theatre The nonprofit Raising the Curtain Foundation will host a fundraising event, "Holidayland" with mid-century pop culture expert Charles Phoenix, on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m.	Nov. 26: City Council Meets to Discuss Contracts, Open Space Naming The Santa Clarita City Council will hold its regular meeting Tuesday, Nov. 26, beginning with a special closed meeting at 5 p.m., followed immediately with open session at 6 p.m.	Nov. 23: ACS Relay for Life SCV Holiday Boutique The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Santa Clarita Valley will present its holiday boutique fundraiser, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Santa Clarita United Methodist Church, 26640 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.	State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program Launch California State Parks Office of Historic Preservation has announced it will begin accepting applications for the State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program at 8 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2025.
Today in SCV History (Nov. 22) 1843 - Rancho Castec (Lebec-Tejon area) granted to French immigrant Jose Covarrubias [story]	Central Park Exercise Staircase Closure Extended Thru Nov. 28 Due to construction and weather delays, the closure of the exercise staircase at Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, will be extended through Nov. 28.	Dec. 14-15: Santa Clarita Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ Santa Clarita Ballet's 30th anniversary production of "The Nutcracker" will perform, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15 at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.	COC Winter 2025 Registration Underway Registration is underway for the College of the Canyons winter 2025 session, which boasts more than 300 class sections.	TMU Men’s Basketball Knocks Off No. 2, Starr Sees 300th Win Christmas came early for The Master's University Men's Basketball Head Coach Kelvin Starr.	Dec. 13-15: ‘Holiday Hijinx’ Presented by Theatre in a Week, Off Book Theatre Theatre in a Week and Off Book Theatre is back with its holiday one act comedy "Holiday Hijinx" Friday, Dec. 13- Sunday, Dec. 15 at The MAIN in Old Town Newhall.
Dec. 8: Santa Clarita Master Chorale Presents Silver Bell Jubilee The Santa Clarita Master Chorale presents its Silver Bell Jubilee concert Sunday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m. at Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.	Mayor Cameron Smyth \| Experience Holiday Cheer on the Tracks The holiday season is just around the corner and it’s one of the most magical times of the year.	Dec. 7: The 29th Annual Winter Magic Lighted Boat Parade Celebrate this special time of year with the 29th annual Winter Magic Lighted Boat Parade and holiday event Saturday, Dec. 7 at Castaic Lake, Lower Lagoon.	Today in SCV History (Nov. 21) 1967 - Local voters approve formation of community college and elect COC's first five-member board - Dr. William G. Bonelli Jr., Bruce Fortine, Sheila Dyer, Peter Huntsinger, Edward Muhl [story]	Hope for the Holidays with Boys & Girls Club of SCV You can make a difference in a child or teen’s life this holiday season through the Boys and Girls Club of the Santa Clarita Valley. You can volunteer at a club holiday event, host a toy drive, sponsor a club family or make a donation.	Kalli Arte Collective to be CSUN’s First Orndorff Artist-in-Residence Art, in whatever the medium, can communicate so much. It can inspire imagination, exude peace and calm, or tell the world the stories of a community and a culture or connect on an extremely personal level.
Nov. 23: New Honorees Inducted into Walk of Western Stars The city of Santa Clarita invites community members to attend the unveiling of the newest inductees to the Walk of Western Stars.	Barger on Protections for Youth in Juvenile Halls Supervisor Kathryn Barger commented on Attorney General Rob Bonta’s announcement that he is pursuing additional monitoring and strengthened protections for youth in Los Angeles County’s juvenile halls.	CSUN Students ExamNASA Data on Climate Change Every day for decades, NASA satellites have been collecting data about oceans and continents around the world.	Dec. 8: Santa Clarita Symphony Orchestra Presents Holiday Classics Kick off your holidays with a night to remember with the Santa Clarita Symphony Orchestra.	CSUN Music Therapy Program Produces Successful Music Therapists for 40 Years Music possesses power. It brings people together, stirs emotions and has ability to heal in the form of music therapy.	SCV Water Works on Permanent Water Supply for LARC Ranch, Lily of the Valley SCV Water recently reached several important milestones to bring the Agency one step closer to constructing a permanent water supply for Los Angeles Residential Community and Lily of the Valley Mobile Village.