Newton’s Dr. Guarin posts COVID-19 educational videos

Working through the uncertainty and frustration of the current coronavirus pandemic is difficult for patients and physicians.

Every day there are medical and healthcare professionals and government officials giving news updates. A lot of “medical jargon” is used and Dr. Esgar Guarin of the Newton Clinic decided he was going to do something for his patients.

“There are people who are doing great things in providing information like Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN and others every day with the updates. But people like that seem to be too distant for many of our patients,” Guarin said. “When you have someone you know and trust coming out and translating the information for you, then you’re more likely to listen.”

After working overseas in early March, Guarin returned to the United States at the beginning of the situation. He had been in Ecuador working with its ministry of health on a project.

“I got exposed to the coronavirus, came back and was quarantined for a week or so until the results came back,” Guarin said. “I started the videos on my Facebook to translate the information so it was easier to grasp and comprehend by people and also I was frustrated with so many who weren’t giving relevance needed to the situation we’re facing and people weren’t following the recommendations.”

Guarin — or Dr. G as his family practice patients at the Newton Clinic call him — began a series of short videos about three weeks ago for patients or anyone else to watch and learn specific aspects of how to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. He said he talks about what the recommendations are and why they are important, explains what it means to flatten the curve, demonstrates how to wash hands to mitigate transfer of germs and how to clean the items bought at the store including food items. Guarin said he explained what doctors know about the virus and why the mitigation measures are important.

“We have a responsibility as medical clinicians in Jasper County. We don’t consider ourselves to be at the forefront of the pandemic — at least not yet and hopefully we can keep it that way — but we see our colleges at the forefront, working in the ER and in the intensive care unit,” Guarin said. “We play a role in the whole process of getting the patient there. From the primary care standpoint, our role is an educational one. If we don’t teach our patients the preventive aspects of this and if we don’t translate the information in clear simple language, we cannot expect them to follow all the recommendations.”

Guarin, who has been practicing medicine at the Newton Clinic since 2015, believes if his videos helps educate people in Jasper County, it will help flatten the curve here in the Jasper County communities. He said it was important people practice the social distancing protocols, using masks and gloves, being diligent about washing hands and sanitizing practices for hands and items.

“We will go back to our activities ... it is going to happen, but we need a change in our overall behavior,” Guarin said in a video. “It is this simple, remember E N M: you get infected when the virus comes through your E-EYES, N-NOSE and M-MOUTH.”

Guarin said he does one video a day or every other day. It is about providing information and educating people on how to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and staying healthy.

“I wanted to feel like I was doing something at this time to help people understand this situation and I believed this was a way I could reach people. I have friends in New York City who are working really hard and I feel for them. My heart breaks every time I hear of a medical or health care professional dies. They are putting their lives on the line,” Guarin said.

“We want everyone to come through this and we all have a role to play in the situation.”

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at 641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com