4 Things You Must Consider When Traveling Right Now

Available for Interviews: Dr. Tammy Penhollow

Dr. Tammy Penhollow is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, specializing in anesthesiology, pain management, and regenerative medicine. Having over 20 years of experience has helped her to cultivate a passion for regenerative medicine and holistic healing. Dr. Penhollow practices at Precision Regenerative Medicine in the greater Phoenix area.

What Dr. Tammy Penhollow can say in an interview on
Traveling During the Pandemic
:

Traveling during the pandemic. What a dilemma! While no travel plan is risk-free, some modes of travel and specific choices throughout the travel can reduce risk. Five ways to stay safer include:

  1. Travel by Car. Avoiding public transportation including trains, buses, planes because it reduces exposure to both other people and relying upon air exchange and filtration issues, as well as non-compliance by other passengers.  
  2. Take a Day Trip. Consider a day trip where you return back to your home at the end of the day. Leave early, arrive home late, sleep in your own bed to avoid any concerns for the cleanliness of the hotel, AirBnB, etc. 

  1. Stay Safer When Staying Overnight. If you do stay somewhere overnight, check the facility’s cleaning policy. Ask about air filtration, air exchange rates, if they are using UVC cleaning/sanitization, and if the housekeeping staff is being screened for illnesses, wearing masks appropriately and consistently, wearing gloves, and what surfaces are being cleaned. Ultimately there is no way you can ensure that anywhere you stay is being cleaned appropriately. Consider opening the windows upon arrival for air circulation and consider bringing your own disinfecting wipes and completing your own thorough wipe-down of all surfaces you will touch—especially door/shower/sink/drawer handles, light switches, and the remote control. 
  2. Make Good Decisions When It Comes to Eating. Stay somewhere you can grocery shop and cook your own meals. If you do eat out, literally EAT OUTSIDE. There’s simply no way to safely eat indoors with no risk. The restaurant’s air handling system, adherence with indoor capacity rules, employee screening and adherence to staying home if they’re ill, and the inability to control the actions of other patrons are all widely variable.

On a Personal Note

Personally, I have turned down several travel offers since the pandemic started—mostly for short business trips. The benefits of in-person business are greatly outweighed by the risks of contracting the Coronavirus. Too many variables and too little compliance on the part of airlines, businesses, and other people have made this a no-brainer for me. 

As it is, we’re playing by ear a planned trip via air travel to see my parents for the Christmas holiday. It would be direct flights, no eating in the airports, wearing N95 equivalent masks and either face shield or side protected goggles from the time we leave our car at the airport until we get into the car at the other end. 

Then the issue of how to interact with family indoors—all wearing masks except when eating, and spacing 6′ apart when eating. We do not want to expose my immunocompromised Mom to any asymptomatic infection we may have. Will we have access to testing the day before we leave with results within 24 hours or less? Could we be in an asymptomatic stage where we are not shedding enough of the virus to test positive?

All of these important details must be considered when planning any form of travel in the months ahead. Keeping our guard up keeps us and our colleagues, friends, and family safer in the long run. When we all collectively do our part, we help to stop the spread of the virus.

 

Interviews: Dr. Tammy Penhollow

Dr. Tammy Penhollow practices at Precision Regenerative Medicine in Scottsdale, Arizona, where develops individualized treatment plans for musculoskeletal and spine interventions with PRP and bone marrow aspirate using image guidance, as well as micro-needling with PRP for skin, hair and anti-aging conditions. She also stays active in teaching as an Instructor in Anesthesiology for the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and as a Supplemental Consultant for the Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.

A former active duty US Naval Officer, Dr. Penhollow has lived, practiced, and has been deployed around the US and overseas. She embodies the lifestyle she recommends to her patients and is an active hiker, gardener and yogi as well as a French trained home chef and an aspiring sommelier.

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