Local physician to host Facebook Live program

By Angie Landsverk

Dr. Zach Baeseman will address the misinformation he is seeing and hearing in the community about COVID-19 during a Tuesday, June 16 event.

“A COVID-19 Q and A with Dr. Baseseman” will begin at noon that day on Facebook Live.

People may visit www.facebook.com/ThedaCare to watch it and be part of the community conversation.

The event’s link is www.facebook.com/events/695651571006909.

Those who watch will be able to comment about things they have heard and receive information from Baeseman.

He is a family medicine practitioner in Waupaca and Wild Rose and associate medical director of Primary Care with ThedaCare.

“I hope the people who need the information show up,” Baseseman said.

Baeseman said he is seeing a tremendous amount of misinformation in this area.

He attributes it to two main things.

One of them is related to how quickly people get information today.

National media have reported some things before they are sorted out and documented in the science community, Baeseman said.

The other thing he sees is misinformation being spread in the social circles of people.

Many of his patients show him videos they received from someone.

Baeseman said some of the videos are “so far from the truth.”

People are not able to discern what is true, he said.

Baeseman said many are confused.

“I think people see so much of it that they’re kind of shutting it down,” he said.

Others have formed their own opinions.

The trouble with denial

Those who deny there is a pandemic trouble him.

“People are acting like it’s a normal summer in Waupaca,” Baeseman said.

There is also misinformation about why it is important to wear a mask.

He has heard of people being shamed for wearing them in public around here.

In addition, there is misinformation surrounding a future vaccine for the virus and its importance, Baeseman said.

His whole intention is to disbunk myths and give people accurate information.

The June 16 Facebook Live event is expected to last between 30 and 60 minutes.

ThedaCare will monitor the comments and questions in real time.

It will also partner with other organizations in the community to broaden the audience.

Those organizations will share the video.

The video will still be on ThedaCare’s Facebook page after the June 16 event ends, for viewing.

ThedaCare will continue monitoring it for additional questions and address them.