Coronavirus Casualties

I know you haven’t heard from me in a while. Yeahhhhh, I’ve been busy. Such is life. However, I did not anticipate that my first post (finally) for 2020 would be about a devastating global pandemic.

The Crisis

The Coronavirus – COVID-19 – SARS-CoV-2 – or simply “Rona” as it’s called in some circles, has taken the world hostage.
Coronavirus casualties are everywhere!
To date, we have had over half a million confirmed cases.
Stock markets have crashed, people have lost jobs, borders have been shut in many countries, industries are collapsing, and there’s that inexplicable shortage of toilet paper.
More tragically, many people have died.
Unfortunately, health care workers are among this count.

Collateral Damage

At last check tonight, 51 – yes you read that right – fifty-one doctors have died from COVID-19.
This is just in Italy.
This is only the doctors.
This figure doesn’t reflect the Italian nurses, EMTs, phlebotomists, lab techs, therapists, or even housekeeping staff who have contracted COVID-19 (over 6000 known so far) . Their situation continues to be harrowing.
Even the World Health Organization doesn’t have a global database of health care workers who have contracted COVID-19 – much less died from it.

Sweet Sacrifice

Yet everyone acknowledges that we are at the front lines of this pandemic. And we are three times more likely than the general public to contract the virus.
We are being asked to risk our lives and by extension those of our families, to serve our patients. Some doctors have taken this reality to heart and have arranged living wills and other forms of estate planning in case they become Coronavirus casualties.
Despite this there have been (unconfirmed) reports of health care personnel not having the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need. Additionally, administrators are allegedly encouraging them to reuse or not even wear proper PPEs in certain circumstances. Even the CDC recommended the use of bandanas and scarves as last resort protective measures.

Some health care facilities have made efforts to reduce work hours (and potential exposure) of its staff. Yet many doctors and others still have to don what they have and take care of their patients (and sometimes their own colleagues) with less than ideal facilities, protocols, and manpower.
The lack of PPEs in particular has been repeatedly cited as a contributor to the possibly preventative health care worker infections and fatalities.

Our Plea

We need HELP!!!
We need supplies, clear communication of appropriate protocols, and adequate compensation for those who contract the virus in the line of duty. We also need counseling for those who have provided care to persons with COVID-19.

Two nurses have committed suicide. Did either of them have underlying mental health issues? This is unknown. What is known is that they were exposed to the virus and there was no mental health outreach.
But there are idiots persons in the cloud who made insensitive comments regarding one of the suicide victims.
”Coronavirus didn’t kill her; she was stupid before that.”
”Fake news.”
“She signed up for the job; guess she couldn’t handle it.”
I will not even sully my blog by posting a link to that nonsense.

Perceptions and Reality

Am I really surprised tho?
Yes and no.
There are those who still fail to recognize that mental health issues, including physician burnout, PTSD, and suicides are a real threat to all of us when we are faced with patient death.
There are persons who feel that we are “rich and greedy” because we chose this profession. There are those at the top of the health care food chain who aren’t health care professionals but who regularly make decisions to our detriment. Then there are those persons who have had misconceptions about or received poor health care who spew disdain all over the social media platforms.

Then there are those administrators who make the effort to understand our plight and get us the protection and support we need. There are those members of the public who share positive messages instead of propaganda, and encourage others to support us. Then there are my OGs, patients I’ve had from Residency, who frequently call and check up on me to make sure that I’m okay. They say “thank you” for all the hard work that we’re doing on the front lines of this pandemic, and they understand that unless it’s urgent, they should practice social distancing and stay at home.

I also say thank you to my colleagues and other health care professionals, here and abroad, who step up and make things happen, regardless of the circumstances.
We will not be needless Coronavirus casualties!!!
My thoughts and prayers are with you all as we battle this pandemic.
#HumansForTheWin