1. Pandemics require a concerted coordinated response. Our country has great medical care but unfortunately our public health is sorely lacking and not just for the response to this virus. We do not take great care of all of our citizens, just those with the means to access all that we have to offer. As the pandemic approached, I seriously thought that the CDC would jump to the forefront and direct our efforts throughout the country as a whole. Instead, we stumbled out of the gate due to a decision not to use the material from the WHO to develop tests. From the beginning we were hamstrung by an inability to test and curb the disease. Our ability to track and trace contacts is almost nonexistent depending on local jurisdictions with no federal guidance. Our president refuses to take a stand, let alone wear a mask. Countries with strong central government have fared better.
2. Flattening the curve worked. Initially our hospitals were headed towards the disaster of being over capacity with scarce resources running out. Shutting down society averted that catastrophe but came at a big price. Other countries who had a vigorous testing program in place coupled with strict track and tracing procedures were able to do a much better job without complete economic standstill (think South Korea, Singapore, and even China). In a surgical analogy, they used a scalpel and we tried to make do with a sledge hammer.
3. Corona is prejudiced. The virus does not care who it infects, all of us are equally likely to contract the disease. It will, however, disable and kill the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions at a much higher rate. Obesity has turned out to be one of the greatest risk factors for more severe lung disease. There is much more to this infection than dying. It can be a devastatingly disabling disease. Though I have not had any of my patients due from COVID, many have gotten quite ill. I recently spoke to a patient in her 50's that was in the hospital for two weeks. She has now been home for another week and still could not finish a sentence without coughing. She was excited to be improving to the point where she could almost finish taking a shower without stopping to rest.
4. My patients eat out too much. There may be many who have sat home and gained weight during this pandemic but I have encountered a lot of my patients who have finally had time to exercise, cook and eat right since they are not going out to restaurants like before. They have lost weight, their blood pressure is better and their diabetes is now controlled. Now, if we can just keep that going!
5. Life still happens. There may have been a momentary pause on health care utilization due to fear of the virus but cancer still raged, hearts were attacked, brains were stroked and kidneys still failed. I have seen more than the average number of patients die this summer. Many could not spend their last days with family members due to the virus. The stress of all of this has been hard on so many people. That has been hard to watch. When possible, I have tried to make sure that dying patients can do so at home on hospice so that family can be near.
6. Zoom is pretty cool. Most of us are now rather adept at videoconferencing. It is a great way to stay in touch with family, to attend church meetings and to even conduct business. I have no doubt that in many forms, this is here to stay.
7. Faith and Family is my first focus. When I first learned about working with COVID patients my son gave me a priesthood blessing (pronounced a prayer on my head). It was a powerful experience for me. I was promised that angels would watch over me including my father who passed away last September. Today as I prepared to work in our Respiratory Clinic and would assuredly be exposed to COVID patients again, I thought to myself, "ok, Dad, I need you with me today." I have faith that his spirit lives on and that he is indeed there by my side. I know that my faith in God does not keep me from hard times but it has strengthened me so that I can bear them up with ease.
8. We are in this together. The virus is not going away soon. I am more than grateful to work with like minded colleagues who will do whatever it takes to care for those that need it. I have a team at work that shows up day after day knowing they could be in harms way. My family is at higher risk because I am in their lives but put their trust and love in me without question. I am grateful to those I see who are clearly being safe by keeping their distance and wearing masks. Pandemics do not last forever. This too will pass but it may not be for another year or so. If we all work together, take it seriously and watch out for those around us, we will get through these days just fine.
