On the front lines, America’s emergency departments (ED) are currently in at the center of a crisis treating patients with COVID-19. Emergency physicians and other clinicians are placing themselves and their families at risk. Yet, there is also …
Category: Infectious disease
The testing cavalry for COVID-19 is coming
Testing for novel coronavirus is still a serious issue in the U.S. due to a lack of lab capacity, test reagents, nasal swabs, and even personal protective equipment for health care workers. Due to these shortages, the CDC is recommending that COVID-19 …
The ethics of prescribing during a pandemic
In times of disaster, marginalized groups often become even further marginalized. Both those of lower socioeconomic status and those with disabilities often are left out of emergency planning, as is evidenced by the current COVID-19 pandemic. From acce…
Immunity passports: How to eventually climb out of the COVID-19 pandemic
During the influenza epidemic of 1918-1920, my great-grandfather, Ralph Norton Mitchell, was in the military. He helped stack the corpses of those who had died from the infection. I shudder to think about what type of personal protective equipment he u…
In these dark times of a pandemic, look to history for hope
This is a frightening time. The coronavirus is called “novel” because it is new, and what is new is often terrifying. We don’t know enough about our new microscopic enemy. Scientists, clinicians, and policymakers are all working tirelessly with limited…
What COVID-19 taught this physician about money
COVID has taught me many things in and outside of medicine. Most importantly, it has taught me that the medical field is a family. There is nothing that drives a family together like a crisis. For those of us on the front lines, I’m raising a pint o…
What has changed for emergency physicians? Not much.
“You are a hero! “ “Thank you for all you are doing!” It is overwhelming and tremendous; it is touching and heartwarming; it is genuine and sincere. The outpouring of support and love for health care workers and first responders has been a bright ligh…
The angst and guilt of an older physician
I am writing this a bit selfishly as part of personal catharsis, and it has been helpful serving that purpose and helping me better understand what I am experiencing. If, however, some of it strikes a meaningful chord or you have some critique or sugge…
Fighting COVID-19: Don’t let health care workers become collateral damage
Last week’s death of the first nurse to die from COVID-19 in New York City infuriated health care colleagues who blamed his death on lack of protective gear. Across the U.S., health care workers are scrambling to design makeshift personal protective eq…
Will COVID-19 stop the devaluation of physicians?
About a year ago, I wrote about how physicians are being devalued. More recently, I posted on my Facebook page how, in the current time of need, physicians are suddenly being valued more. I noted how in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the powers th…
