Category: Infectious disease

Loneliness in the time of COVID-19

Recently, I have been recommending that my friends, colleagues, and loved ones limit their time watching the news and scrolling through social media. There seems to be another contagion besides COVID-19. A contagion created from equal parts fear, greed…

There are not enough nurses to care for the coronavirus pandemic

It’s a cliché but the horse is out of the barn. There is no doubt that coronavirus is widespread in the United States and the situation is getting worse. No one — not the government, not hospitals — are addressing the elephant in the room. …

There has never been a greater need for telemedicine than now

I left the U.S. just in time. During my vacation in Australia, I was relieved I would dodge some of the angst and uncertainty in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic. As it turns out, even this getaway on the opposite side of the world was no escape. Wit…

Love for doctors in the COVID-19 coronavirus era

All across the world, physicians have answered an internal call to action in response to COVID-19 coronavirus. Early on, there was an online mobilization. Existing closed physician Facebook groups were beginning to share information regarding the novel…

How coronavirus will tax already overcrowded U.S. emergency departments

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is already having far-reaching effects on our nation. The stock market has taken a historic plunge from its all-time high. Major entertainment and sporting events have been canceled. I recently took a cross-country flig…

How coronavirus will tax already overcrowded U.S. emergency departments

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is already having far-reaching effects on our nation. The stock market has taken a historic plunge from its all-time high. Major entertainment and sporting events have been canceled. I recently took a cross-country flig…

An intensivist’s one-pager on COVID-19

Here is a one page summary of what I have read and seen caring for people with COVID-19. This is a distillation of data and guidelines available elsewhere. Please visit ICU One Pager for the latest version.  Available for download as a PDF, PNG, or PPT…

Please listen to the COVID-19 coronavirus experts. Help us save lives.

Sigh. I don’t know how to say this without coming across as a complete a-hole, but when epidemiologists, the majority of physicians, public health experts, etc. are all recommending major social distancing measures in order to prevent the COVID-19 outb…

COVID-19 is exposing our broken health care system. Young physicians will help.

News trends come, and news trends go. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is a news topic that, for the time being, is here to stay. This pandemic has already revealed deeper issues within the culture of medicine here in the United States and f…

As a physician fighting coronavirus, I am angry

I am angry. I am going to be working to care for patients to the best of my ability. But will continue to be angry. Angry at the lack of resources we seem to have access to. Angry at the lack of testing supplies we have. Angry at the social isolation t…