Started my day with computer training remotely at my hotel. To access the remote training (that had a live instructor) I had to accept an invitation that arrived in my email last night. The invitation stated the instruction would last an hour and a half and start at 5 am! Yikes! Really? Does the instructor have to perform Easter Bunny duties and needs to get this training done before their kids wake up? I figured, ok, whatever. So, I set my alarm for 4:30, got up, made my coffee, attempted to log on to the instruction, no-one there. Hmm..... Tried several more times, rechecked the email, no success. Then it occurred to me, I wonder if the training is supposed to start at 8am and my computer set on pacific time has anything to do with this? Yea, logged in at 8 am EST and my computer training promptly started! Of course by that time I had drunk many cups of coffee and got my training finished in less than an hour!
So, given that it's Easter, I'll start with some positive comments. The community of Newark has really rallied around their hospital. Every day a different group has provided free hot meals to all the hospital staff. Both days that I have been here, around lunch time volunteers start carting in foil containers of food. Yesterday it was rice, vegetables, and a chicken dish. Today for lunch, lasagna, eggplant parmesan, vegetables. This is repeated at dinner time. It is clear the community really values the work being done at their hospital. Each person I introduce myself to as an out of town physician, sincerely thanks me for coming to Newark. Every person I talk to personally knows someone that has been sick. This is not just a news story seen on TV, it's their families and their friends that are sick-- many fighting for their lives. People here seem to be pulling together to fight a common enemy in any way they can contribute. I'm guessing its similar in other areas of the country that have been hard hit by this virus. Maybe thats the one positive that comes out of this pandemic.
On a more dismal note, the airway team intubated five patients during the 12 hour daytime shift. The way this works is the team stays in the anesthesia lounge until a very distinctive 'ding' comes over the PA system followed by, "Anesthesia STAT, B4. Anesthesia STAT B4" We then head to the ward with all the equipment necessary to intubate the patient so that they can be mechanically ventilated. Outside the room of the patient, we begin to put on all the necessary equipment to protect ourselves from the virus. Multiple masks, double gloves, face shields, gowns, and foot covers. A hood with a fan circulating air goes over all of this. When you enter the room you find a patient that is struggling to breath. Unfortunately, its very difficult to communicate with the patient given all of the layers of protective equipment, but we do our best to reassure them as we take them off to sleep. It doesn't seem like enough given the patients desperate situation. For the most part, the process of intubation takes less than a minute. We leave the room after the patient has been connected to the ventilator, but before we leave we remove all of the contaminated layers of protective gear. Once back outside the room I look back at the patient, now on the ventilator and consider I might have been this persons last visual, me in what looks like a space suit, bending over them trying to communicate some reassurance, but I'm sure its inadequate and terrifying. For me, its very unnerving and depressing. Thats all for now. Much love to all!
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