Thread by @KBFischer

An ER doc's opinion on social distancing #COVID19

Today, roughly half of my plans through May were abruptly cancelled. I was looking forward to most of it.

The cancellations were the right call. Here's why:

First: @EmergencyDocs sent out an e-mail that all spring conferences were cancelled, including the Leadership and Advocacy Conference (one of my favorites!). I was slated to speak in a health reform debate with @ActuallyDrJ! It was going to be awesome...

Yet, imagine if #COVID19 spread through a meeting of ER doctors. It would have been an unmitigated public health disaster. In some rural areas, there are only a handful of ER docs working the frontline safety net.

Props to @EmergencyDocs for making the right call.

I also was REALLY looking forward to presenting at @aaeminfo on trauma-informed care: a topic I care deeply about. Im grateful AAEM offered me a shot but my employer restricted travel.

Again, right call. ER doctors in flying metal tubes w/ the potentially contagious would be bad

I'm in Maryland, so @GovLarryHogan cancelled all public schools for the time being. I'm not directly involved as LilFisch is too young, but day care recommendations may be next.

This would be challenging for our family, but kids are REALLY good at spreading viruses. Right call.

Lastly, my wife and I were scheduled for a much needed vacation that we had to cancel this evening. To say that we're bummed about this is an understatement, but again: travel in confined flying metal tubes is a quick way for rapid spread of a novel virus. Wouldn't be smart.

So in summation:
I'm an ER doc and the #COVID19 pandemic is terrible in many ways. It's affecting my life in very tangible ways, none of which I'm happy about.

Still, our public health experts are making the right decisions when there are numerous reasons not to. #SilverLining

Last tweet:
I will throw shade at the federal response to testing. Get us more test kits and fast. The lack of kits is causing the following problems:
1. Unhappy patients
2. Creating untailored quarentines
3. Disrupting emergency department flow (one more tweet...)

The ED flow issue is huge:
I'm told local testing in hospitals/clinics for COVID is coming shortly, but not available yet.

To put it bluntly: I'm a board certified emergency physician with public health training. Getting test preapproval from others only delays care. /final/