listening to @NYGovCuomo discussing the reality of staffing up medical facilities reinforces what i've been suggesting for the past few days, which I've been informed by a source is NOT being done:
training a second- and third- wave of first responders.
training a second- and third- wave of first responders.
We know people are going to get sick - 20-60% of the population are the reliable estimates I'm hearing.
20% of the population of the US is over 60M people.
Healthcare workers are the front lines, and one thing we aren't considering: most protective gear is designed for one use.
20% of the population of the US is over 60M people.
Healthcare workers are the front lines, and one thing we aren't considering: most protective gear is designed for one use.
So those gloves, gowns, respirators -
they all get tossed after they've been used for one patient, or one shift, depending on what patients are being treated for.
they all get tossed after they've been used for one patient, or one shift, depending on what patients are being treated for.
And if our borders are effectively closed, if we're not getting replacement N95 respirators from China (as I hear they're threatening, if we don't buy crap from Huawei),
Those protections for the health care workers will be gone.
And any older workers will immed. be at risk.
Those protections for the health care workers will be gone.
And any older workers will immed. be at risk.
And even just if HC providers become incapacitated by illness for a short period of time, that leaves us with no protective gear, no doctors, nurses, etc -
effectively, the healthcare system shuts down from lack of labor.
effectively, the healthcare system shuts down from lack of labor.
So. What can we do about it?
It takes strategy, which - as far as I've been told - has not yet been put into place.
Because nobody is funding it, and everybody is looking to the short term.
It takes strategy, which - as far as I've been told - has not yet been put into place.
Because nobody is funding it, and everybody is looking to the short term.
What we need is to think ahead, and start training additional healthcare worker capacity.
We need to think about recruiting:
a) everyone who has recovered
b) young people - students, etc
c) service industry workers (restau/bars)
We need to think about recruiting:
a) everyone who has recovered
b) young people - students, etc
c) service industry workers (restau/bars)
And, rather than pulling retired healthcare workers directly in the line of fire, leveraging their experience to train others, post-infection.
A combo of telelearning, practicing in-home on models, and in-person practicum could make this work, PLUS
A combo of telelearning, practicing in-home on models, and in-person practicum could make this work, PLUS
Think of it like a national guard for emergency health care - training, accommodations should be free to participants.
And I'd say it should result in full forgiveness of student loans for anyone who participates.
And I'd say it should result in full forgiveness of student loans for anyone who participates.
I have ideas on how to make this happen, but I've made some enemies in this administration, so I'm certainly not anticipating anyone there to listen to me.
I'll write this up in more detail over the next two days, but if you know of anything like this already in progress, lmk.
I'll write this up in more detail over the next two days, but if you know of anything like this already in progress, lmk.
