Had our first "war room" related to @EmoryMedicine PCCM fellow deployments during #COVID19 yesterday. While I may be late to the game, I thought I'd share some reflections on the process for Program Directors who haven't yet gone through the process. 1/9
While identifying rotations that were relatively housestaff-dependent and likely to become very busy over the next few weeks and months wasn't a challenge, choosing rotations from which fellows could be conscripted was a bit more of a challenge. 2/9
Like most programs, we don't have much "fluff"; while there are electives, they all have educational value. That said, we made the tough choice to temporarily preemptively pull fellows from all non-essential rotations to keep the workforce healthy. 3/9
While we don't yet have any manpower shortages due to ill and quarantined fellows, I can foresee a not-too-distant future where that will be the case. So we are basically assigning some of our fellows (on a rotating basis) to temporary home furloughs to keep them healthy. 4/9
During this time, we will have them teach our medical students virtually, manage outpatients via telemedicine (as best as possible), and have a little downtime for reflection and wellness (at least I hope). 5/9
In a way, this seems a bit like wartime rationing. And maybe its wrong. But I think I'd rather have us overprepared than underprepared. I'd be curious to hear from other PDs how many are doing something like this. 6/9
#EmoryPCCM fellows (and PCCM fellows in general) are the best. They want to work; they want to help... I get it. Being home might be relaxing for a short while, but for most, keeping busy helps to mitigate some of the stress and anxiety. The psychological stress is huge. 7/9
As an aside, I think this is where I worry about our medical students the most. They want to be helpful, but some of them are struggling to figure out how when the system is trying its best to keep them safe. This is why they will all be great doctors someday. 8/9
Like the overwhelming majority of you, I have no idea what happens next. I have no idea if the decisions we are making are wholly inadequate or massively overcautious. But let's keep talking, keep providing information, and keep supporting each other. Stay well, all. 9/9
