Preface: I'm fine.
Tweet: I spent yesterday in the Covid ER at Washington Regional. What I saw was a well-oiled machine. My nurse and ER doc were amazing despite: Almost constant arrival of ambulances. Frequent calls about transfers. ER rooms full. But total calm.
Tweet: I spent yesterday in the Covid ER at Washington Regional. What I saw was a well-oiled machine. My nurse and ER doc were amazing despite: Almost constant arrival of ambulances. Frequent calls about transfers. ER rooms full. But total calm.
https://twitter.com/ADHPIO/status/1322640114535878659
No one wants to be in a Covid ER. I balked until my doc very strongly insisted. I envisioned a scene like Italy. People on the floors, in the hallways. It was nothing like that.
Immediate triage and room placement. I didn't see another patient until I was leaving.
Immediate triage and room placement. I didn't see another patient until I was leaving.
In that moment, my heart broke. It was a man, looked like in his 60's, white as a sheet, being wheeled on a bed. He was clearly struggling for breath. He looked scared.
Whoever he is, he's one of 667 hospitalized Arkansans. And he's one of us - a neighbor with a worried family.
Whoever he is, he's one of 667 hospitalized Arkansans. And he's one of us - a neighbor with a worried family.
My nurse and doc were as good as it gets. You could tell they've been bathed in the fire of Covid batttles and emerged with knowledge on how best to attack it.
The tests I needed, the materials required- it all unfurled with mechanical precision and a side of human compassion.
The tests I needed, the materials required- it all unfurled with mechanical precision and a side of human compassion.
The rooms are cleaned by robots (with UV light? I could be wrong). It was the cleanest room I've ever entered.
The doc was thorough, reassuring. But he kept saying there's still so much we don't know about this virus.
The doc was thorough, reassuring. But he kept saying there's still so much we don't know about this virus.
What we do know is that I don't have a blood clot, which was great news, tho I do have to folo on cardiac.
I've felt defeated lately by this virus. At a state level, the numbers feel on the verge of spiraling. On a personal level, I followed all the guidelines and still got it.
I've felt defeated lately by this virus. At a state level, the numbers feel on the verge of spiraling. On a personal level, I followed all the guidelines and still got it.
But what I experienced at the hospital gave me hope. It is easy to look at the anti-maskers, the indoor events, the lack of political will and feel bereft.
This visit showed me the other side. The people who are helping keep us alive now that we've opened Pandora's Box.
This visit showed me the other side. The people who are helping keep us alive now that we've opened Pandora's Box.
While many of our leaders may have not been up to the challenge of Covid, our Healthcare workers are. And individually, so many of you are doing the right thing everyday. You're protecting the vulnerable in your lives. You're being kind. You're voting.
Thanks to @wregional for turning a truly scary experience into one that gave me hope.
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