Thread by @Cleavon_MD

🧵This thread is about the lack of emotional and financial support for frontline healthcare workers and how to help us by passing:
1. Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act
2. Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020 1/15

It's difficult to capture the emotional distress healthcare workers are enduring, but perhaps my Facebook journal entry "Casualty of War" about the Iraq War, suicide and the loss of my mentor Dr. Lorna Breen can help 2/15 facebook.com/cleavon.gilman…

Everyday healthcare workers are tasked with doing more with ZERO help from the government. In hospitals, HCWs lack PPE, ⬆️ nursing-patient ratios, endless deaths and inability to strike. Even worse, if healthcare workers speak out, some hospitals threaten to fire them. 3/15

A war is being waged in hospitals placing emotional strain on healthcare workers. The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act aims to provide grants to reduce & prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions & substance-use disorders 4/15
ama-assn.org/practice-manag…

In recognition of National Physician Suicide Awareness Day, the family of Dr. Lorna Breen, who died by suicide during the COVID pandemic shares her story and @drbreenheroes & legislation that is working to normalize asking for help as a physician. 5/15

Make no mistake, we are in a war. What lies ahead for healthcare workers will be identical to the PTSD facing soldiers returning from Iraq. Nothing is normal about 2,500 people dying per day. Memories will eventually surface and HCWs need to be supported. 6/15

The pandemic is worse than the Iraq War. 2,500 PEOPLE are dying a day. No hiding place. A global war being waged on all fronts only in hospitals against an invisible enemy, trojan horse, that infects and kills our innocent families. No federal support. @KateBolduan 7/15

Healthcare workers did not sign up to work during an endless pandemic with ZERO help from state & federal governments. 2,000 HCWs deaths. Meanwhile, some hospitals threaten workers for speaking out. Support the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act @KateBoldua 8/15

Before the pandemic, physicians committed suicide at twice the rate of the general population. One doctor per day dies by suicide in the U.S. We can't train new doctors fast enough to keep up and COVID19 killing physicians has only exacerbated it. 9/15 elemental.medium.com/physician-suic…

Let's not forget that our own government attacks us, while we are giving everything we have. Trump insulted doctors dying on the frontlines saying "You know, our doctors get more money if someone dies from COVID" Scroll UP 10/15

https://twitter.com/Cleavon_MD/status/1322390107802890240?s=20

We've also been accused of stealing PPE! In NYC when hospitals were overwhelmed & we plead for PPE, Trump accused us [healthcare workers] of stealing masks. "Where are the masks going? Are they going out the back door?" 11/15

We are doing everything WE CAN to save lives throughout the pandemic, but it's so disheartening when millions believe the pandemic is a hoax and minimize our traumatic experiences. 12/15

Lastly, imagine sending 100,000s troops to an unprecedented war, in many parts of the country, with limited supplies. On the frontlines, fighting for this country. Watching their own get sick, die, and even commit suicide. 13/15

Then in the middle of that war. The govt. implements a pay cut to the very people that are fighting that war.

Absolutely appalling!

@CMSGov implemented a 6% paycut on medical reimbursements to ER doctors, anesthesiologists, and others. 14/15

Please financially support frontline workers by stopping the 6% paycut on medical reimbursements to ER doctors, anesthesiologists & others. Help us pass:

The Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020

Thank you /end
hospitalmedicine.org/policy--advoca…