Thread by @Bledsoe4AR

A Thread on Arkansas #COVID19 Vaccination:

In addition to being Surgeon General of Arkansas I am also a practicing Emergency Medicine physician. I do 12 hour shifts in a busy Emergency Department (ED), and have seen many #COVID19 patients during this pandemic. #arpx #ARnews

The low vaccination rate in our state & the rising number of #COVID19 cases has me— and many of my colleagues— concerned.

I realize that people are tired of hearing about #COVID19 , & I also realize that this medical issue has been politicized to browbeat and harangue people towards political ends, but I still believe the people of Arkansas want to know what is happening on the ground.

I’ve worked 4 shifts this week, and this morning I sent texts out to Emergency Medicine colleagues around the state to get feedback on what they’re seeing. This was a politically mixed group— Conservatives & Progressives, Rs & Ds— and they’re colleagues whose opinions I trust.

What I’m hearing is the following:
1. Every doc reported an increase of #COVID19 cases in their ED. Some said it was a small increase. Others described the increase at their facilities as “exponential.” (For the record, these are different EDs, not different perspectives) 5/

2. However, the complicating issue is that there seems to be an increase in non-Covid patients as well. ED volumes are up all over the state, & bed availability in hospitals is generally lower, even without the #COVID19 patients.

3. Added to this is a general shortage of staff, particularly nurses. The nursing shortage is a national problem that didn’t begin with #COVID19 , but Covid has exacerbated it since nurses are being hired away to other states for increased “travel” pay…

and school & daycare closures have put increased pressure on young nurses who are also parents. In some hospitals, there are rooms/beds empty but there are no nurses available to staff those beds. This issue will not be going away anytime soon.

So as my colleagues & I watch the #COVID19 numbers rise, we are growing concerned. This directly affects us & our ability to do our jobs. In Emergency Medicine, we stabilize & then send patients where they need to go. But what do you do if you have nowhere to send them?

I can tell you from personal experience— not from the CDC or the opinion of a politician or the lecturing of a TV journalist— that we already are having a difficult time transferring patients around the state due to capacity issues. Now. All my colleagues today verified this.

Which begs the question, of course. What will we do as the cases increase, and what should we be doing now? Seriously. Ask yourself that question. With these facts, if you were the one responsible, what would you do?

I can tell you there are very passionate people who have strong opinions on what we should and should not be doing. I hear from these people often (both sides). Few of these, however, are actually taking care of #COVID19 patients or trying to find hospital beds in Arkansas.

I can also tell you that of all the many possible responses that I’ve reviewed, the one that makes the most sense, has the most ROI (return on investment), & has the most potential for positive impact, is getting our people vaccinated. Every other response is a distant second.

I realize vaccines in general are controversial to some, and it is true that they are not 100% risk free. However, the #Covid19 vaccine is very low risk overall & no one is completely risk free in this situation. We’re not comparing risk versus no risk. We’re choosing our risk.

As the #COVID19 changes, it is becoming more infectious & we’re learning some patients have long-term problems from the disease. It is also less certain that younger patients will have mild disease. Some very young & healthy people have had very severe #COVID19 infections.

And then there’s the capacity situation. You may choose to not get the vaccine & you may only get mild #COVID19 , but if you get hit by a car, or have a heart attack, or need a surgery, & there is no place for you, you still are going to suffer repercussions due to the pandemic.

Look, at the end of the day it’s a personal choice that every individual needs to make with his/her physician, but the people of Arkansas still need to be aware of the facts as they’re weighing their options. These are the facts based on what Emergency Medicine docs are seeing.

Here are some quotes I received today from my colleagues when I asked them about the #COVID19 situation in Arkansas Emergency Departments:

Here’s one: “Way up. Hospital full. Usually holding admits in ED.”

Another quote:
“We’re full every day. We saw probably 15 yesterday and every day. Very difficult to transfer right now.”

And another:
“Covid cases definitely up. We’ve got the same number of hospitalized Covid patients today as we did a year ago at this time.”

And yet another quote:
“The curve for Covid infections at our hospital is nearly exponential. It has not overwhelmed us particularly in volume yet but I think it’s going to hit it really hard over the next two weeks.”

These aren’t quotes from politicians posturing, or even health care experts trying to promote their careers or make political statements. These are frontline Emergency Physicians reporting to colleagues from field. Here. In our state.

As Americans we have rights. You are allowed to say no to this vaccine & you’re allowed to wait. I have zero problem with those who disagree with my perspective & I support their right to choose. However, everyone deserves the opportunity to know the facts before deciding.

These are the facts. This is where we are in AR. This is the information I hear/see as an Emergency Physician. I’ve made it available so the people of our state can make an informed choice for themselves & their family during this crucial time. Regardless, we’re in this together.