There’s still a lot of uncertainty around Omicron.
But it’s clearly about to cause a massive spike in cases. And soon.
Working in the ER today made me really concerned about what we’ll see in the coming weeks.
This is what I’m worried about…
🧵
But it’s clearly about to cause a massive spike in cases. And soon.
Working in the ER today made me really concerned about what we’ll see in the coming weeks.
This is what I’m worried about…
🧵
For starters, we are facing a massive nursing shortage.
Nurses are overextended, taking care of more patients than is generally considered safe.
Anyone working in the ER knows that nothing happens without nurses.
And a good nurse can be the difference between life and death.
Nurses are overextended, taking care of more patients than is generally considered safe.
Anyone working in the ER knows that nothing happens without nurses.
And a good nurse can be the difference between life and death.
https://twitter.com/EmergencyDocs/status/1471246202356355074
On top of that, healthcare workers are burnt out. Crushed. Exhausted after two years of the pandemic.
They are quitting in droves.
Those that stay are struggling with psychological scars or grasping to find the empathy that used to come so easily.
They are quitting in droves.
Those that stay are struggling with psychological scars or grasping to find the empathy that used to come so easily.
https://twitter.com/craig_a_spencer/status/1470605747205644295?s=21
Most still pull it together and come to work.
Many just go through the motions. They’re ‘there’, but not like they used to be.
And a lot have just left. 18 percent of health-care workers have quit since the pandemic began.
@edyong209
theatlantic.com/health/archive…
Many just go through the motions. They’re ‘there’, but not like they used to be.
And a lot have just left. 18 percent of health-care workers have quit since the pandemic began.
@edyong209
theatlantic.com/health/archive…
And lastly, most ERs are swamped. Many were bad before the pandemic. They’re worse now.
Even those not crushed with Covid.
Today I saw a patient who needed heart surgery before the pandemic but put it off, showing up today when things got much worse.
npr.org/sections/healt…
Even those not crushed with Covid.
Today I saw a patient who needed heart surgery before the pandemic but put it off, showing up today when things got much worse.
npr.org/sections/healt…
The point is that even if Omicron cases turn out to be milder (which is no guarantee), the sheer number of expected cases can overwhelm an already fragile system.
Previously we asked you to flatten the curve.
But the next curve could truly flatten us.
Previously we asked you to flatten the curve.
But the next curve could truly flatten us.
Sure, we know a lot more know about Covid. We have much more experience treating severe disease and saving lives.
And we aren’t worried about ventilator shortages like March 2020.
But it’s much harder to produce a nurse than a ventilator.
And we aren’t worried about ventilator shortages like March 2020.
But it’s much harder to produce a nurse than a ventilator.
In South Africa 20% of healthcare providers got sidelined with Covid after Omicron started spreading there.
If we experience even a fraction of that loss amongst our already struggling and short-staffed frontline providers, we’re in huge trouble.
mg.co.za/coronavirus-es…
If we experience even a fraction of that loss amongst our already struggling and short-staffed frontline providers, we’re in huge trouble.
mg.co.za/coronavirus-es…
Moreover, everything we learned about how to treat Covid over the last two years doesn’t matter much if you have to wait three times as long in the ER.
In many ways we’re much better off than we were in March 2020.
In many others, we’re not.
In many ways we’re much better off than we were in March 2020.
In many others, we’re not.
Whether out of complacency or exhaustion, we ignore this at our own peril.
As an ER doc, I promise you’d rather face the next few months fully vaccinated.
Wear a mask. Rapid test before indoor gatherings. Be safe.
And if you know a healthcare worker, maybe tell them thanks.
As an ER doc, I promise you’d rather face the next few months fully vaccinated.
Wear a mask. Rapid test before indoor gatherings. Be safe.
And if you know a healthcare worker, maybe tell them thanks.
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