Medical

Everyone called her “Maggie,” which was short for Magnolia. She acquired that nickname because she was from the Deep South, which made her a standout in New York. Her name was really Linda. Maggie seemed to gravitate to the Irish in New York City, where she worked as a nurse. Not that she had a…

It is all about the nurses and the respiratory therapists.  I watch countless brave actions every day in the ICU.  These are people who, in “normal” times,  spend nights, weekends, and holidays caring for the sickest of the sick. They are modestly paid, and often have little control over their schedules.  They balance a stream…

Last night, a cable news host raised an anguished alarm about the crisis of the pandemic in America’s nursing homes.   It resonated.  As a physician, I have worked in those places across the U.S.  From the pastoral rural to the gritty inner city.  Faces of people and scenes inside those walls flashed before my eyes.…

As death tolls rise from the global spread of a novel coronavirus, I have observed an increase in anxiety among my patients. I am writing this article to provide physicians with tips on how to help their patients cope with anxiety from the coronavirus. 1. Validate their anxiety To some degree, an increase in anxiety…

Home with your partner and hours of time ticking slowly by? As the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 continues to spread widely in the US and beyond, restrictions that promote social distancing do, too. By now, you may find yourself essentially quarantined at home with your partner. While this can be a wonderful time to connect…

I was about to step out for an evening shift when I caught a small quiver in my wife’s lip as she was saying good-bye. This drew me up short. I could tell that she was worried about me; it occurred to me she had a point. I’d had about a week off, and in…

A troubling type of social media post I’ve recently seen from providers (often not directly taking care of any COVID-19 patients) is one of excitement at the prospect for the medical community coming together to defeat this invisible foe. This mentality seems to say that as health care providers, we should all rush to the…

One needs to look no further than any mainstream news or social media outlet to realize that our public health system and hospitals are overwhelmed. Whether it be the lack of adequate testing reagents to properly monitor the current COVID-19 pandemic or the lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators to safely care for…