Things have been moving fast in the world these days.
Two weeks ago, there was agonizing about whether or not to take that trip to the U.S. that I had been looking forward to all year, lined up for right after the Royal College exam. Coronavirus was bad in China, not quite so bad yet elsewhere.
One week ago, we decided not to go and start canceling our reservations. Coronavirus ramping up fast.
Six days ago, pandemic state declared by WHO.
Last Friday, towards the end of the day, the Royal College exams were postponed with no definite reschedule date.
Today, Royal College exams potentially back on.
It is hard to make plans with such a quickly shifting landscape. It is easy to feel powerless and adrift. There are, however, things within each of our spheres of influence. Let’s explore some of these.
General Population
Can I just pause for a moment and say how awesome our community at large is? It’s not often we hear feel good stories on big news outlets. Seeing this article in the BBC about caremongering suffused my entire being with happiness. Yes, there are people stockpiling. Yes, there people bulk buying then reselling cleaning products for profit. But really tough times can also bring out the best in people.
I’ve seen lots of good stuff on social media these days encouraging people to stay home, wash hands often, sneeze into the elbow area of sleeves, and if you go out, go only for necessities or to help someone in need (ideally both at the same time). I would add to that, consider implementing some kind of routine to take care of yourself as well, in the wise words of a close friend I was speaking with today (via videochat). We all need to shore up not only our outer physical reserves but also our inner resilience.
Medical Students
Last I heard, it has been mixed across the country as to whether medical students have been pulled off rotation or not. For those on clinical rotations still, thank you for being an integral part of the team. I remember clerkship days and feeling extraneous or “a bother”. Stating this from the other side, please don’t worry about that. You’re not. You are truly a team member.
For those off of clinical duties, thank you for all your hard work on duty. Though no longer on clinical rotations, some of you have gone a step beyond and have started organizing yourselves to offer relief to other medical colleagues still at work. This includes offering things like childcare, running errands, getting groceries, etc. for health care providers. This has cropped up at several medical schools across the country. Thank you. This speaks to the generosity of spirit that lives in our current colleagues and future physicians. For any who have not had this initiative yet at your school, please consider being the first one to step forward. I know many of your classmates have the same warmth of spirit and may be looking for an outlet to channel it.
Residents
We may joke about being the slaves of academic hospital that make everything run. What I’ve seen as years and residency pass under the bridge is that what we do significantly amplifies what the staff we work with can do. We are essential to hospital and clinic function and for patient care. Instead of one staff physician seeing one patient, when we get involved, they can essentially see as many patients as we do within almost the same time block. With the exponentially increasing numbers and potential wave of patients coming, the importance of what we do is even more stark. Our numbers may get lower with needs for self-isolation and call schedules may get even tighter. I know we can do it.
It’s also time to consider what may be coming on the horizon, looking at China and Italy. We may get called to do work outside of our usual scope of practice if things get bad enough. I vote we pre-emptively dust off some of that knowledge some of us thought we might be able to put to rest after the MCCQE II.
Staff Physicians
What more is there to say? You’re already working around the clock while trying to keep apprised of the most current recommendations. Thank you for modeling leadership in these extraordinarily trying times. I’m inspired and grateful when I see the physician leadership on social media and in the news. Even if we don’t have it all figured out, I can feel the drive coming from every corner of the country to tackle this head on (even if some governments are *cough* less than supportive, others are). Please continue to try to spread the word on as many platforms as you can. People still listen to physicians. Work with your healthcare system administration and with the government. We are effecting change. Let’s flatten that curve!
Side Note: Finances
Money is ever present, even in times like these. I know some physicians may be operating at a loss (e.g. family physicians doing the right thing but not having appropriate billing codes – 14 per week? Please) and in those cases, keeping cash flow going is key. For other physicians under AFP or ARP, residents who are salaried or anyone else who has a steady paycheque coming in, five words: Buy or hold. Don’t sell.
Now is not the time to lock in our “paper losses” in the stock market and turn them into real losses.
We’re going to come out the other side. Let’s not be poorer for it, on top of everything else that’s going to happen between now and when this is over.
-Dr.FIREfly
