Hope all of you are getting through this difficult time as well as can be expected.⠀
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After three weeks at home, I realized that there were several opportunities to help out at Tufts Medical Center, where I see patients and do most of my surgeries. I am really grateful to feel like I am helping people again, even though it’s really different than my normal job.⠀
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I spent most of last week helping out at the COVID-19 testing clinic. This week I am working in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) as part of the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) support team. ⠀
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I am really proud of our hospital for putting this team together. Our job is to observe the nurses, doctors and other people who are taking care of COVID-19 patients to make sure they are using PPE correctly. ⠀
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There is a precise sequence of steps for donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) PPE to maximize safety and it’s our job to make sure everyone does this correctly every time they enter and leave a patient room. The nurses and doctors in the unit take care of the patients. Our team helps take care of the nurses and doctors providing direct patient care.⠀
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The PPE support team is made up of doctors, nurses and surgical techs from the operating room whose surgeries have been put on hold. Someone had the idea that using PPE to protect against coronavirus isn’t that different than the PPE we use during surgery, so operating room staff would be well suited to help their colleagues in this way. We all received additional training to become part of this team.⠀
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Hospital floors and units where COVID-19 patients are being cared for are full of stress and anxiety. Everyone wants to help the patients but no one wants to get sick themselves. It’s our job to make sure the direct caregivers feel well supported and safe. Nurses spend the most time inside patient rooms and really appreciate that we are looking out for them. ⠀
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As an oculoplastic surgeon, I am not qualified to treat COVID patients directly, but there are still opportunities to help. I feel really proud be part of this hospital and privileged to help out in this way.
Medical Intense Care Unit Tufts Medical Center
