I suspect that everyone is getting antsy about when we can get back to work, and I imagine that our private practice colleagues are worrying about when they need to make some tough decisions about whether and when to let some employees go. In an “eat what you kill” private practice, I imagine that if you don’t work, you don’t eat. The American Medical Association is actively working on supporting physician practices: <https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/covid-19-economic-stimulus-must-aid-struggling-physician-practices>, and I hear that some ophthalmology and dermatology practices are accessing small business loans to help keep themselves afloat.
Importantly, there are also several communities (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Seattle, etc) that are getting overwhelmed right now. According to my local Department of Health, as of last night, there are 7 states that have issued Stay at Home Orders: CA, IL, NY, NJ, OH, LA, CT. Our state medical society in Missouri has just called for our Governor to issue a similar order in our state.
Many or even most of us will likely get COVID-19 (or COVID-20, or -21) over the coming months and years. Our goal should not be to stay disease-free forever, but rather to “flatten the curve” of affected and critically ill people. If other countries are any indication, 80% will likely have mild disease, 14% may have moderate disease requiring oxygen, 4-6% may get severely ill, and perhaps 2% will die. Over time, we will need those healthcare workers who get sick and recover, to take care of the rest of us when it’s our turn.
If you haven’t already, this is also a great time to connect with your local county or state medical societies, as many of your local physician groups have been hosting webinars with their state and local departments of health to keep everyone up-to-date. Hopefully, we are instituting social distancing just when it mattered the most. I encourage everyone to donate blood, comply with good hygiene and social distancing, and stockpile 14 days’ worth of food and sundries (in case you need to self-quarantine) but *not* hoard. It is also important to go outside and get some fresh air, reconnect with friends and family, and have us all take care of ourselves and each other.
In the meantime, this will be a time of great societal change. My hope is that this pandemic (and our response) will increase our sense of community and togetherness. I am reassured that even our dysfunctional Congress can pass emergency legislation in a crisis. We need to fight fear, panic, social isolation, and #CoronavirusCabinFever, while also remembering to take care of ourselves and each other. Our state and national leaders are right: this is a war, and we need to band together, so that we don’t get overwhelmed.
Stay safe and well,
– Albert Hsu, MD Columbia, Missouri