Doctors Orders: Stay Home. For Us.
Let's talk for a minute.
This past weekend, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, my husband was on his way home from a trail run when he passed Walmart. He stopped to take a picture and send it to me because he was in disbelief — not at how empty it was, but because of how many cars were there. IT WAS PACKED.
Yesterday, I filled in as attending on one of the Internal Medicine hospital teaching teams. I always ask the patients what else I can do for them to end our conversation. One particular patient responded with a complaint. They couldn’t understand why it was such a big deal that a significant other had brought in clean clothes for them the previous night.
“It’s not like strokes are contagious,” they said, sarcastically. “It’s not like I'm going to give [them] what I have."
I was shocked.
What?!
This was a BIG wake up call.
America, what is happening? Do you not understand WHY healthcare professionals are BEGGING you to stay home and to social distance?
As physicians, we are lifelong educators, and right now we are urging you to listen to what we have to say. We took an oath to do no harm and to give our all to protect you. So, please, let us help you.
Let me break it down.
COVID-19 is HIGHLY contagious. That means if you are in close contact with someone who has it, you will likely get it. You can have the virus AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT.
So, why is that a big deal? Let’s use the example from my patient.
Significant other (SO) brings clothes to hospital. Patient contracts virus from SO during close contact, but both are asymptomatic. Now patient is in the hospital without isolation precautions exposing nurses, aids, physicians, RT, PT/OT, cafeteria staff, housekeepers, etc. These healthcare workers go on about their day, doing their jobs, going from one room to another, all the while spreading this contagious virus to everyone in the hospital — including the 80-year-old grandpa next door who will likely die from the virus.
At the end of the day, all these employees potentially bring this virus home to their families and into the community.
So yes, bringing some items to the hospital IS A BIG DEAL.
The same can be said about the grocery store.
All of the people who cram into store isles hoarding canned goods and toilet paper are in close contact, potentially exponentially spreading this virus. Once it spreads in the U.S., the number of us needing medical care will skyrocket. As a physician, this is terrifying.
We don't have enough protective equipment — particularly masks, ventilators and hospital beds — to care for that many people at once.
So, what should you do?
STAY HOME.
Don't put your neighbor, local store employee, physician, nurse, friend, or family at risk of dying.
IT IS THAT IMPORTANT.
Victoria Jaeger, DO
Texas A&M University/Baylor Scott & White Health Internal Medicine Residency 2019, Current Chief Resident
PNWU Class of 2016