I Can Only Compare COVID-19 to 9/11

Jarret R. Patton MD FAAP

The edited version of this blog was first run by KevinMD and was picked up by The Mississippi Link (page 6) The following is the full version. The podcast version has since published.

These are tremendous times that we have never faced with before. A novel virus, lack of preparation time, and a healthcare system that already runs at near capacity, we have a disaster of epic proportions on our hands. What can we do? What should we do? How can I help even if I am not on the front lines?

Many of you are waging the war on the front lines: the hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers, emergency rooms, testing centers, and other direct patient care portals. Reports from the battlefront are difficult to stomach. With limited testing and scarcity of personal protective equipment, this turns to be a personal decision with potentially grave consequences. Hats off and congratulations are given to those who are doing what it takes to fulfill our oath. For those on the front lines of the COVID19 pandemic, THANK YOU! Thank you from me, my family, and my neighbors. Stand up if your working conditions are no longer safe and please stay safe.

Many of you who know me and my story from Licensed To Live, I was very reluctant to go back into clinical medicine. I finally made the leap when I started my small specialty concierge cannabis practice in 2019. However, my job on the front line today is mainly pitching in to help by way of telehealth working with a couple of national companies. That is how I decided to pitch in this particular crisis.

The closest parallel for me is 9/11. I was working on the Bellevue Pediatric Emergency Service in New York City overnight of 9/10/2001. Early morning of 9/11 I signed out and left my shift to ride the F train back to Brooklyn pretty sleepy eyed. As I was just about to settle into bed to catch some rest, something caught my attention on the television. It looked like a large skyscraper was on fire on the upper floors. Sleepily I told myself that this would be a perfect movie to fall asleep on…Then I noticed the channel. It was CNN and the building on fire was one of the world trade centers! Immediately the sleepiness left my body as I was shocked by this development. As the reporters were explaining how the tower caught fire after a plane crashed into it, another plane crashed into the other tower. My life felt like it was changing by the second. This couldn’t be bad luck… are we at war? Is New York City under siege? Meanwhile the subways are shutting down, the city is confused. What is going on?

I rushed up several flights of stairs to see if I could get on the rooftop of my building and see what was going on. In disbelief I could see both towers burning at the end of the Manhattan skyline. After confirming the news reports with my own eyes, I called into the hospital. They told me to shelter in place in Brooklyn for now and be on standby. They had enough hands available to attend to the expected barrage of patients that would be sent from the World Trade Centers. Later in the afternoon, I got the call to come in for my overnight shift. Travel was difficult as people were shocked and edgy. However, I made it into the hospital pumped up and ready to spring into action. When I arrived that afternoon, the towers had already collapsed and the emergency room was eerily quiet. There was barely a patient to be seen.

Normally, Bellevue is a bustling place full of kids ranging from barely sick to critical condition. This day it was deserted aside from plenty of nurses and physicians waiting to tend to the injured. I looked around at the vastness of the large empty space. There was only one lone fireman who suffered a minor eye injury while fighting the blaze. People knew to stay away from Bellevue; those cold symptoms and other minor illnesses could wait as the entire nation knew that they were shipping people from the world trade centers to Bellevue. For days the ER was mostly empty except for food donations that were sent from across the country to help feed the staff who was sure to be overworked and tired. The sad part of this empty ER was that there were few survivors to treat. On the other hand, it was amazing to see humanity come together with support across the nation.

I imagine the Bellevue Emergency Service looks very different today. I imagine that it is packed with people having complications of this novel coronavirus. I understand the front line; I have been there. I have rushed to situations with reckless abandon to try and help others even when my own safety could have been in jeopardy. Many of us have and continue to do so. However, what if you can’t be on the front line? Perhaps you are afraid of what it may mean for you, your family, your children, or your elderly parents that you take care of. That is a valid reason as most of us are not trained for this COVID19 scenario. Make that personal choice and don’t be apologetic. There is nothing wrong with sitting on the sideline and being safe in this rapidly changing environment. However, don’t count yourself out; there are ways in which you can help.

If you aren’t a clinical doctor does that mean you go find your lab coat, your pocket books, and run to get expedited credentialing at the nearest hospital? Probably not because there are several reasons someone may not be actively practicing. Consider that you are unlicensed, have some sort of suspension or restriction, or have retired your license. Certainly, don’t start seeing patients or open a pop up tent under this situation. Besides, you may not even be prepared to jump back into the clinical saddle yet. Yes, there are ways you can help, too.

If for any reason you aren’t on the front lines and wish that you could help here are a few suggestions:

1.  Help disseminate REAL information with people and debunk myths that are circulating. This can happen via social media or telephonically to help people understand the facts as we know them today. Perhaps you can write a letter to the editor that can shed further light on the situation or work with a local school district with planning. Personally, I have been broadcasting Facebook livestreams from my @doctorjarret page about COVID-19 to my followers who watch my Two “Sense” Tuesday show there.
2. Consider making a donation. There are many different charities and local funds being set up across the nation knowing that we are in for many changes knowing the lingering effects. This donation doesn’t have to be monetary. Even the blood banks are in dire need of donations; give a pint.
3.  Sign up for a telehealth company. There are many that want your help. There is no time like the present to think telemedicine particularly with the restrictions on home state licensure being lifted across the country. You do need an active unrestricted license for this one, but you are seeing patients remotely (possibly from your own home isolation.)
4. Join local task forces or committees in your professional organizations. There are many local public health organizations trying to keep pace. Often they enjoy the input of another physician. It doesn’t have to be the CDC; your local officials are handling the local business. Often they need the advice of a physician who can spare some time.
5. Stay positive. Keeping an upbeat spirit can be of great benefit to others especially when they are feeling scared. If you have difficulties being positive perhaps you will like my new upcoming book entitled Licensed To Live: Daily Affirmations to Rebuild Your Life. This daily affirmation guide will be sure to transform your thinking into positive territory.
6. If nothing else, stay at home and practice good social distancing. Your example will be followed by others. We all must do our part to limit the spread. Being a good example helps a lot of people change their mind.

Don’t feel bad, don’t be apologetic, there are many of us who can’t be on the front lines. Furthermore, there are so many other ways that we can help. During emergencies we want to be useful and the public expects all of us to be on the front lines. However, we can be useful in many ways even if we aren’t staring COVID19 directly in the face. I learned many years ago that you can be useful in an emergency situation without providing any medical care directly. Take some time for developing your plan and let’s all pitch in to help us flatten the curve in the US. Feel free to contact me if you need help developing your plan moving forward (timewithdoctorjarret.com). Until then, stay safe!