Read on Twitter
THREAD - Why I feel an impending sense of doom re #COVID19 in America
Frontline HC workers have been increasingly treated as a commodity by the corporatization of medicine
They continue to be viewed as a dispensable commodity during this crisis...
1/x
Frontline HC workers have been increasingly treated as a commodity by the corporatization of medicine
They continue to be viewed as a dispensable commodity during this crisis...
1/x
I’ve written about how millennial docs felt they were waking into a crisis for @Medscape
Big part of this crisis was how doctors were being devalued
And admins not on front lines of care have increasingly tried to influence practice of medicine
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/923456
2/x">https://www.medscape.com/viewartic...
Big part of this crisis was how doctors were being devalued
And admins not on front lines of care have increasingly tried to influence practice of medicine
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/923456
2/x">https://www.medscape.com/viewartic...
@danielleofri in her @nytimes piece wrote about how “The Business of Health Care Depends on Exploiting Doctors and Nurses
One resource seems infinite and free: the professionalism of caregivers”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/08/opinion/sunday/hospitals-doctors-nurses-burnout.html
3/x">https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/0...
One resource seems infinite and free: the professionalism of caregivers”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/08/opinion/sunday/hospitals-doctors-nurses-burnout.html
3/x">https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/0...
Now the coronavirus crisis is here. Business as usual.
I’ve heard numerous reports of non front line admins blatantly disregarding the safety of their front line HC workers
4/x https://twitter.com/jfitzgeraldMD/status/1241911533912948745">https://twitter.com/jfitzgera...
I’ve heard numerous reports of non front line admins blatantly disregarding the safety of their front line HC workers
4/x https://twitter.com/jfitzgeraldMD/status/1241911533912948745">https://twitter.com/jfitzgera...
Many reports of doctors being threatened for wearing masks in hospitals around non #COVID pts despite known asymptomatic transmission
Being threatened because they are causing “hysteria”
5/x
Being threatened because they are causing “hysteria”
5/x
Then you have government officials blaming frontline HC workers for a mask shortage
Similar to how government will blame physicians for high HC costs or “surprise bills” when this is utter nonsense
Doctors are always the softest target
6/x https://twitter.com/drdanchoi/status/1241942985295749120">https://twitter.com/drdanchoi...
Similar to how government will blame physicians for high HC costs or “surprise bills” when this is utter nonsense
Doctors are always the softest target
6/x https://twitter.com/drdanchoi/status/1241942985295749120">https://twitter.com/drdanchoi...
There is a disturbing trend
It’s always the “greedy doctors” fault when it comes to HC system failures
Or in this case “the doctor who doesn’t know how to reuse masks”
Never mind masks were never made to be reused
7/x https://twitter.com/813jaferd/status/1241708860819341317">https://twitter.com/813jaferd...
It’s always the “greedy doctors” fault when it comes to HC system failures
Or in this case “the doctor who doesn’t know how to reuse masks”
Never mind masks were never made to be reused
7/x https://twitter.com/813jaferd/status/1241708860819341317">https://twitter.com/813jaferd...
Now we are starting to see and hear about our colleagues getting exposed to #COVID and fall sick
We are starting to hear of colleagues getting killed by #COVID
8/x https://twitter.com/brianchiong/status/1241924168263897089">https://twitter.com/brianchio...
We are starting to hear of colleagues getting killed by #COVID
8/x https://twitter.com/brianchiong/status/1241924168263897089">https://twitter.com/brianchio...
There is fear in the physician community
Fear that we are being thrown into the fire without adequate protection
Fear that we have to stare death in the face for the first time. That we may leave behind our families without a spouse or a parent
9/x
Fear that we are being thrown into the fire without adequate protection
Fear that we have to stare death in the face for the first time. That we may leave behind our families without a spouse or a parent
9/x
There is anger in the physican community.
Anger that our hospital admins don’t have sound plans or equipment to protect us
Anger that the government has lacked in their preparation and we must pay for their ineptitude
10/x
Anger that our hospital admins don’t have sound plans or equipment to protect us
Anger that the government has lacked in their preparation and we must pay for their ineptitude
10/x
Their fear and anger likely won’t go beyond our closed WhatsApp/Twitter/FB chats but the quiet conversations are happening
These conversations are tough
I’ve heard of physicians consider filming good bye videos for their children
11/x
These conversations are tough
I’ve heard of physicians consider filming good bye videos for their children
11/x
I’ve heard of physicians contemplating....quitting
This isn’t said without anguish
If they pulled the trigger, they would leave behind colleagues with an even greater burden
And their patients would suffer
12/x
This isn’t said without anguish
If they pulled the trigger, they would leave behind colleagues with an even greater burden
And their patients would suffer
12/x
But the anguish is real
Is it also fair that their own children or spouse may lose them due to the ineptitude of others?
I don’t disagree with them: We all took an oath to practice ethically, not to sacrifice our lives because of government ineptitude and corporate greed
13/x
Is it also fair that their own children or spouse may lose them due to the ineptitude of others?
I don’t disagree with them: We all took an oath to practice ethically, not to sacrifice our lives because of government ineptitude and corporate greed
13/x
I don’t have a good answer or solution
But these quiet conversations are happening
Doctors will always be there for their patients
But they just can’t go running into the burning building without adequate protection
14/x
But these quiet conversations are happening
Doctors will always be there for their patients
But they just can’t go running into the burning building without adequate protection
14/x
