Some thoughts after tonight’s ER shift (thread):

1) #StayHome is the right message for those are well to stop #COVID19 spread. But seeing a lot of people who are sick stay home until something minor has turned into something very serious and a lot harder to treat.

2) Many ER docs have said this, but we are frequently discovering #COVID19 incidentally in patients being tested for other things (recurrent theme of multifocal pneumonia in lung bases on abdominal CT). Asymptomatic carry is very real, hence need for hand hygiene, distance, masks

3) A reason by #COVID19 is disproportionately affecting urban, low-income families (beyond higher comorbidities): extremely hard to maintain physical distancing. Crowded housing, crowded grocery stores, reliance on public transport, no place to escape to, no Zoom for their jobs

4) But many bright spots:
- We are so appreciative of the many people and local restaurants that have sent food to the ER and hospital ( @DiBrunoBros, Mike's BBQ, @panerabread, @bostonmarket, @dunkindonuts to name a few) - thank you!!! It really boosts everyone's spirits

5) Enrolled my first discharged patient in @PennMedicine's remote monitoring program COVID-19 watch program ( https://covidwatch.waytohealth.org/ ) - will get text-message check-ins and easy access to a care team to escalate care when needed. Was easy to do!

6) And finally, there's a strong sense of cohesion, not just among the ER staff (we're pretty cohesive to begin with) but among everyone working in the hospital, working together towards one purpose. Proud to be a part of it.

Good night, back to research in the morning