From my years of working as an inpatient psychology team member on medical floors, here are some ways to support your #COVID19 inpatient’s mental health:
-Print out pictures of their family or, if no family, favorite things (e.g., , )
-Involve social work, psych, chaplains

-Set upor video calls with patient & family or friends. Some may want to stay on for hours. I know of someone that stayed on for 36 hours straight with all their siblings on the call as their dad died of COVID-19.

-Keep on top of nourishment & exacerbating factors. Ex: chapped dry lips make thirst worse. Hunger/thirst make everything feel worse
-Make sure that a device (phone, tablet) charger is already plugged into the wall and the charging end stays near their bed. Considerate & safe!

-If folks are eating or you want them to eat, get their input on what to order. Respect cultural factors & patient preference. You won’t try to eat something you hate when you’re not hungry. Don’t underestimate the power of hope and its relationship to food and hunger

-Encourage the person to continue to wash up, brush teeth, change gowns every day
-If the room has a chair, use it! Move it around, have it face different ways. One view all day is boring.
-Use appropriately-positive language when your patient OR other patients can hear you

For example, “We will do everything to keep you comfortable and keep your spouse updated.” Patients may be able to hear you talk despondently about another patient and then wonder what you really think of their situation. You need to cultivate trust at all turns in this.

-Advocate that your hospital get iPads for isolated patients when visitors are not allowed. Family can join via video. Family either stay on for a long time or don’t request hundreds of calls daily. Just set up the expectation when you introduce the idea

-Some hospitals are adding psychology, chaplain, & social work consults via video carts. If this isn’t happening yet, consider requesting it!
-Give patients realistic expectations of when they’ll see you next. Give time ranges instead of absolutes if it’s more accurate.

-Explain how the call system works. “Don’t hesitate to use it, but know that PPE and entrance procedures are increasing wait times. We will get to you. Don’t wait until last second to call. We’re coming as fast as we can in order of necessity. Call button wait times are (range)”

-Check in on YOUR mental health throughout. This is something most of us don’t prepare for. Do your best to stay calm, hydrated, fed... With trying to conserve PPE, many providers aren’t eating, drinking, or having the natural mental closure that comes with doffing PPE.

When you are doing what you can to take care of yourself during the chaos, you’ll have more you can offer to patients and your colleagues. A hand-washing meditation or hand sanitizing mantra might be possible right now.

-If your patient is religious, consider helping them live stream a service. With us being in the midst of Easter and Passover right now, being hospitalized now may be the only point in their life they weren’t taking part of services right now.

-Don’t forget that your colleagues in palliative care are available to help you, too! If you’re in a pediatric hospital, loop in the Child Life team. Or perhaps those services can send over general suggestions or resources (even from peds to adult hospital)

Many (not all) psychologist colleagues are remaining home when we’re used to being in the trenches with you. We miss you and are thinking of you. Please remember to take care of your own mental health and rely on your colleagues, friends, & families for support.

Your ability to enact any of these options will be influenced by factors including staffing, resources, and patient factors. If you can do a few for each patient, even if not every day, I hope you see it makes a difference. Please add below any other strategies you’ve seen work.