You know that moment when all the water pulls back from the beach until it’s completely & eerily empty right before a huge tsunami hits?

That was how it felt leaving the hospital today. Nearly every patient I took care of was #covid19 positive, up until the end of my shift.

2/ All kinds of stories here— stories that I’ve heard before; stories from April when we had our last surge. People infecting their parents, roommates infecting each other; nursing home/group home patients infecting each other.

3/ We tried to warn everyone to not travel unless it was an emergency & absolutely needed, not because we don’t want you to see your loved ones, but because we don’t want you to have to see them in a hospital bed as we see them. I am genuinely worried about what is coming next.

4/ We can still avoid some part of this. Anything we do- any decision we make; we have to believe it matters. If thousands of us begin thinking this way, & avoid unnecessary gatherings this coming week, we will prevent thousands of cases.

We have to believe in that.

5/ Many of my colleagues are making *immense* sacrifices. I had offered one of them to see his #covid19 patients for him as he has a family to go home to whereas I live alone- he thanked me, and he moved forward himself to care for his own patients

This is the heart of medicine

6/ I’ll be frank— we appreciate your support, but we aren’t here to be admired or to get credit— we signed up for this. This was our choice. We are here literally pleading with you to think and rethink your plans this holiday. Please.
That is all we ask.
Thank you! #covid19