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The past month has been difficult for those of us working in Ontario ICUs... and it’s about more than being over-capacity....
It’s about seeing previously healthy individuals struck down with a shockingly bad lung disease, for which our treatment options are far too often limited or ineffective.
It’s about witnessing and sharing the grief, anger and uncertainty of families who can’t visit their mother, father, sibling, son, daughter or friend as their life hangs in the balance hundreds of km’s from home.
It’s about the lingering fear of getting sick ourselves or passing illness along to our families and becoming an added burden to our bursting hospital.
It’s about seeing veteran, skilled colleagues - nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, social workers, patient care assistants, physicians and others exhausting themselves to try to find another bed for another patient while providing the best care.
And it’s about the disappointment of seeing our elected leaders make ludicrous decisions that disregard the expertise of those who advise them, and instead further marginalize the most vulnerable.
Despite the difficulties and strain, though, I am overwhelmed by the competence and commitment of the team I have the privilege to be a part of. These are remarkable people, doing remarkable work at a remarkable time.
I’m grateful for a couple of days’ break now, but I look forward to mucking back in with these amazing folks on the weekend!
