Please Stay Home

CTMike

I was texting with a friend who is a nurse-anesthetist. She tells me that she has one N95 mask she’s had to use for two weeks now. Please keep your a$$ at home as much as possible to protect those like her on the front lines.

Photo Egg

Great Post

saluki2007

Couldn't have said it better myself. 

JustBuggin

If only people would listen we would be in a better place these days. Great advice.

WeberWho

Yes sir. I've been tackling all kinds of little jobs that I've put of forever here at the house. I have no excuse not to do them now. 

dmchicago

“The masks are being made by the millions,” Trump said on March 14. “Millions and millions. We have plenty now, but we're ordering for the millions. We're ordering worst-case scenario.”

But a few days later, Trump had to call on the military to rush out protective supplies, as hospitals said they had to start reusing masks, making their own and asking the public for donations.

When Trump was asked at a press briefing Thursday about the gap between his own claims and what health care providers say they are experiencing, he denied over-hyping. “I’m hearing very good things on the ground," he said.

GATraveller

dmchicago said:

“The masks are being made by the millions,” Trump said on March 14. “Millions and millions. We have plenty now, but we're ordering for the millions. We're ordering worst-case scenario.”

But a few days later, Trump had to call on the military to rush out protective supplies, as hospitals said they had to start reusing masks, making their own and asking the public for donations.

When Trump was asked at a press briefing Thursday about the gap between his own claims and what health care providers say they are experiencing, he denied over-hyping. “I’m hearing very good things on the ground," he said.

Thank you for your insight.  I, for one, find this extremely helpful in this time of crisis.  Keep up the good work!!

CTMike

dmchicago said:

“The masks are being made by the millions,” Trump said on March 14. “Millions and millions. We have plenty now, but we're ordering for the millions. We're ordering worst-case scenario.”

But a few days later, Trump had to call on the military to rush out protective supplies, as hospitals said they had to start reusing masks, making their own and asking the public for donations.

When Trump was asked at a press briefing Thursday about the gap between his own claims and what health care providers say they are experiencing, he denied over-hyping. “I’m hearing very good things on the ground," he said.

Can't get any more on the ground than an anesthetist, they are up close and personal with people's airways. Here is a copy of the post one of her colleagues put on Facebook. Trump and his lies can eat the corn out of my sh!t.



This is how close CRNAs and Anesthesiologists get. EVERY day, MULTIPLE times per day, we manipulate and secure the airway. We respond to emergency airways. We keep you alive yet asleep so surgeons can do their job. WE are the ones intubating both COVID19+ PUI (persons under investigation) patients and any other patient because WE are the airway experts. Clearly, we are one of the most at risk health care providers. We have been given ONE N95 to use day after day, case after case. We are at high risk for contracting the virus and passing it on to our families. We come to work for you. Please stay home for us

saluki2007

My wife is a CRNA as well Mike.  Not only are they the ones doing what's described above, they are also the one's telling dip-sheet surgeons that the cases they are trying to push through are not critical and cancel the cases.  It's amazing how many surgeons across the country are doing this.  One was trying to get a c-section done on a woman who was 35 weeks pregnant because she didn't want to risk there not being any blood available in case something went wrong.  You might ask why would an OB doctor be worried about this, they wouldn't.  The patient is having their family practice doctor do it.  That's right, people still use family practice doctor's for major surgeries.

Lit

We have been driving around just to get the kids out of the house. It’s crazy how many people are still out and about.

ColtsFan

IU Health Bloomington Hospital has setup a "Triage Center Tent" in their parking lot. Never thought I'd ever see something like this in my lifetime.

CTMike

@ColtsFan,

Things are the same at Brigham & Women's in Boston. My daughter-in-law is currently 33 weeks and scheduled for a C-section a week from Tuesday due to potential life threatening complications.

No visitors are allowed at the hospital with the exception of maternity, NICU, end-of-life, and one relative of underage patients.

saluki2007

CTMike said:

@ColtsFan,

Things are the same at Brigham & Women's in Boston. My daughter-in-law is currently 33 weeks and scheduled for a C-section a week from Tuesday due to potential life threatening complications.

No visitors are allowed at the hospital with the exception of maternity, NICU, end-of-life, and one relative of underage patients.

At the NYC hospitals they are not even allowing the significant other into the hospitals for births.  It's pretty nuts.

https://abc7ny.com/family/new-rules-deny-birth-partners-at-some-nyc-hospitals-during-covid-19-crisis/6043262/

etherdome

I too am a CRNA. All of the above  is true . Keep your a$$ at home. If not,  you are putting everyone at risk. Especially those on the front line. There is a reason why China curbed their spread even without notice, yet we had a two month notice and have now surpassed their case numbers  without any sign of slowing down.  Too many selfish people not taking this seriously . 

It’s everywhere . I am now on day 9 of self monitoring temperature and symptoms  twice a day  after receiving  notice of working with a surgeon all day who turned up positive. 

nolaegghead

One of Bridget's nieces is a CRNA in Seattle and has the virus.  She's doing fine, last we heard.

thetrim

I always said in my next life I want be a CRNA.  Really cool people and really cool job under normal circumstances. 

So many in healthcare are having such a tough go of it right now....

Many prayers for all and especially your daughter in law, Mike.

SciAggie

I feel both good and bad. I just remembered last night I had N95 masks in my makerspace here at school. I feel bad I just remembered. 
I feel good because I just talked to one of my friends at our local hospital to ask if they needed them. She was like, "YES!"
So they are now at the hospital. Maybe they will keep someone safe.

JohnInCarolina

For the life of me I do not understand why some people are still taking this all so casually.  I mean I guess I can understand the early view that this was being overhyped by the media, say back in January, but... now?  How many more external indicators do you need that this is deadly serious?  

Thank you for the thread, Mike.

CTMike

SciAggie said:

I feel both good and bad. I just remembered last night I had N95 masks in my makerspace here at school. I feel bad I just remembered. 
I feel good because I just talked to one of my friends at our local hospital to ask if they needed them. She was like, "YES!"
So they are now at the hospital. Maybe they will keep someone safe.

Nice gesture. I have 6 that I had purchased last year when my wife's asthma was really bad. These have a carbon layer to filter out nuisance odors/vapors as strong perfume/aftershave/etc will set her off. I asked my friend if she wanted them and she told me they just got a box from a construction company and to hold on to them. She will let me know if she needs them.

GATraveller

JohnInCarolina said:

For the life of me I do not understand why some people are still taking this all so casually.  I mean I guess I can understand the early view that this was being overhyped by the media, say back in January, but... now?  How many more external indicators do you need that this is deadly serious?  

Thank you for the thread, Mike.

My neighbors son is home from college.  He spent the last couple nights playing beach volley ball at our swim/tennis with a group of friends while THEIR PARENTS sat at the picnic tables drinking.  Then they all went to neighbors basement for poker.  INSANE!!  My wife and I are floored at the lack of concern. I seriously do not get it!?!? 

saluki2007

SciAggie said:

I feel both good and bad. I just remembered last night I had N95 masks in my makerspace here at school. I feel bad I just remembered. 
I feel good because I just talked to one of my friends at our local hospital to ask if they needed them. She was like, "YES!"
So they are now at the hospital. Maybe they will keep someone safe.

Good on you.  Last week my wife stopped into the local Sherwin Williams to see if they had any by chance.  They had 6 of them on sale.  Guy at the register asked her if she was planning on doing a lot of painting.  

nolaegghead

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/how-will-coronavirus-end/608719/?utm_source=pocket-newtab

SmokenBonesATX

saluki2007 said:

My wife is a CRNA as well Mike.  Not only are they the ones doing what's described above, they are also the one's telling dip-sheet surgeons that the cases they are trying to push through are not critical and cancel the cases.  It's amazing how many surgeons across the country are doing this.  One was trying to get a c-section done on a woman who was 35 weeks pregnant because she didn't want to risk there not being any blood available in case something went wrong.  You might ask why would an OB doctor be worried about this, they wouldn't.  The patient is having their family practice doctor do it.  That's right, people still use family practice doctor's for major surgeries.

As a health care worker and a surgeon, all of the above is true. I have a tremendous amount of respect for my anesthesia colleagues and our group has been doing our best to support them. But it’s unfair to characterize all surgeons as “trying to push through” cases. Our hospital does over 500 elective surgeries a month. All of the surgeons across every specialty voluntarily stopped every elective, non-critical procedure 4 days before we were mandated to by our national leadership. We have surgeons volunteering to learn critical care medicine to support patients on ventilators and to work in the ER screening people. And yes, I still have to take call. I’m still the one that gets called when you need it most. We’re not all “dip-sheets.” Some of us get up every day, put ourselves in harms way, and then potentially bring that harm home to our families and children. 

Right now we need more positivity in the world. I’d ask for some grace and patience with our health care workers. Your support goes a long way. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated supplies. Your kindness is not unnoticed. 

Stay kind. Stay calm. Wash your hands. We can beat this. 

SamIAm2

nolaegghead said:

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/how-will-coronavirus-end/608719/?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Thank you @nolaegghead. This was worth reading and sharing. 

saluki2007

SmokenBonesATX said:

saluki2007 said:

My wife is a CRNA as well Mike.  Not only are they the ones doing what's described above, they are also the one's telling dip-sheet surgeons that the cases they are trying to push through are not critical and cancel the cases.  It's amazing how many surgeons across the country are doing this.  One was trying to get a c-section done on a woman who was 35 weeks pregnant because she didn't want to risk there not being any blood available in case something went wrong.  You might ask why would an OB doctor be worried about this, they wouldn't.  The patient is having their family practice doctor do it.  That's right, people still use family practice doctor's for major surgeries.

As a health care worker and a surgeon, all of the above is true. I have a tremendous amount of respect for my anesthesia colleagues and our group has been doing our best to support them. But it’s unfair to characterize all surgeons as “trying to push through” cases. Our hospital does over 500 elective surgeries a month. All of the surgeons across every specialty voluntarily stopped every elective, non-critical procedure 4 days before we were mandated to by our national leadership. We have surgeons volunteering to learn critical care medicine to support patients on ventilators and to work in the ER screening people. And yes, I still have to take call. I’m still the one that gets called when you need it most. We’re not all “dip-sheets.” Some of us get up every day, put ourselves in harms way, and then potentially bring that harm home to our families and children. 

Right now we need more positivity in the world. I’d ask for some grace and patience with our health care workers. Your support goes a long way. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated supplies. Your kindness is not unnoticed. 

Stay kind. Stay calm. Wash your hands. We can beat this. 

It sounds like you are not one of the dip-sheets. I did not try to characterize all surgeons as such. If it came off that way I apologize. But I'm sure you are aware of some that are not listening and try to keep trucking along. 

Thanks for all your hard work. 

SmokenBonesATX

saluki2007 said:

SmokenBonesATX said:

saluki2007 said:

My wife is a CRNA as well Mike.  Not only are they the ones doing what's described above, they are also the one's telling dip-sheet surgeons that the cases they are trying to push through are not critical and cancel the cases.  It's amazing how many surgeons across the country are doing this.  One was trying to get a c-section done on a woman who was 35 weeks pregnant because she didn't want to risk there not being any blood available in case something went wrong.  You might ask why would an OB doctor be worried about this, they wouldn't.  The patient is having their family practice doctor do it.  That's right, people still use family practice doctor's for major surgeries.

As a health care worker and a surgeon, all of the above is true. I have a tremendous amount of respect for my anesthesia colleagues and our group has been doing our best to support them. But it’s unfair to characterize all surgeons as “trying to push through” cases. Our hospital does over 500 elective surgeries a month. All of the surgeons across every specialty voluntarily stopped every elective, non-critical procedure 4 days before we were mandated to by our national leadership. We have surgeons volunteering to learn critical care medicine to support patients on ventilators and to work in the ER screening people. And yes, I still have to take call. I’m still the one that gets called when you need it most. We’re not all “dip-sheets.” Some of us get up every day, put ourselves in harms way, and then potentially bring that harm home to our families and children. 

Right now we need more positivity in the world. I’d ask for some grace and patience with our health care workers. Your support goes a long way. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated supplies. Your kindness is not unnoticed. 

Stay kind. Stay calm. Wash your hands. We can beat this. 

It sounds like you are not one of the dip-sheets. I did not try to characterize all surgeons as such. If it came off that way I apologize. But I'm sure you are aware of some that are not listening and try to keep trucking along. 

Thanks for all your hard work. 

Thanks for the kind words. I’ll apologize too for jumping down your throat a bit. Your wife is incredibly brave. I’ll always see her and her colleagues in a different light after this passes. 

We’ll keep y’all in our thoughts and prayers. I’d do well to take my own advice and spread more positivity. So stay as strong as you can for your wife and please thank her for me. Stay safe out there.  And I hope when this is all over we can find a reason to share a beer and swap stories. All my best from my family to yours. 

RockyTopDW

These are difficult times.  We will get through this and be even better.  The political **** is a little much though.  This site is great until a hand full of members start that pissing match.

caliking

SmokenBonesATX said:

saluki2007 said:

My wife is a CRNA as well Mike.  Not only are they the ones doing what's described above, they are also the one's telling dip-sheet surgeons that the cases they are trying to push through are not critical and cancel the cases.  It's amazing how many surgeons across the country are doing this.  One was trying to get a c-section done on a woman who was 35 weeks pregnant because she didn't want to risk there not being any blood available in case something went wrong.  You might ask why would an OB doctor be worried about this, they wouldn't.  The patient is having their family practice doctor do it.  That's right, people still use family practice doctor's for major surgeries.

As a health care worker and a surgeon, all of the above is true. I have a tremendous amount of respect for my anesthesia colleagues and our group has been doing our best to support them. But it’s unfair to characterize all surgeons as “trying to push through” cases. Our hospital does over 500 elective surgeries a month. All of the surgeons across every specialty voluntarily stopped every elective, non-critical procedure 4 days before we were mandated to by our national leadership. We have surgeons volunteering to learn critical care medicine to support patients on ventilators and to work in the ER screening people. And yes, I still have to take call. I’m still the one that gets called when you need it most. We’re not all “dip-sheets.” Some of us get up every day, put ourselves in harms way, and then potentially bring that harm home to our families and children. 

Right now we need more positivity in the world. I’d ask for some grace and patience with our health care workers. Your support goes a long way. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated supplies. Your kindness is not unnoticed. 

Stay kind. Stay calm. Wash your hands. We can beat this. 

I’ll add a +1 to this. Many of us are making hard decisions, in different spheres of life. Out of compulsion. Out of need. Out of a sense of duty to others. 

Not a surgeon, but all non emergent cases have been cancelled here. Last week, chief of Anesthesiology called to discuss cancelling procedures, and I couldn’t cancel one in good conscience. She asked one question - would I want the procedure done if it were my child, and the answer was an immediate “yes“ for this one. The kid in question had been bouncing around from doctor to doctor, and suffering, for 3 years. I couldn’t say that it would be okay for her to suffer a few months longer. 

I may have taken a risk. Maybe not. But I don’t regret it. 

YukonRon

Great thread Mike, and thank you. We have donated all of our PPE training materials to hospitals local to our facilities.

@dmchicago. @CTMike   I concur.

Foghorn

caliking said:

SmokenBonesATX said:

saluki2007 said:

My wife is a CRNA as well Mike.  Not only are they the ones doing what's described above, they are also the one's telling dip-sheet surgeons that the cases they are trying to push through are not critical and cancel the cases.  It's amazing how many surgeons across the country are doing this.  One was trying to get a c-section done on a woman who was 35 weeks pregnant because she didn't want to risk there not being any blood available in case something went wrong.  You might ask why would an OB doctor be worried about this, they wouldn't.  The patient is having their family practice doctor do it.  That's right, people still use family practice doctor's for major surgeries.

As a health care worker and a surgeon, all of the above is true. I have a tremendous amount of respect for my anesthesia colleagues and our group has been doing our best to support them. But it’s unfair to characterize all surgeons as “trying to push through” cases. Our hospital does over 500 elective surgeries a month. All of the surgeons across every specialty voluntarily stopped every elective, non-critical procedure 4 days before we were mandated to by our national leadership. We have surgeons volunteering to learn critical care medicine to support patients on ventilators and to work in the ER screening people. And yes, I still have to take call. I’m still the one that gets called when you need it most. We’re not all “dip-sheets.” Some of us get up every day, put ourselves in harms way, and then potentially bring that harm home to our families and children. 

Right now we need more positivity in the world. I’d ask for some grace and patience with our health care workers. Your support goes a long way. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated supplies. Your kindness is not unnoticed. 

Stay kind. Stay calm. Wash your hands. We can beat this. 

I’ll add a +1 to this. Many of us are making hard decisions, in different spheres of life. Out of compulsion. Out of need. Out of a sense of duty to others. 

Not a surgeon, but all non emergent cases have been cancelled here. Last week, chief of Anesthesiology called to discuss cancelling procedures, and I couldn’t cancel one in good conscience. She asked one question - would I want the procedure done if it were my child, and the answer was an immediate “yes“ for this one. The kid in question had been bouncing around from doctor to doctor, and suffering, for 3 years. I couldn’t say that it would be okay for her to suffer a few months longer. 

I may have taken a risk. Maybe not. But I don’t regret it. 

Yeah, 2 weeks ago we started using the criteria of "Will the patient sustain any significant disability, discomfort, or worse outcome if the case is delayed 90 days?".  Based on that one of our surgical oncologists cancelled 9 of her 10 planned thyroid cases - but did the large goiter that was causing some symptoms.  Our elective surgeons cancelled about 80% of their scheduled hernia operations and only did the most symptomatic or those most at risk of incarcerating and obstructing.  Most cancer operations (except thyroid as that rarely kills people and a 90 day delay isn't a problem) continued if the patient wanted to - many did not.  However, some of the private groups (dip-sheets?) saw this as an opportunity to do even more cases and gain market share.  That must have been going on in other cities around the state because earlier this week the Texas Medical Board came out with a statement that anybody continuing to do purely elective cases would risk loss of license.

CigarCityEgger

SWMBO is an RN, she had to make her own mask out of a 3M viral air filter and some fabric/elastic bands. Luckily she is a crafty one, but the other nurses she works with are not as savvy. So she’s going to spend the weekend making as many masks as she can for them. Of course this is after she is checking temperatures at the ER entrance all day today. 

Thank you to anyone working in the healthcare front lines, stay safe out there!