It goes without saying the last several weeks have been challenging and it is still unknown what lies ahead for our country and our patients. We have already witnessed some amazing and selfless acts by healthcare providers demonstrating why our country continues to provide the best care available.
The adoration of physicians has certainly changed over the last decade. In fact, “unappreciated” is a word often heard when physicians describe how they feel. Times like this really demonstrate just how much our Surgicalists give to our communities – they put themselves at risk to provide care to those in need. Although tragic, this pandemic demonstrates the value of our Surgicalists – they work when no one else can, they put themselves second and others first. Surgicalists do what only a few well-trained can – take care of urgent and emergent surgical patients regardless of what is happening around the globe or in our neighborhoods.
We have seen pandemics before and have worked through SARS and MERS. Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Casey Thomas, shared a story with our organization recently from a time when he was covering the SICU and Trauma Service during the holidays in 2009, during the H1N1 outbreak. Several patients were ill with the disease and on ventilators, and even he contracted the swine flu and became very ill – the sickest he had ever been – and didn’t fully recover for months. This pandemic will also see healthcare workers putting themselves at risk to help others and we are seeing examples of our colleagues living our core values of compassion and stewardship every day and the COVID-19 pandemic only amplifies the dedication of our teams.
From all of us at The Surgicalist Group, thank you to our surgeons and advanced practice providers for continuing to care for patients. Thank you to our office and support staff for keeping the wheels moving. Even if no one else is saying it, thank you from our country for always being there when needed. We also know healthcare is a team sport. Please take the time to thank all hospital workers for their contributions and for going above and beyond: nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapist, lab techs, unit clerks, facility maintenance, housekeeping, food service, the list goes on and on. None of us are getting through this without all of us playing our part.