And so it comes to pass.
This past weekend I took fall #2 for 2021. It was a stupid mistake on my part as I know better than to leave a tote bag on the floor without tucking in the handles. My right toe caught the handle and down I went. I couldn't even break my fall, hitting my right eye (with glasses on) smack on the concrete floor. The fall required a visit to the ER and that's where this story begins.
We arrived at one of the local hospitals around 9:15 pm. I checked in and waited about 15 minutes to be triaged. Since my entire career has been spent medical adjacent, I always enjoy visiting with the staff, but especially during this past 20 months. These medical professionals have experienced so much and they are exhausted. I've made it my personal mission to thank everyone who serves in this capacity when I get the opportunity. Not because I am that kind, but because they truly deserve it! My triage nurse was a hoot and we hit it off. During our repartee, she shared that they had experienced the most covid patients on Saturday since the start of the pandemic. I wish I could say I was surprised, but given our testing numbers lately, I wasn't. She told me that they were going to send me to x-ray and it would be a wait afterwards for a room to be seen by the ER physician. The trip to x-ray was quick and efficient. Then the wait began. About an hour and a half later, I was taken back to a room. What I saw when I was taken back was what we have hoped would not happen in this pandemic... an ER surge.
I can only credit the Lord with the fact that I was placed in a room. There were 4 patients in beds in the hallways and every room was occupied. After a brief intake process, the doctor came into see me. He was upbeat and did the routine check-up, noting that he felt a CT was in order even though I was alert and coherent. I agreed and he sheepishly said, "It will be awhile as you are #17 in line". Ugh. Poor Sherri was hanging with me and we knew we were in for a wait. At 1:30 a.m., they came to take me to get CT and those in the halls had increased by two. One person was in a full gall bladder attack, in the hall, roiling on the bed. Folks, I've been there and I can tell you NO ONE wants to be in a hall, on a bed, for everyone to see when you are THAT miserable. Two seemed to be resting, and a patient that they had placed outside of my room was in some kind of serious intestinal distress. She was SICK and pretty much needed a nurse the entire night! Because I know about infection control procedures, I knew there were COVID positive patients in rooms that required multiple nurses intervening in full personal protective gear that is changed with every room. Upon return from the CT scan, we didn't see anyone until the doctor came in my room at 5:45ish. Between those two times, I would get up out of my bed and watch the activity. The one tech in ER was on a dead run the entire time I was there. The few nurses I saw only sat long enough to chart and then back taking care of the next patient.
I will admit that I was frustrated in the wait. Then the Lord gently reminded me that I could be one of these really sick patients. Ouch. Yeah, it was a necessity that I make that trip to the ER. However, I could be a whole lot worse off than I was. I decide to pray for the staff and patients. I'd been humbled to realize that I am what I abhor... an entitled American. I am used to having access to great care at a moment's notice. I had come to believe that it is my right. Well, the Spirit had something contrary to say about that! He reminded me of the places that I have visited around the world that those sweet people would be so grateful to be resting in one of those beds in the hallway and unbelievably thankful for the care. There I stood being a brat because I wanted to just go home.
When the doctor came in at about 5:45 a.m., he sat down and looked completely beat. He asked how I was doing and I said I was ready to go home... he said, yeah, me too. (yes, conviction #2 hit then... I am a slow learner sometimes!) I can't explain the exhaustion on his face as he shared that they were so very short staffed and another local hospital was refusing to receive ambulance calls, so it was all on this ER to do so. My heart hurts as I type that. The pain that I feel for them all runs deep. And it's precisely why we have seen so many abandon the healthcare field in the past 2 years - exhaustion, frustration, and ingrates like me.
So my main reason for all of this is back to my first sentence... and so it comes to pass. For 2 years we in public health have been warning about this critical issue because of the added stress of a global pandemic. Please stay with me on this. I do not care one iota about your opinions on COVID, vaccines, the politics of this pandemic, or masking in public. I really don't and I don't expect you to care about mine. What I care about is the toll our health decisions and expectations are taking on the critical healthcare workforce that is already in crisis and has been for many years. We have known there is a nursing shortage that began in the 1990's and has exponentially gotten worse. We are seeing doctors retire sooner than they anticipated due to a variety of reasons that have taken the joy out of doing what they have studied and feel called to do. It is not their job to take care of our health - IT IS OURS! We've become so entitled that we put unrealistic expectations on them to fix whatever with a pill. We've also been conditioned to seek medical attention for most anything. We often do not do what is recommended because it's our right to live as we want and it's often work to get or keep ourselves healthy. Then we are ticked when we can't get care as quickly as we'd like or need. As I was telling my brother about the experience the next day, he said it best. We have to do our best to take care of our health. So we talked about some plans to improve upon that starting today. I want to do all I can to make sure I don't overwhelm the system needlessly so it's available when I truly do need it. So much of our health is truly within our realm to control. I want to champion those who are doing this day in and day out. If you are a health care provider in any setting, know that you are seen and appreciated for the work you do. We have some of the best medical care in the world, let's protect that precious gift!
Think this is bad? You should see the other guy!😂
