Conditions

In anticipation of the strain on resources and staff in New York City, part of the battling strategy included deployment calling for providers from all areas to directly devote their efforts in the care of COVID-19 patients.  Despite being relieved temporarily of the role of a nephrologist, the COVID-19 population soon showed that managing renal disorders was still part of daily duties. With COVID-19, providers have been ...

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Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, Africans have been told to stay put and "prepare for the worst." Even though Africa is at a less advanced stage, WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus indicates Africa, in particular, may suffer direct effects of the disease itself and indirect effects on the economy. Considering the fragile health care system in Africa, options to tackle the pandemic are not the same ...

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Until about 50 to 100 years ago, the tradition was to name diseases after the doctors who used to describe them for the first time. Such diseases are called eponymous diseases. There are numerous examples, such as Alzheimer's disease, Marfan's syndrome, and Wilson's disease, to name a few. Often, specific signs and symptoms were named after certain occupations, sports or other traits. For example, athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the ...

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I don't presume to know the individual experiences and feelings of providers and frontline workers right now during this crisis, but, as someone who has specialized in psychological trauma and traumatic grief for many years, here are some thoughts which might be helpful for some. Experiencing the unfathomable and enormity of devastating loss generates many feelings, including disbelief, shock, hopelessness, fury, despair, and, for some, giving up. How the aftermath of ...

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In writing this, I feel a bit strange to contribute my thoughts on a pandemic I’ve had mostly a peripheral experience with dealing first hand. In my brief month on the medicine ward, I did interact with a patient who then was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (the official name for COVID-19), and subsequently, I was on a state-mandated quarantine. Asides from that experience, I have not truly seen first-hand the ...

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Whatever method you have been using for video conferences these days, we have had an unprecedented look into the lives of our colleagues, children’s schoolmates, teachers, professors, and even famous folks. While this pandemic has allowed the opportunity for a paradigm shift in the way we think about communication and the work environment, it has also raised several questions and concerns. When on my children’s Zoom “school” calls, I have ...

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He could hear the football game playing on a radio outside his room, so he knew someone was there, and he knew he was dying.  He screamed and screamed as the paralysis from what he was sure was sepsis took over more and more of his body. No one answered.  Only his wits and knowledge could save him, he realized when the only thing he could move was his neck. There was the ...

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"Howard wants to go to the hospital. He knows he isn't doing that great. He says he is having homicidal thoughts." This from my supervisor, Linda. Homicidal thoughts on the part of any client get our attention, especially so with Howard, because years before, he killed a man with a gun. I believe it was in a fight. "He wants you to take him to the hospital, Ray." "Sure," I say. "You think ...

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Consents have become a prominent part of health care. We sign consents for visits, procedures, medication, privacy, release of information, care of minors … the list goes on and on. We must acknowledge and respect the patient’s autonomy in their care. This is never more apparent or more important than in end of life care. Physicians encourage everyone to have an end of life plan, a living will. It is ...

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