A Trauma Surgeon’s Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Summary

In this article, we follow the experiences of two different doctors working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. One is a trauma surgeon in Los Angeles, where the medical ICU is close to reaching capacity and resources are scarce. The other is a professional who turns spoken transcripts into articles and has been working with COVID-19 patients, feeling the weight of the situation. Both doctors share their experiences and the challenges they face during these unprecedented times.

The Situation in Los Angeles
A Doctor’s Frustration and Guilt
A Patient’s Experience with COVID-19
Orchids and Generosity
Heading into the ICU

The Situation in Los Angeles

Annie Onishi is a trauma surgeon and surgical critical care doctor in Los Angeles. She has been chronicling her life during the COVID-19 pandemic from her apartment for the past 10 weeks. As of May 19th, there are 231 cases and 2 deaths in Los Angeles County. The medical ICU is close to reaching capacity and patients will start being admitted to the trauma and surgical ICU. The N95 masks are hard to come by and doctors are being asked to reuse them up to five times before disposing of them. The medical ICU nurses are teaching the surgical ICU nurses how to “prone a patient” in case there is a shortage of special beds. The hospital is running a skeleton crew to prepare for the rise and crest of the pandemic. Annie had her first trauma call since the shelter-in-place order started and noticed the hospital is quieter than usual.

A Doctor’s Frustration and Guilt

Another doctor, whose identity is not disclosed, has been working long hours and feeling guilty for not directly helping COVID-19 patients. They have applied for emergency privileges at a hospital in New York in case they are needed. They have been frustrated with the slow response to getting resources where they are needed. They have been working with COVID-19 patients and have been feeling the weight of the situation. The medical ICU at their hospital is now completely full, and they are the primary doctor for a COVID-19 patient.

A Patient’s Experience with COVID-19

The writer is a professional who turns spoken transcripts into articles. They recently met a middle-aged man who was admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19. The patient had breathing difficulties and required extra oxygen therapy. The writer has been working night shifts and has been busy with trauma cases and admitting COVID-19 patients. They have been flipping patients onto their stomachs, which is a labor-intensive process involving six or seven people.

Orchids and Generosity

The writer received a gift of orchids from a local florist, who was distributing them to nurses and doctors on the night shift. The writer appreciates the generosity and is honored to take care of patients.

Heading into the ICU

The writer is heading into the hospital for a week in the ICU, which has been busy and on diversion due to the high number of patients. However, the writer is having a good day.

Conclusion

These doctors, along with countless others, are working tirelessly to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their experiences highlight the challenges and difficulties faced by medical professionals during this unprecedented time. We owe them our gratitude and support as they continue to fight on the frontlines.