Nearly a year after the first COVID-19 patient was admitted to Denver Health Medical Center, frontline workers like Dr. Ivor Douglas, Director of Critical Care, are reflecting on the unprecedented battle against the pandemic.
“Well, I think that the American pandemic has been a very uniquely American phenomenon,” Dr. Douglas remarked, highlighting both the technological advancements and the societal challenges that have shaped the response to COVID-19. He noted that the pandemic struck like a tsunami for which many were ill-prepared.
“I certainly, at a personal level, felt most strained and inadequate and humbled about our challenges,” he admitted.
Throughout the past year, Dr. Douglas and his team faced numerous obstacles, from delays in testing to the menacing nature of the virus itself. “This is personal, this is invasive, and it’s invisible,” he said during the early stages of the outbreak.
As the pandemic wore on, fatigue set in among healthcare professionals. In November, Dr. Douglas pleaded with the public to avoid in-person gatherings before a new surge of cases. “A Thanksgiving over Zoom is far preferable to a Christmas in my ICU lying on a stomach on a ventilator,” he warned.
Now, the intensive care unit houses fewer COVID-19 patients, but the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt. The ward is filled with individuals suffering from drug overdoses, cold exposure, and heart disease. “The impact on our society is as profound as the infection itself and in many cases as lethal,” Dr. Douglas observed.
He believes it’s time for leaders to address the systemic issues in healthcare revealed by the pandemic. “I actually think we’re at a transformative moment,” he stated. “Would that have happened without COVID-19? I don’t know the answer, but I suspect probably not.”
The experiences of the past year have tested healthcare workers in unimaginable ways. Dr. Douglas expressed gratitude for his colleagues who put their lives on the line. “I would never assume that I knew what a war zone was because I’ve never been in the military, but if I could imagine what a civilian war zone looks like, this is as close as I could imagine,” he reflected.
He carries with him memories of certain patients and the emotional toll of the pandemic. “To have a number of patients die alone that I have had the burden and responsibility to care for I think will be the thing that sticks with me forever,” he shared.
Looking ahead, Dr. Douglas hopes that the lessons learned from this difficult year can be applied to future pandemics, which he believes are inevitable. Despite the hardships, he remains optimistic. “I’m encouraged that we might be able to apply these lessons,” he said.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
