Medical Professionals and Community Members Work Together to Develop Solutions for Coronavirus Pandemic
By Krisi Maynard
As coronavirus sweeps across the United States, hospitals, medical staff and others are working tirelessly to come up with creative strategies to fight the virus. Both those inside and outside the medical field are giving their time and resources to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and care for patients already infected.
Anticipating the problem
The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, and hospitals across the country are preparing for what’s coming.
Emory Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia is anticipating a rise in its number of patients and taking measures to get ready now.
In an article by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Dr. Colleen Kraft said, “I think a lot of what we are doing — besides just infrastructure, personal protective equipment — is staffing…we want to make sure that we are are training people…we are making sure everybody has a role, and knows what their role is, as we go into this time.” Other hospitals are taking similar measures and doing what they can to prepare.
Medical professionals stepping up to the plate
While hospitals plan to accommodate more cases of COVID-19, medical professionals across the country are stepping up to provide much-needed help.
As COVID-19 patients increase, the demand for doctors and nurses also increases. This demand is, in part, being met by medical students, according to an article by ABC News.
Leaders like California Gov. Gavin Newsom are calling on these students to join the ranks to fight COVID-19. “If you’re a nursing school student, a medical school student, we need you,” Newsom said at a recent press conference.
In New York, schools are actually graduating students early so they can enter the medical field to fight the pandemic.
Most students are responding positively to this call, eager to help others in need.
Lizzie Andrews, a student at Texas A&M, told ABC News, “There’s a large group of resilient people out there who are ready to go on the front lines and help…We’ve been preparing for this for all four years and that’s what we want to do — we want to help people.”
Hospitals are also receiving backup from the U.S. military. According to the New York Post, more than 1,000 military nurses and doctors are heading to New York City to help at hospitals in need of more medical professionals.
Out-of-the-box solutions
There are also ordinary citizens finding creative and resourceful ways to help fight COVID-19.
Luba Drozd, an artist in New York City, made face shields for medical staff with a 3-D printer. Drozd told Fox News, “I wanted to do the right thing for everyone. It seems like I had the tools to help and that’s what I wanted to do.”
In Boston, trade union workers and others joined together to start converting a showroom at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center into a makeshift hospital, according to the Boston Herald. When completed, the showroom will be able to hold 1,000 patients.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said, “We have lots and lots of people who are very mission-driven…and want to be there for their neighbors, friends and colleagues.”
While the full effect of COVID-19 is still largely unknown, medical professionals and those supporting them are lessening the impact of the pandemic and demonstrating the power of collaboration and creativity.
