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COVID-19 health & wellness

COVID-19 Life in a Long-Term Care Facility

The following has been adapted from two Instagram story series; video versions are available in the COVID-19 highlight on my profile!

Each day, I check in outside of our locker room, where we change into scrubs. I log my temperature, along with any symptoms, exposure, or recent travel. Each week, I swab. We use anterior testing, not oropharyngeal. It’s just a quick swipe of the nostrils for 10-15 seconds. Long-term care employees at my hospital test based on the number of cases in town. Sometimes, it’s twice a week. Other times, it’s once per month. My unit has been on lockdown since March of 2020, which means that every single case of COVID-19 will be brought in by staff. We have had zero so far, because of these practices. This is laborious, isolating, and inconvenient. It is also saving lives. It is my honor to follow Jesus in this way.

When I said that this is isolating, I mean for the staff. I appreciate the concern for our residents and yes, we have faced real challenges, both emotional and logistical over the last year. But lemme paint a picture so you have facts and not just talking points.

First, our LTC is the resident’s new family. No matter how faithful someone is to visit their loved one, it will never equal or surpass the time the resident spends with their neighbors and staff at a facility. It’s what they signed up for when they moved in, and that community has not been taken from them. Residents are not locked down in their rooms. Second, there are several reasons someone comes to live in a facility. The main reason is caregiver strain, or no caregiver at all. I’m not passing judgment, but the fact is that many residents weren’t receiving visits before the lockdown. Also, some residents have families out-of-state, or no family at all. Additionally, 100% of our residents’ families support our safety measures. Some have even turned down special consideration for in-person visits in favor of a safer option.

Third, I said numbers cannot lie and I mean it. Many of you healthcare workers sent me stories of one case getting into your facility, and then cases (and deaths) climbed for weeks afterward. One of you was required to work with your sick residents while you had the virus yourself. It’s truly remarkable that we haven’t had a case yet. But in addition that important number, I should also tell you that nobody at my facility has died as a result of isolation. And to take it further, nobody has lost weight or experienced a new decline in function or mood.

Why? Because fourth, we’re doing a lot. I started a happy light program several months ago, and I’m getting people off of sedating psych meds. The residents play bingo. Staff read the news individually to each resident each morning and sit with them at meals. Residents get to go outside on our deck, and even on van rides around town for a change of scenery. Family can visit via FaceTime or window, and in-person visits are arranged for emergencies and special occasions. Our people are living through a pandemic but they rarely, rarely alone. I know this is not the case for every facility in every community. Last year, I saw hospice patients in a long-term care that had been locked down and also staffed by FEMA, due to so much patient/employee illness. I know many facilities still have their residents confined to their rooms, and many are decompensating and getting worse due the isolation. It’s real and sad and hard and wrong. Again, my current work environment is the only story I can share in real time. And again, all COVID-19 cases are brought in from the outside of these facilities, which makes an excellent argument for each of us doing our part on the outside.

This brings me back to the beginning. The last year has been incredibly laborious, isolating, and inconvenient for ME. I’m not referencing the devastating effects of a global pandemic on our economy and education system and emotional health today. These are important topics for another day. I’m specifically speaking to my experience working with a high-risk patient population.

I moved here last May and haven’t met my coworkers without masks in place. It’s difficult to say no to travel and hangouts. The scrubs are scratchy and make my legs burn. There is a low buzzing hum of tension and anxiety all day everyday, as we try not to remember all of the steps and prepare our answers to questions by inspectors and encourage one another to get vaccinated. This morning I overheard a masked coworker in the gym, declining an invite to something because “I work in long-term care and I need to protect the residents.” Did I mention I don’t even know what my coworkers look like?! I recognized her by her voice.

My point is that it’s both-and. It’s laborious, isolating, and inconvenient. It’s also ministry. When I feel overwhelmed and yet compelled to help, there are action steps. Read the experts! Wear the mask! Wash the hands! Keep the safe distance! Talk openly and accurately about the vaccine! Pray! Pray! Pray!

When I spell it out like that, my role suddenly seems simple and not so unbearable after all. I’d even go as far as to say my personal rights feel wholly intact. I do not feel threatened or infringed upon.  And even if or when my personal rights comes under attack, I’ll lay them down gladly. I follow Jesus. I signed up for this.

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COVID-19 health & wellness

This is not the same thing.

I feel a little weird about defending evidence-based medicine, since it’s peer-reviewed hard data that can be trusted. An evidence-based approach to anything does not need defending. However, a lot of you feel distrustful toward modern medicine in general, and I get it. Additionally, I’ve had challenging and productive conversations with many of you who care a lot about natural approaches to wellness. And I’m not sure everyone knows my background. So here goes!

I chose to have a baby at home when I saw the statistics and read the blogs and watched the documentary. I delayed all vaccines for my kids until age five, and I still keep religious exemption forms on file from the local health department. I don’t treat most illnesses with medication. My favorite phrase is “let it ride” when deciding how to manage symptoms in my home. I love essential oils, and I’ll be the first to tape a clove of garlic in your ear when it aches. I am quick to blame most of my personal health symptoms on inflammation. 

But this is different. A brand-new virus has spread to the ends of the earth and back, with little available data on transmission and treatment and prevention. This is not the same thing as a chronic medical illness that can be managed with lifestyle changes. It is not the same thing as feeling like your family practitioner isn’t listening to you, and finding a natural-minded supportive community online. It is not the same thing as boosting your immune system with supplements during flu season. Although I still do every single of one of these things, COVID-19 is different.

I want to acknowledge that a natural approach to wellness and healing is painfully missing from our allopathic model of medicine. Additionally, I must confess that I have changed my mind countless times, on each of these topics, when presented with new information along the way over the years. But we cannot afford to conflate multiple important topics into one right now, and we cannot afford to spend too much time on rabbit trails. We are in crisis mode with one thing and one thing only – COVID-19.

It is privilege that allows me to access bloodwork and follow-up interpretation. It is privilege that allows me to access academic journals with best practice and gold standards. It is privilege that allows me to access a medical provider speak to my individual situation and make recommendations on vitamins and supplements. It is even privilege that allows me access into the natural-minded community online and in my local community. Not everyone has the time or space to research and ask questions and scroll. Not everyone can afford naturopathic options or experimental treatments. If an item is not FDA-approved, it may not be covered by health insurance. If I start talking about medication publicly, does it count as medical advice? If I make a blanket statement about Vitamin D dosing, for example, how will I follow up on each person’s blood levels? Vitamin D is not excreted through the kidneys; therefore, overdosing is a real and scary possibility. For the sake of the many, we must shoot straight and keep things simple.

Lucky for us, the experts have already done that for us. They recommend hand hygiene, masks, and six feet of space. We know that hand hygiene prevents the ingestion of droplets, masks prevent the spread of droplets, and space is a safety measure against both. Interestingly enough, each of these interventions is natural and non-toxic.

I will continue using natural approaches for myself and my family and patients. I will continue to care about the emotional/mental/spiritual consequences of this pandemic. I will continue to admit when I’m wrong and allow myself to change my mind as needed. But I will always, always consider two things as priorities – listening to expert opinion, and remaining concerned for my community.

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COVID-19 health & wellness life in alaska life lately

My COVID-19 Story

The following is a thread of tweets I posted on October 29, 2020, following my bout with COVID-19. I had a fairly mild case, but I gave it to a few family members and the whole thing dragged on for weeks. When I felt ready to discuss it online, I went to Twitter first. Naturally. I’m now ready to post it to this blog. Instagram? They can just come and find it. Such is the way of things these days.

I have yet to build a social network in my new town, so I’m home a lot. Life looks like work, grocery store, post office, church. I wear a mask for all of the aforementioned, and additional daily screening is required at work. I let my guard down one weekend, for a small staff retreat (husband is a worship pastor) with several couples I’d already been around for months. No hugging or close chats, but no masks in the house.

The following Friday, seven days later, I underwent my biweekly testing for work (long-term care facility). It is a state test, and results take several days. I had felt off all week, but there were several possible causes. This test (eventually) came back negative. But the next morning, Saturday, I received a call that someone had the staff retreat had later tested positive and was most likely contagious at the time. I couldn’t risk going back to work without a rapid test. I pushed for a rapid test at work and asked a physician colleague put in the order for me (this is a privilege). They didn’t want to waste a test just for exposure, when my other one was still pending and I wasn’t symptomatic. But we got it done.

The rapid result came back positive a few hours later, and I was symptomatic by then. Thankfully, everyone at the staff retreat agreed to get tested and I had no other contacts or exposures to disclose. I later learned about my previous negative test, which means I was most likely not infectious at work. My patients and coworkers all tested negative. Strangely, so did everyone else at the staff retreat, despite having closer contact with the other positive person than I did.

My COVID-19 symptoms, in order from terrible to tolerable: lack of smell/taste, fatigue, shortness of breath, body aches, cough, sinus burning, congestion. Today is day 20 and I’m better, but not feeling normal yet. Worse than the physical symptoms was the shame. I had to answer to Alaska’s state epidemiology department, hospital leadership, long-term care leadership, and public health. Everyone was gracious, but it was an emotional few days at the beginning. I just moved here. I haven’t made professional connections yet. It was hard to pick up the phone each time and not feel defensive or want to pass blame. But like I said, everyone was gracious.

My husband tested positive about a week after me. It hit him harder (same symptom profile), but he felt better faster. My daughter tested positive after him. She had a headache and fever for two hours one night; it spontaneously resolved and she hasn’t had a complaint since. The rest of the kids are negative. They didn’t want to test anyone in my family until they were symptomatic, but they eventually let me do the kids. I kinda wish they’d all gotten it. I’d love a family full of antibodies!

We’ve been in isolation/quarantine since October 10. Isolation is for 10 days, after positive test or first symptom. Quarantine is for the household, for 14 days. It starts after isolation for the positive person is complete. We never separated; too intense/unreasonable for us. I’m now back at work. My time off was paid for by the hospital (again, a privilege). I’ve been instructed not to get tested for at least 90 days. I’m curious about an antibody test someday. The kids’ school went remote as a result of our cases (plus a few – our small town had a small spike). We’ll hope for their return before Thanksgiving. We’ll continue to wear masks and socially distance, and follow recommendations. The science came to our house and it was real.

I made a joke at the beginning of this thing in March, that I’d volunteer to get sick if it could help build immunity in our community and spare an elder or vulnerable person. It wasn’t funny but hey, put down three more tally marks for our town’s “recovered” total! In conclusion, The Kincaids are glad and grateful to be on the other side of COVID-19.

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health & wellness the whole & simple gospel

Look good. Fit in. Stand out.

I just found this in my drafts, from two years ago. I don’t even want to edit it first. Published and still preaching it to myself.

In elementary school, I got glasses and braces during the same week. I have a distinct memory of trying to wear a training bra to school and sneaking it off near my cubby because it was so uncomfortable. In middle school, I received comments about my appearance and size that I will never forget. I didn’t even start my period until after I learned to drive. In high school, the boys I liked were either interested in my friends or in what I was doing after dark so they could keep me a secret.

It goes far beyond physical appearance, but this feels like an easy place to start unpacking. These seemingly small moments were actually foundational in my development as a woman and a follower of Jesus. Over the years, I’ve struggled to see God as a kind Dad with unconditional love for me, a God who desires nothing from me but a relationship. I’ve struggled to understand and know intimacy within my marriage the way God designed it.

The thing is, I was popular. I was on the cheerleading squad. I didn’t struggle with weight and I could let my hair air dry without problems. I easily found plans on the weekends. I always had a date to the dance (minus senior prom… but hey, getting dumped just beforehand only helped me grow into the powerful, capable introvert I am today, right?). I even experienced a couple of legitimate dating relationships with decent dudes. But all of the weird, negative memories still live inside of me, etched in as a piece of my upbringing. Although I was never bullied or made to feel like an outcast, I knew from an early age what it took to be successful with people – specifically, men.

Look good. Fit in. Stand out.

I’ve been a Christian for practically my entire life, and I’ve always known God as loving and forgiving. Somewhere along the way, though, I slowly made him into a school principal or a coach or a guy I desperately wanted to notice me. Once I was in God’s family and on his team, I told myself, he needed me to perform.

Look good. Fit in. Stand out.

This is why I push multi-generational community so hard. This is why I don’t shut up about the importance of reading my Bible. This is why I’ve been in and out of counseling for most of my adult life. This is also why I’m still uncomfortable changing clothes in front of my husband. This is also why I don’t love speaking on stage. This is also why I hesitate to try anything new that might result in my failing or looking stupid.

I was not careful with who I allowed to influence me. I did not pay attention to what I read and watched, or to whom I listened. God’s voice was there all along, telling me who he was. Who I was. Whose I was. What I meant to him. He tried to tell me that his yoke was easy and his burden was light. But in my American culture, in my wealthy school full of privilege, in my good-looking and high-achieving family, in my swirl of adolescent hormones, I made a dangerous choice early on.

I will earn my way to God. I will maintain right-standing with him, without help. I will not need grace. I will look good. I will fit in. I will stand out. Even if it kills me.

Until it nearly did. It nearly killed me. And I got help. I’m in spiritual recovery, now and forever, learning each day to let a good Father show me grace in new ways. It will be a lifelong journey, for sure, but I’m grateful to know truth and grow from it.

I know now that when God looks at me, he sees his son. So by default, by the work of the cross, I look good. I fit in. I stand out. In Jesus’ name.

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COVID-19 health & wellness life in alaska the whole & simple gospel

Covid-19, three months later

I figured it was time to quit adding to this post and just start a new one! This pandemic is marathon stuff, huh? I recently posted the following on Instagram, which prompted a few requests for resources:

Since moving to Alaska, we’ve all been tested for Covid-19 at least once. We’ve done so eagerly, and with joy, because mass testing and contact tracing is a proven method of slowing spread while moving the country forward. (PSA: you ain’t gotta get the nasopharyngeal swab anymore. There are gentler options now!)

We also wear masks in public, for two reasons. First, it’s another proven method of protection for ourselves and others. Second, it’s a quiet, simple, and public demonstration of our respect for our community. We’re paying attention, and we care.

I read a tweet awhile back, that said Americans think covid is over because we grew bored with it. The Kincaids are not bored. We love God and science and public health and the least of these from Matthews 25. This is kingdom work, and we hope to be doing it for the rest of our days.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CB1N8fmghob/

And now, for some (hopefully) helpful resources! Last update: June 24, 2020

EXPERTS I’M FOLLOWING:

In addition to numbers counts via the WHO, CDC, state websites, and my current employer (a hospital)’s daily reports and guidelines… the only regular resource I follow for new information is Emory University’s incredibly smart and humorous scientist Laurel Bristow (@kinggutterbaby). She does a great job of breaking down press releases and scientific papers in clear and practical ways, and she also highlights the work of other experts within her field.

ON PERSONAL RESEARCH:

I’ve used my computer for nothing but evidence-based research for the last four years, thanks to grad school. So glad to be done! But also, I’m grateful for the foundational tools it gave me. I’ll use those forever, and I’m happy to share them here.

First, consider the source. Personal accounts like YouTube videos, interviews, and expert opinions are fine to reference. However, they are not considered quality research. Check out this page to learn about different levels of evidence. It includes graphics and definitions, and I still refer to this concept regularly when measuring a source I’ve found. Spoiler alert: we don’t have high levels of evidence yet for a novel virus like Covid-19. Another spoiler alert: expert opinions are considered the lowest level quality of evidence. YouTube videos and Facebook accounts don’t even make the cut.

Second, try using specific terms when performing a search. I use phrases like evidence-based or evidence for, scholarly article, and peer-reviewed in addition to whatever I’m typing into the search bar.

Third, evaluate the source’s crew. Generally, experts will be accepted by other experts. This is what it means when an article has been peer-reviewed. The article was de-identified and sent to a slew of people to review and critique, before it was published. Additionally, people who consider themselves to be experts in a field should not be lone wolves. Do they have privileges at a hospital? Are they on staff at a teaching institution? Who claims them as their own? This applies to every industry environment from finance to ministry, but we’re talking about medical science right now. It’s easy to get swept up in a smart person’s story, but check out who else has bought in or rejected their expertise before you hitch your cart to it.

And now, for some articles from real experts! Last update: June 29, 2020

ON COVID-19 HERD IMMUNITY:

Mayo Clinic – general background and definitions

Possibly a lower percentage needed to achieve, but we still aren’t sure about current infection leading to immunity

Argument against herd immunity as a solution + helpful graphics

ON MASS TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING:

An opinion (but quite reasonable/hopeful) piece on colleges reopening safely

It’s not just increased testing that is causing a spike in cases

On the importance of mass testing specifically in the context of Covid-19, since such a large number of cases are asymptomatic

Mathematical modelling study (in the United Kingdom) comparing mass testing, tracing, and isolating to measure transmission reduction

How Massachusetts did it and how they’re doing since (graphics included)

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control explains their recommendations with evidence from China and LOTS of cited sources

Argument for rapid tracing using an app (sends color coded notifications to your phone based on hot spots) due to large number of presymptomatic and asymptomatic cases rendering manual tracing less useful

The difference between test counts and case counts

Updated numbers, if you’re a data dude or a graph gal

ON MASKS:

Evidence for effectiveness of masking

Addressing CO2 concerns

Addressing more C02 concerns + bacterial build-up concerns

Stanford scientists answering good questions

Do masks cause lung infections?

Do masks cause skin infections?

COVID-19 health & wellness the whole & simple gospel

COVID-19 (updated regularly!)

March 4: I took some time on Instagram stories yesterday, to talk through the way I’m handling the coronavirus conversation. I got some great feedback and was asked for resources, so I’m throwing it out here in a more permanent space. It feels important to keep my mind, heart, body, and family healthy (pun intended) as we navigate uncharted territory in the world of infection control. In order to do that, I’m focusing on two things.

First, I’m trusting the science. As far as we know, COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets with an airborne component. Basically, someone sneezes, coughs, spits, etc., and it hops into your body when you’re in close contact. Additionally, it’s possible for the virus to land and live on a surface that you later touch. This means that at this time, the basic advice for flu prevention works for COVID-19 prevention. Wash your hands often. Avoid touching and hugging and kissing in public. Do not touch your face. Stay home when you’re sick. Keep your kids home when they’re sick.*

Second, I’m trusting the experts. I found myself feeling panicky the other day, when a patient asked for a six-month refill of his medicine “in case of a quarantine.”** I had to step out and talk to my mentor physician just to get my head back on straight. I must be very careful about the content I consume, and also what I share with others. Entire industries are suffering because of the headlines. The fed cut interest rates this week, flights are being canceled, medical supply companies are experiencing shortages, and grocery stores are struggling to keep basics in stock. Being prepared is not the same thing as being panicked, and I’m fighting to stay on the side of reason.

March 13: When we practice social distancing and hand hygiene, we protect the medically fragile. When we pay attention to who’s losing income due to shutdowns, we uncover opportunities to be generous. When we stay home on sick days, we honor our elders. When we take only what we need at the store, we fight back against greed and panic. To consider the other is to wage war on fear by saying, “I am not just in this for myself.” To consider the other is to think like Jesus.

March 17: I know we are overwhelmed by the COVID-19 content at this point, but this week matters if we hope to flatten the curve. Without protective measures, the cases of extremely sick people will overwhelm our hospital systems. With protective measures, we can stagger and slow the spread of disease to the most medically fragile. Right now, it appears as though only 20% of infected individuals require hospitalization. As Italy has shown us, we cannot handle that number all at once. Social distancing and self isolation will help us slow the spread to a steady trickle, so as to preserve hospital staff and resources and therefore save lives. Social distancing is as simple as staying home as much as possible and keeping at least six feet of distance between contacts. Feel free to get outdoors, and support your locally-owned businesses with curbside service!

March 28: hands-down the best account and hope-filled guidance on the virus I’ve seen. It needed its own post. ICU doc in NYC on a Zoom call with family and friends.

March 31: This is going to be a marathon, folks. According to the data, hospital admissions begin somewhere around 7-14 days after community spread starts. Hospitals won’t start to get overwhelmed until weeks after that. Most of our cities didn’t start with travel exposure, so we’re looking at months and months of COVID-19 discussion; lots of us will be sick of talking about it before it even hits our community full force. What we do know right now, though, is that it’s real and it’s intense. As of this writing, one person is dying from COVID-19 every 4 minutes in New York City. Nearly every healthcare provider I’ve heard or seen has reported a gross shortage of necessary equipment, space, and resources. God, help us. It’s important to remember that the hype and intensity of our precautions does not serve to inform us as much as it helps to protect our community at large.

On the topic of self-care, boundaries, and mental health: I’m only reading news headlines once per day, and only on websites that offer live updates from around the world. I’m avoiding TV and anything that doesn’t come from healthcare experts, economic experts, or research experts. I prefer to read the numbers and firsthand accounts from Twitter and other real-time platforms, and I try to filter out opinion pieces and conspiracy theories. I also try to find encouragement, hope, lightheartedness, and even humor each time I open my social media accounts. I prefer Twitter, then Instagram. I avoid Facebook like the virus itself.

May 8: I took some time on Instagram stories, to talk through a few things I’m seeing online, in comparison with what I’m living. I’ve seen a lot of outrage about death certificates, as if physicians are padding numbers by blaming Covid-19 where other causes of deaths might be more appropriate. This very well may be happening somewhere, but I have seen the opposite in my personal practice. I’ve had patients with Covid-19, clearly symptomatic and in my opinion, dying from the disease. However, our physicians have blamed another diagnosis, such as stroke or heart failure, as the cause of death. They do list Covid-19 in the section of contributing factors, just like they would pneumonia or a fracture or anything else that a patient might actively have at time of death. But I see my doctors being very careful about blaming covid as the clear cause of death, even when it appeared clear to me during my assessment.

I’ve also seen some stuff floating around online about coding, which is how providers note the diagnosis in order to bill. This could be in a primary care practice, or an urgent care, or during a hospitalization. I have not seen this. I have seen a code on patient charts with positive diagnosis, and I have seen notes that say things like “presumptive” or “suspected” if a patient’s test result has not yet come back. I think this is just safe and responsible medicine, especially when multiple people are caring for this patient or he/she might be transferred soon. Providers get paid for service time and tests, sure, but not necessarily by the severity of a patient’s diagnosis.

Lastly, I’ve seen a Covid-19 lungs compared to COPD lungs. This is a way for people to say that the medical community is blowing this disease out of proportion and we should all calm down a bit. I haven’t taken care of as many patients with covid as with COPD, but I have listened to enough covid lungs to say with confidence that they are completely different. Covid-19 pneumonia is often bilateral, which is an unusual presentation, and it comes on suddenly and aggressively. COPD is a chronic, often years-long disease where flare-ups are insidious and slower.

As is the case with any topic, I’m fine with dissenting opinions and difficult dialogue. But it feels important to stress the fact that there are experts in the field, as well as people who are in it everyday (not me). It feels important to stress that we should be listening to them.

Yes, the majority of the population will avoid this disease and the majority of folks who contract Covid-19 recover really quickly. That is great news! But as a follower of Jesus, I must look at the big picture. My life is not my own. I belong to Him, but I also am at the service of my neighbor. And while a disease might not pose much of a threat to me, when it is disproportionately affecting (and killing!) people of color and other vulnerable populations like nursing home residents, I must pay attention. It’s my job to pay attention.

It might go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. We should not take things at face value, when it comes to the news. It’s important to dig and research and ask questions. Someone ALWAYS benefits and someone ALWAYS pays the price, with every headline and law and governmental decision. Hopefully, digging deeper will make us all more compassionate and discerning, like Jesus. But you will never hear or see me say that we should blindly accept any one guideline or recommendation, be it from a news organization or a governmental agency or even a religious group.

Additionally, I want to speak to the conspiracy theories for a quick moment. I’ve been here. I’ve watched and read and boycotted over many an issue in the past fifteen years or so. I’m comfortable in the limbo-like space, where we aren’t sure who to trust and what to believe. The reason I’m comfortable with these conversations is because I can give an answer for the hope in which I have. My foundation is Jesus. The hill I’ll die on is the gospel’s. Everything else is up for grabs and I’m okay with that. But here’s where I’ll ask the million-dollar question. Does it matter? So what if ____ is true? Does it change our approach to mitigating the spread disease, protecting the vulnerable, and keeping the economy afloat? If not, then why argue and waste time on topics that divide? There is much power in aligning ourselves with a common mission and being willing to disagree along the way.

And now, for some resources I find helpful. Last update: June 15, 2020

national and international experts

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention – situation summary

World Health Organization – Coronavirus

Information is Beautiful – data pack of graphs

COVID Act Now – select your state to see statistics and projections

local experts

(find your local health department and a university nearby that has a medical college)

SC Department of Health & Environmental Control – Coronavirus Disease

Medical University of South Carolina – Coronavirus updates

Alaska Department of Health & Social Services – COVID-19

human experts

Interview with infectious disease specialist and economist – On Point

Website of infectious disease doctor who helped with the Ebola outbreak, complete with podcasts and articles – Dr. Celine Gounder

Thoughts from a PhD professor specializing in infectious disease and human social patterns – Dr. Malia Jones

Interview with two Italian doctors, one of whom has the virus – Here & Now

Helpful information on group panic and toilet paper – CNBC

Thoughts from an infectious disease doctor, with a link to graphs – Dr. Andrew Norwalk

Podcast with lead epidemiologist at University of Chicago – Dr. Emily Landon

Updated podcast ten days later with lead epidemiologist at University of Chicago – Dr. Emily Landon

Firsthand account on PPE (personal protective equipment) and CDC guidelines, from an ER doc in Massachusetts – Dr. Josh Lerner

*Stay home in general right now, per the updated CDC guidelines.

**I do think it’s wise to have 1-2 weeks of groceries and supplies. A short quarantine is recommended for anyone who has been diagnosed or exposed to a positive case.

health & wellness life lately the whole & simple gospel

This has been my practice.

As a nurse, I was trained to develop a practice that I could defend decades later. That way I could say, “I don’t remember that situation, but I always checked blood pressures before giving meds. I always reviewed lab work. I always ____. It has been my practice.” I will never not ask your name and date of birth when I first enter your room, and you had better believe I care about your last bowel movement.

As a future provider, I am being trained on evidence-based guidelines. Standards of care are created after years of study and thousands of results; EBGs show us the best way to treat patients. For example, narcotics are no longer indicated for chronic pain. Sinus infection symptoms should persist for 7-10 days before antibiotics are prescribed. A specific set of maneuvers guides us to a vertigo diagnosis when someone complains of dizziness.

I’m not on my own yet, but for the last few years, I feel most safe and secure when I explain a plan of care using evidence. “This is what has worked for tens, or even hundreds, of years for people in your situation. This is the standard of treatment.” What’s interesting, though, is the number of providers under whom I’ve trained who don’t use the guidelines. I understand the need to deviate on occasion, but I frequently meet folks who don’t reference them at all. They tell me the guidelines just don’t work for them. The real world is different.

I might not choose this path in medicine, but I do this in so many other areas of my life. I’ve learned how to eat and exercise to get healthy. I have a basic working knowledge of generous and gracious ways to function in relationship. I’ve tasted and seen that spending time in God’s Word helps conform me to the image of Christ, which has and will always be my only goal here on earth.

So why don’t I choose these beneficial disciplines all of the time? The answers are vast and wide, depending on the day. I might opt for self-indulgence, or I don’t want to feel restricted. Maybe I claim to be avoiding legalism, or I’m just plain tired. Either way you slice it, I’ve chosen to respond like one of those providers. The guidelines just don’t work for me. The real world is different. Is it, though?

Here is what I know. God’s truths have stood the test of time, trial, and tribulation for thousands of years. I can depend on His character and His promises to be true and unchanging. Therefore, I can trust his precepts. They are my evidence-based guidelines for life.

Living my life this way will always give me a defense, a proven thesis on which I conduct myself from now until the day I die. I may not remember the exact decision, or the interaction with a particular person, but I will remember the way I lived. A life built on the precepts of God. I will always have an answer for folks on earth and my Father in heaven.  I chose to steward my body well. I chose to pursue peace in relationship. I chose to spend time in the Word. This has been my practice.