|
 Erica Price, PA(ASCP)CM
AAPA member since 2015
“I work at a smaller community hospital in the suburbs of Chicago. The city itself is on a major lockdown with all parks, schools, and walking trails closed. The Chicago Police Department is ticketing and arresting people that are out unnecessarily. The hospital I work at is also on an intense lockdown. We were designated as a ‘hot spot’ recently and have seen a significant change in the hospital’s atmosphere. We, too, have our temperatures taken upon arrival to the hospital. The halls are empty, and the OR schedule is completely blank. I normally have three gross room techs, but one has been redirected to the ER, and another is home sick. I worry everyday about my coworkers, my family, and all the other healthcare workers out there.
In early March, our pathology group decided to take action and start rotating shifts for PAs and pathologists to minimize exposure. We immediately began having the PAs rotate weeks, and the pathologists split up into groups of four. Since there are eight pathologists and two PAs, it seemed like it would work fine. However, as the hospital became inundated with COVID-19 cases, all elective surgeries were cancelled, and the work in pathology dwindled. The other PA and I are still rotating weeks, but the pathologists have gone down to two on staff per week.
With so many cancer cases delayed or cancelled, I am not working my full shift in the lab. We are now only grossing placentas, a few sporadic GI biopsies, and urgent resections like perforated or obstructed colons. Last week, I had only grossed two cancer cases by Wednesday – it’s unreal! Luckily I work for a group of pathologists that take good care of me. I know that in these trying and stressful times, that is something for which to be grateful.
Aside from my hospital job, I also usually do per diem work at a local coroner’s office. With the pandemic going on, though, my position there is in limbo. The coroners are not taking COVID-19 cases and are just doing chart reviews for these decedents. I had never heard of forensic pathologists working from home, and I wish I had more information about what the office was going through. I understand not wanting any extra personnel around, though – minimizing the amount of people present can be essential to not spreading the disease.
I hope that all of my PA colleagues are finding themselves amongst friendly pathologists, managers, and hospital staff that appreciate everything they do and take care of them too. I think that staying in touch as a PA community is a great way to lessen the social distance that this quarantine had to create. Stay safe and healthy everyone!“
We want to hear from you! During this time of isolation, now more than ever we need to see and hear from our PA community! How is COVID-19 affecting your work? What tips and tricks have you found useful? How are you using this time to promote pathologists’ assistants now and beyond PA Day? Send us a summary describing your “new normal”, along with one or two high-resolution photos, and your story may be featured next (read previous features here). Or, if you have any COVID-19 resources to add to our list, please pass them along. Remember, we are all in this together, and the AAPA will be here to support you throughout this crisis and beyond.
|
