|
 Heather Gaburo, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM
AAPA member since 2008
“My experience with the COVID-19 pandemic is probably very similar but also somewhat different than most of yours. I work as a pathologists’ assistant for a biobank, and our consenting operations were suspended mid-March to protect our staff and patients. So, unable to procure new tissue, I followed up on all the cases I did have going at the hospital and have been working remotely from home on what I can. The longer this goes on, the more I anticipate there will be temporary furloughs until it is safe to resume consenting. Prior to the pandemic, I had been planning a move and taking a break from full-time pathology to pursue other passions, so I suppose you can say the timing works out in my favor. I look forward to still staying active with the AAPA as the Grossing Guidelines Molecular Editor, and Board Adjunct to the AJCC.
In San Diego, we have had the stay-at-home order since March 19th, but the department was trying to implement staggered shifts to protect the staff and investigate remote options before that officially went into effect. Hospitals are still open, and ours has been screening visitors and employees verbally with only a few entry points to campus. Leadership has been doing a great job trying to keep morale up. We are now required to wear cloth masks any time we are not wearing surgical masks. Our non-essential surgeries were canceled, so specimen volume dropped considerably, sometimes to 5-10 specimens per day. It is mostly placentas, cancer cases, and other emergent specimens. Many of the cancer cases would have been candidates for the biobank.
Supplies were an issue at the beginning of March and still are. Luckily, at work we have cloth lab coats that are washed on-site, so that is one less supply to worry about. There are random bag checks upon exit to make sure supplies are staying at the hospital. The stores around town seem to be better stocked now that the initial wave of shopping has passed. All of the stores practice social distancing with stickers/tape on the floor, so you get to hop scotch your way to the cashier, who is finally protected by plexiglass. All essential employees in the stores are wearing cloth masks, and the public is also encouraged to do so when we leave our house.
I strongly believe moving is super important to my overall physical and mental health. I am doing my best to stay active as our county imposes more restrictions (all parks and beaches are closed), stay mentally focused, and find a daily routine. Yoga is a source of daily energy/calm for me, so I try to practice daily. Since I am also a certified instructor, I’ve been teaching yoga for friends and family on Zoom once a week. For those who may want to practice at home, the studio I practice at is offering free classes online for the public at various levels, and also live-streaming three classes a day on YouTube. I’m also very involved in our swing dance community, so I’ve been trying to build morale and stay in shape via weekly practices on Zoom. The San Diego community has a nightly cheer at 8 p.m. to say thank you to the essential employees who are keeping us safe, healthy, and stocked. It is very uplifting to hear the community engaging!
I hope you all are staying safe and healthy, both at work and at home. Today’s pandemic silver lining – hopefully all first-year residents in the years to come will understand the concept of cross-contamination, and doorknobs and clean surfaces in the lab will stay blood-free!“
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 and prepare for 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.
|
