A Medical Student/Paramedic's Perspective on COVID-19

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Author: Matthew Carvey

Originally published: Common Sense

July/August 2020

Medic-1 is responding to an assault in a rural location. Dispatch notifies EMS that the patient has a fever and was put on mandatory self-isolation for 14 days. On arrival, EMS dons a sterile cap, goggles, an N95 mask, face shield, gown, and gloves. The patient, belligerent and intoxicated on alcohol and psilocybin, yells at EMS ‘I have the COVID!’. She rushes EMS, removes the practitioners mask, and coughs in his face. Police arrest the woman under the Mental Health Act, and EMS transports, only for her to spit and verbally abuse them the entire length of transport. EMS unloads the patient and awaits triage. After handing over care, EMS doffs all used PPE, and don’s new equipment to thoroughly clean the ambulance. One of the practitioner’s displays signs of COVID-19 three days later. This article is a medical student/paramedic’s perspective on COVID-19.

A Message to Students in these Uncertain Times

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Image Credit: Needpix

Author: David Fine, MD

AAEM/RSA Board Members, Liaison to the AAEM/RSA Education Committee, and AAEM/RSA Medical Student Council

Medical school is undoubtedly a stressful time, but studying medicine in the context of a pandemic is a challenge that brings about additional stressors, anxiety, and uncertainty. The changes that have been implemented are a result of safety being a number one priority. I also feel it is important to recognize the difficult situation that students are facing.

Intractable hiccups: a presentation of COVID-19

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This post was peer reviewed.
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Author: Jaclyn H. Jansen, MD MS
Emergency Medicine Resident

Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine 

Indianapolis, Indiana

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: 

While patients with COVID-19 infection most frequently present with fever, dry cough, and dyspnea, other symptoms have been associated with viral infection. This case report describes a patient presenting without respiratory complaints, initially screened as low-risk for COVID-19. With known communal spread, it is paramount to recognize unusual presentations of COVID-19 infection including hiccups and gastrointestinal complaints. Early recognition and isolation of patients with possible infection while in the emergency department improves provider safety and patient care.

The Moral Dilemma of COVID-19

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Author: Andy Mayer, MD FAAEM
Editor-in-Chief Common Sense
Originally published: Common Sense

May/June 2020

Certainly, there is only one issue which is dominating all thoughts, prayers, and efforts on our planet right now and it is COVID-19. Hopefully where you are, your life and practice will only be incredibly inconvenienced and that your family, your community, and your hospital will be spared the worst of this pandemic. Many areas may be relatively spared by early social distancing and the shutdown of many aspects of daily life which until last month we took for granted. This crisis has brought to the forefront many ethical and moral dilemmas which our society and world need to face with open eyes and minds. Our medical capabilities in our modern prosperous society are currently been taxed past the breaking point in the hotspots of the COVID-19 pandemic. We need as a profession and as a society to consider the correct response to the complex and difficult decisions which physicians on the frontlines are now making or may eventually be facing where conditions are worse. Even if we manage to make it through this pandemic without running out of ventilators and do not lose too many talented and selfless healthcare professionals there may be a next time.