COVID-19 déjà vu

This has been a humbling six months to be an American and an emergency physician. It seems like we have gone from one crisis to the next, with COVID-19 persistently in the background, ready to ignite when too many people ignore it or get sloppy about prevention because of fatigue.

Today’s U.S. numbers stand at greater than 6 million cases – and greater than 185,000 dead. There is one American death from COVID-19 every 77 seconds. Just think about that.

Rhode Island had some of the earliest cases, aggressively and successfully controlled it, and is now seeing increasing numbers, so much so that its neighboring U.S. states have just placed travel restrictions on Rhode Islanders. What is going on now reminds me of a quote by Yogi Berra, the former New York Yankees catcher and Baseball Hall of Fame great: “it’s like déjà vu all over again.”

From a Rhode Island perspective, are schools really going to reopen again, in less than one month? Please keep in mind that 46 percent of all teachers in Providence, the state capital, are greater than 50 years of age. Will there even be enough teachers…?

COVID-19 looks like migrating brushfires that can easily (and do easily) get out of control. The Northeast in the spring, the South and Southwest at the start of fall, now spikes around the Midwest, and perhaps an impending return to the Northeast – much sooner than the experts expected.

So, what can we do about it? First, follow the basic public health rules: wear face masks, maintain physical distancing, and wash your hands. We also need better testing. A test with delayed results is like no test at all. And we need to trace contacts and isolate those who test positive or are symptomatic. It is impossible to trace contacts without rapid test results.

So, what are the symptoms of COVID-19? The three classic symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breath, with a cough being the most common one. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 45 percent of symptomatic patients have all three of those symptoms, but most patients do not present with classic symptoms. Others may present with a loss of smell or taste, or they may have fatigue, or GI symptoms like nausea or vomiting or diarrhea.

Although patients are generally symptomatic between day 2 and 14, post-exposure, with an average of five days, they can still transmit the disease a few days before the onset of any symptoms. And here is the real shocker: up to 40 percent of all COVID-19 patients never develop any symptoms at all, yet still can pass this virus on to others.

That was the challenge for first responders like myself, treating COVID-19 patients during the initial flareup in the Northeast. I saw sprained ankles with COVID, bad motorcycle accidents wherein the rider also tested positive for COVID, strokes and heart attacks and G.I. bleeds in patients who also were COVID-19-positive, in addition to other severe illnesses on ER presentation. After a while, we viewed every patient as at least COVID-possible. We then began to view even each other that way.

And now once more, there are so many unknowns. Is it about to restart in the Northeast? Are we ready to view all our patients as COVID-possible again? Will physicians and nurses burn out? Will American citizens be able to tolerate another round so soon? Can we handle another shutdown?

Most importantly, are we willing to understand that individual liberty is not possible if we are too selfish to consider wearing face masks and maintaining at least six feet of physical and social distancing? It is collectively up to all of us. If we fail, it will be “like déjà vu all over again” – and again.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Related Stories

Spring Brings Code Meetings and Updates

Spring Brings Code Meetings and Updates

We are approaching April 1, which means that ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS will be updated with their respective guidelines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Read More

Leave a Reply

Please log in to your account to comment on this article.

Featured Webcasts

Leveraging the CERT: A New Coding and Billing Risk Assessment Plan

Leveraging the CERT: A New Coding and Billing Risk Assessment Plan

Frank Cohen shows you how to leverage the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing Program (CERT) to create your own internal coding and billing risk assessment plan, including granular identification of risk areas and prioritizing audit tasks and functions resulting in decreased claim submission errors, reduced risk of audit-related damages, and a smoother, more efficient reimbursement process from Medicare.

April 9, 2024
2024 Observation Services Billing: How to Get It Right

2024 Observation Services Billing: How to Get It Right

Dr. Ronald Hirsch presents an essential “A to Z” review of Observation, including proper use for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and commercial payers. He addresses the correct use of Observation in medical patients and surgical patients, and how to deal with the billing of unnecessary Observation services, professional fee billing, and more.

March 21, 2024
Top-10 Compliance Risk Areas for Hospitals & Physicians in 2024: Get Ahead of Federal Audit Targets

Top-10 Compliance Risk Areas for Hospitals & Physicians in 2024: Get Ahead of Federal Audit Targets

Explore the top-10 federal audit targets for 2024 in our webcast, “Top-10 Compliance Risk Areas for Hospitals & Physicians in 2024: Get Ahead of Federal Audit Targets,” featuring Certified Compliance Officer Michael G. Calahan, PA, MBA. Gain insights and best practices to proactively address risks, enhance compliance, and ensure financial well-being for your healthcare facility or practice. Join us for a comprehensive guide to successfully navigating the federal audit landscape.

February 22, 2024
Mastering Healthcare Refunds: Navigating Compliance with Confidence

Mastering Healthcare Refunds: Navigating Compliance with Confidence

Join healthcare attorney David Glaser, as he debunks refund myths, clarifies compliance essentials, and empowers healthcare professionals to safeguard facility finances. Uncover the secrets behind when to refund and why it matters. Don’t miss this crucial insight into strategic refund management.

February 29, 2024
2024 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic Update Webcast Series

2024 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic Update Webcast Series

HIM coding expert, Kay Piper, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, reviews the guidance and updates coders and CDIs on important information in each of the AHA’s 2024 ICD-10-CM/PCS Quarterly Coding Clinics in easy-to-access on-demand webcasts, available shortly after each official publication.

April 15, 2024

Trending News

SPRING INTO SAVINGS! Get 21% OFF during our exclusive two-day sale starting 3/21/2024. Use SPRING24 at checkout to claim this offer. Click here to learn more →