Because physicians, nurses, and other clinicians are trained to care for individuals, the shift from patient-centered practice to patient care guided by public health considerations creates great tension, especially for clinicians unaccustomed to working under emergency conditions with scarce resources.

The Hastings Center

We’re all experiencing the transformation of healthcare delivery during a pandemic. As the volume of people needing our care increases, and resources become more scarce, we will need guidance on how to provide patients and families compassionate care in a time of crisis. We will need to constructively support each other as we come to terms with the decisions we will have to make. How do we find that guidance and support? This post will update regularly with resources on this critical aspect of care in the time of COVID.

Where to Start

Nathan Gray, who posts frequently on palliative care, has an elegant and personal approach to this difficult conversation, and this is where I’m starting. I think reaching out to each other and our palliative care colleagues in particular is an easy way for us to connect and get guidance.

Digging In

How do we maintain fidelity to our patients and provide equitable care to all? How do we balance the individual needs of our patient with the available resources and the interests of public health? The Hastings Center is a great jumping off point to get an overview of this and other big questions relevant from the hospital administrator to individual clinician.

More is coming here…

What this space