It is quite amazing how everything gets turned on its head so rapidly these days. Up becomes down and black becomes white. While it seems like years, it was only 4 months ago that no one was wearing masks, schools were shutting down, and Floridians were afraid of New Yorkers traveling south. Now our veryContinue reading “The vanishing ventilator shortage and how we are all biased”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Should kids go back to school this fall?
In our home we have transitioned from home school to home camp. This has not been a dramatic shift. The main difference for the kids has been a combination of less time on zoom and a major relaxation of hygienic standards. The famous psychologist Abraham Maslow created a pyramid categorizing a hierarchy of human needsContinue reading “Should kids go back to school this fall?”
We chose the bars over the schools
It appears that the limit of our national vigilance is somewhere around three months. We descended from the unified heights of staying home and supporting those of us on the front lines to a fit-for-cable news battle over the political philosophy of a face covering. It was only three short months after the shut downContinue reading “We chose the bars over the schools”
There Will Be No Second Wave
There has been talk from the very beginning of the pandemic of a concern of a “second wave” of infections that could hit after the first surge dies down. The idea that the virus could come back again after going away is based on historical precedent. The spanish flu had such a pattern. There wereContinue reading “There Will Be No Second Wave”
Do masks really help?
I have had a recent change in uniform at the hospital. Just like everyone else I continue to wear a surgical mask all the time (unless I’m in my private office) but previously, when going into the COVID-19 patients’ rooms, I would double mask with a surgical mask on top of an N95. If youContinue reading “Do masks really help?”
New (old) drug proven to save lives
He was a very pleasant and healthy 42 year old guy. He was a bit overweight and had mild diabetes, but otherwise had no real problems. He had plans to get married in just a few months to his long time girlfriend. Then the coronavirus hit the nation . Then it hit him. He gotContinue reading “New (old) drug proven to save lives”
Is this the second wave?
I’m writing this half asleep having just finished a night shift in the ICU. The air in the hospital had been much more relaxed over the past few weeks. After several weeks of double digit COVID patients in the ICU, we were down to only one. There was a period where the ER had notContinue reading “Is this the second wave?”
Are asymptomatic carriers a threat?
The issue of asymptomatic spread of SARS CoV-2 has cast a cloud over the pandemic. We as humans are hardwired to fear that which is invisible more than that which is visible. The idea that thousands of individuals could be walking around spreading the virus without knowing it is truly terrifying. I sometimes find myselfContinue reading “Are asymptomatic carriers a threat?”
Don’t believe (almost) anything you read
Human beings really hate uncertainty in a way that impacts our lives in many profound ways. We will predictably choose to stay in a bad situation rather than make a choice of uncertain outcome. How many people have stayed in bad relationships, bad jobs, or bad living environments even going out on their own mayContinue reading “Don’t believe (almost) anything you read”
How to be happy in the pandemic
This post will attempt to answer the following questions: Why is this pandemic making us unhappy? Why are the guidelines and recommendations always changing? Why can’t they make up their minds? How can I feel happier in this time?
