By Courtney Ferguson
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Gisa Soroudi, a nurse at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, remembers the day when she knew she was making a difference in the lives of COVID-19 patients and their families.
“I was there with her through it all,” Soroudi said of one patient. “And once she was discharged from the hospital, the patient gifted me with a cross bracelet and asked if it was okay if they gave me a hug – thanking me for helping them get through these difficult times.”
Stories like these have shed a light on the amount of pain – and sometimes joy – that both families and front-line workers are facing this year.
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the state, local health care workers are left feeling an immense amount of stress as they fight to heal the community. From a lack of resources and a sense of disappointment, to working overtime, doctors and nurses are facing a battle unlike any they’ve seen in their careers.
“We’re seeing more patients. Some of them come from four to six hours away from home and their loved ones,” said Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos of Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore. “Smaller community hospitals are going to be maximized while the larger ones in urban areas continue to suffer.”
In an attempt to help with infection control as the winter weather approaches, Maryland’s Department of Health made the decision to use the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital to provide additional space for COVID-19 testing.
While this has been a great help to free up space at other locations, Galiatsatos thinks there is more that can be done.
“This virus does not stop at state lines,” Galiatsatos said. “We need one unified, federal, and homogenous plan for COVID-19 prevention.”
At the start of the pandemic, hospitals were experiencing a shortage in masks, gloves and other protective equipment. Now, it’s human capital.
“You want quality workers at the front lines,” Galiatsatos said. “However, we’re seeing doctors such as optometrists that haven’t worked with the whole body since the start of their career be deployed to help us in this fight.”
While the stress has taken a toll on healthcare workers, they continue to show up for their patients.
“I treat everyone as if they are a member of my family,” Soroudi said. “I wouldn’t want any of my loved ones to go through this alone and feel the same way about my patients.”
As the winter months begin to set in, Soroudi shared her concern on what’s next for the state and country as a whole.
“COVID-19 is a rare and sneaky disease,” Soroudi said. “And as we enter the flu season, I can imagine that COVID will be more complicated than before.”
Soroudi is not alone in thinking this way. The Maryland Department of Health shares similar concerns.
“One of the main concerns is a hospital surge and an overall impact of medical resources as winter months begin, especially with COVID-19 and the seasonal flu in the state,” said Charlie Gischlar, the deputy director of media relations at the health department. “The coexistence of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu is presenting challenges in terms of hospital bed space.”
According to Gischlar and the Maryland Hospital Association, there are 1,200 ICU beds across the state of Maryland. If needed, more beds can be created.
While healthcare workers are the ones the public depends on in difficult situations like these, it is important to remember that they need someone to lean on, too.
“The spread of this virus is preventable, and it’s disappointing that people won’t listen to us,” Galiatsatos said. “Talk to your local doctors and nurses and ask us how we’re doing. Then reevaluate your opinion on this virus.”
COVID-19 has made its mark on the Baltimore area, and while cases continue to rise, health care workers are doing their best to move forward and provide care for their patients. But they say they need the public’s help.
“Doctors and nurses are your last line of defense. Front line workers can prevent disease and promote health. Every human being is a front-line worker,” Galiatsatos said.
Related story: Maryland hospitals prepare for surge of COVID patients