If there was ever a time for physicians to take one’s physical and mental health seriously, it is now. This situation may last for weeks and quite likely months. The WHO warns us to prepare for “a marathon, not a sprint.”
We will be facing difficult decisions that can create distress. How long can our patients safely wait with “non emergent” problems? How will we cope with and manage the backlog of patient visits and surgeries once things are back to “normal”? Do we lay off techs/office staff during the slowdown, and if so- how will they manage financially with the loss of employment?
Trainees are dealing with uncertainty and disruption of their training and future employment- especially those that have been preparing for their Royal College exams. Of course, there is also the constant worry that we or a family member may test positive, or that we could unknowingly be a vector for transmission.
