Jump to content

COVID exposure. What would you do?


Recommended Posts

On 1/7/2021 at 8:17 PM, CornellSPA said:

o HCPs must be asymptomatic. o HCPs must have a negative test (PCR or antigen) to return to work after an exposure and subsequently be tested every 2-3 days after the first test until Day 10 after exposure. o HCPs must self-monitor for symptoms and conduct daily temperature checks through Day 14. o HCPs must quarantine when not at work consistent with the Department’s guidance on quarantine.

Seems like they are worried enough to say you should not leave the house, but not worried enough to say don't go to work. Not quite sure how that all fits together. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, sas5814 said:

me neither CJ. That is my frustration. Don't leave the house, get tested every 2-3 days, quarantine when not at work....but go work with frail elderly people. You can't halve the baby.

Well I think you have to chop that bugger in half, maybe quarters.

If every HCW who had an exposure went on 10-14 days of leave our hospitals would likely be empty of workers and full of patients, or damn close enough that it didn't matter. 

In this setting, performing the essential service is what comes first and is worth the risk to researchers/experts/ID nerds while going out to dinner/bowling alley/casino isn't.

While some recent data came out showing asymptomatic spread accounted for around 50% I'm curious how appropriate following of PPE guidelines played into that (what population was studied). Would imagine it would be harder to transmit while asymptomatic IF PPE was in play, as it would be in a healthcare environment.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator
56 minutes ago, MediMike said:

 

If every HCW who had an exposure went on 10-14 days of leave our hospitals would likely be empty of workers and full of patients, or damn close enough that it didn't matter. 

Agree- There would be no one working in the ER if everyone with a potential exposure and zero symptoms was out for two weeks each time. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, ShakaHoo said:

People have lives to live.  I don't think it was a poor decision at all.  If her daughter-in-law is in their "inner circle" I have no issues when them spending time together.  Because someone works with vulnerable patients, they are unable to see immediate family?  How long do you expect them to isolate and seclude themselves for?  3 months?  6 months?  1 year?  2 years?

 

Are medical clinicians and staff not allowed to go to grocery store?  Not everyone there wears full PPE.  Not everyone maintains 6 feet of distance in the aisles...

Plenty of people who are completely anal about social distancing, who have had COVID.

 

Pathetic post.

 

You are wrong, your logic is faulty, and yes I expect people to stay away. This story is a perfect example of why.

  • Like 1
  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator
18 hours ago, ShakaHoo said:

People have lives to live.  I don't think it was a poor decision at all.  If her daughter-in-law is in their "inner circle" I have no issues when them spending time together.  Because someone works with vulnerable patients, they are unable to see immediate family?  How long do you expect them to isolate and seclude themselves for?  3 months?  6 months?  1 year?  2 years?

 

Are medical clinicians and staff not allowed to go to grocery store?  Not everyone there wears full PPE.  Not everyone maintains 6 feet of distance in the aisles...

Plenty of people who are completely anal about social distancing, who have had COVID.

 

Pathetic post.

 

Disagree totally.  It is state by state decision as no federal guidance, but as a citizen following the rules in my state this meet up should have not occurred.  As a critical HCW it was ill advised.  
 

 

I am starting to see some alarming examples of HCW just giving up.  Doing what ever they want.  Going on ski trips, bars, and socializing.  I think we have extracted about as much self suffering from them as we can. System better hurry up and get vaccines out there or this contagion bubble is gonna get bigger and bigger.  (I am more and more protecting my family, we mask 100% when out and no play dates or anything like that (nine since feb!))

the S*^# getting deep.  

  • Like 1
  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Literally from the CDC's website about return to work for HCW. Your wife counts as high-risk and should be restricted from work for 14 days after last exposure. The other high-risk features are to limit losing HCW who were around COVID+ patients at work, but were appropriately protected. 

High risk exposure 

  • Close contact (being within 2 meters for a total of 15 minutes or more with a person with COVID-19 ) with a person with COVID-19 in the community[1]; OR
Edited by WeBuyAndSellJunk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I completed my next malpractice article two weeks ago but have not sent it in as my wife needs to edit and I had Covid and was hospitalized for five days. Fortunately I was able to get four doses of antiviral medication and I returned home with a chronic cough and feeling very lethargic although my PaO2 was appropriate as well as the fact that I was afebrile. My article deals with a similar situation where HCP's are being forced to return to work when they are lethargic, not on their game, slower to focus and have the ability to transmit the virus to others. Did we not take an oath to "Do No Harm"? I can see why Rose is so adamant.

My wife and I became symptomatic on Dec 21 after my son in law returned from  a trip to California. His entire family eventually tested positive for Covid also. I still have my cough but my wife who has RA started to get fevers of 100 to 100.8 and her sat dropped to as low as 88-92 for a few days. This past week she was also seen in the ER for diverticulitis. She developed an RA flair and joint pain and I noticed her breathing being compromised as she spoke. She returned to the ER with a 20,000 WBC, a positive CXR with an infiltrate and a CT scan followed by a reading of ground glass appearance in the lower left lobe and Covid Pneumonia. The ER discharged her because they said there was nothing they could do and she was already on steroids.

When she returned home my daughter became a patient advocate and called 911 because of her inability to talk without strained breathing and I saw her using accessory muscles to breathe. My little girl was a tiger and the ambulance was here in six minutes. She went to a hospital ER rather than a free standing ER and was admitted, placed on oxygen and her IV and blood work done. The Covid team said today that she cannot get an antiviral because of the time that has transpired and the only people that receive mono-clonal antibodies are people like Trump. She had a bout of exquisite pain on her left side this morning lasting twenty minutes and had a CT scan of her abdomen done thirty minutes ago. If she does not have a surgical abdomen she is being discharged on oxygen tomorrow as there is nothing else the hospital can do. She was exposed to three ED's last week and was told that she too was not contagious about ten days ago, yet the symptoms returned. I just received a call from my wife and she told me that she has an abscess on CT scan and is being seen by a surgeon this afternoon. I gave her the appropriate questions to ask and we just need to see if this is a perforation and requires laparotomy.

We live in a time when hospitals think of finances and providers being treated like cattle and are intimidated. There needs to be a formal complaint made by a few intelligent PA researchers or PROVIDERS THAT CAN BE UTILIZED BY THE larger group. The caps went on by accident.

  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/13/2021 at 7:25 AM, ventana said:

Disagree totally.  It is state by state decision as no federal guidance, but as a citizen following the rules in my state this meet up should have not occurred.  As a critical HCW it was ill advised.  
 

 

I am starting to see some alarming examples of HCW just giving up.  Doing what ever they want.  Going on ski trips, bars, and socializing.  I think we have extracted about as much self suffering from them as we can. System better hurry up and get vaccines out there or this contagion bubble is gonna get bigger and bigger.  (I am more and more protecting my family, we mask 100% when out and no play dates or anything like that (nine since feb!))

the S*^# getting deep.  

 

I have a family member who works as a school psychologist.  The mental toll that this pandemic has taken on the youth of our nation will be very long lasting.  Mental illness surging, depression, anxiety, fear, etc.


I don't think healthcare workers have given up, just some taking a well deserved mental wellness break.  I have zero issue with someone going skiing (or any outdoor activity that you can maintain social distance for that matter), having a "inner circle" family member or friend over for a get together, or *GASP* even supporting a local business and dining at a restaurant!

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to the Physician Assistant Forum! This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn More