I just got sent home with COVID symptoms. I'd been a little congested for a couple days but it's allergy season. After being at work just a little bit I was coughing, lost my voice, sore throat and diaphoretic (I didn't have time to check my temp). They got me out of there asap but I feel so bad. I should have known, I was SOB going up the stairs but again, since nothing else was happening I just thought allergies. I have to get swabbed tomorrow and I don't know how long I'll be out.
This is not a great time, I've had two long medical leaves and will have another at the end of the year. How do I afford no pay right now?
They also said they are not telling us if we have been exposed so I don't know how long I could have been incubating.
I will see how it all comes together tomorrow, if it's negative I think I can come back 72 hours of no symptoms
Oh gosh I’m so sorry, how scary! Why wouldn’t they tell you if you’ve been exposed?!?! You have a right to know. Also from what I’ve read and heard sore throat, congestion and hoarseness aren’t the usual presentation. I hope you get neg results ASAP and can return to work. For now rest up!
Thank you ☺️. The cynic in me wonders if it's so I can't file L&I? Not sure, what else would lead to them not sharing info. I think it's just a cold, I just feel so bad that I went in at all, I work with high risk patients and feel so guilty. hopefully I got out of there without getting anyone else sick.
mofongo and @volare. Congestion isn’t a typical symptom but sore throat is one of the first.
That's what worried me. I mean I do have allergies and I am always congested lol. Everything else makes me nervous I could have exposed a bunch of patients and healthcare workers
Thanks for this link mofongo. DH keeps insisting that sore throat is a symptom. Now maybe he'll understand when I send him this (I found graphics on our Govenor's twitter page that were from the CDC, but DH didn't want a graphic )
mofongo and @volare. Congestion isn’t a typical symptom but sore throat is one of the first.
That's what worried me. I mean I do have allergies and I am always congested lol. Everything else makes me nervous I could have exposed a bunch of patients and healthcare workers
Ugh I’m sorry. I wish there was a better way to get healthcare workers tested. We have wide community spread here. I had a headache yesterday but I was like whatever. I was able to buy a thermometer, the last one, and I don’t have a fever. I don’t know if it’s in my head but I think I feel a little chest tightness but not sure. No coughing at all and after a good night sleep I feel fine this morning at work. But of course I’m worried that I could obviously be exposing people at work. I guess I’ll talk to our medical director and see if testing has become easier around here.
Michelle , why is the PPE under lock and key? Do emergencies never happen? Do you decide the appropriate amount of times to enter a patient's room?
I can't imagine having to run in to a code in an iso room but first stop by a locked place for PPE.
Seriously? Of course there is PPE available on a daily basis for direct patient care needs.
The bulk supply is under lock and key because of the anticipated action that other organizations are now dealing with - people who don't need the supplies walking off with them in bulk for personal use.
Identified parties - probably charge nurses - have department supplies under lock and key so they can monitor the supply usage more closely against volume/need, and it isn't stolen. There are supplies readily on hand for immediate use but as they get replenished, there is monitoring against patient volume in case people try to take whole packs of masks out for family members and such.
Our workforce screening asked about sore throat as well as congestion, so I think they are including those. They determined I need to be swabbed so I will go tomorrow morning. If it's negative I can return after 24 hours of no symptoms, positive 72 hours. Hopefully it's negative and I can get back to work!
I hope everyone is hanging in there, I appreciate all of you!
Our workforce screening asked about sore throat as well as congestion, so I think they are including those. They determined I need to be swabbed so I will go tomorrow morning. If it's negative I can return after 24 hours of no symptoms, positive 72 hours. Hopefully it's negative and I can get back to work!
I hope everyone is hanging in there, I appreciate all of you!
Great glad that you can get tested so you have an answer one way or another.
That's what worried me. I mean I do have allergies and I am always congested lol. Everything else makes me nervous I could have exposed a bunch of patients and healthcare workers
Ugh I’m sorry. I wish there was a better way to get healthcare workers tested. We have wide community spread here. I had a headache yesterday but I was like whatever. I was able to buy a thermometer, the last one, and I don’t have a fever. I don’t know if it’s in my head but I think I feel a little chest tightness but not sure. No coughing at all and after a good night sleep I feel fine this morning at work. But of course I’m worried that I could obviously be exposing people at work. I guess I’ll talk to our medical director and see if testing has become easier around here.
I tried to convince myself it was all in my head. I mean knowing me I could see that lol.
Michelle , why is the PPE under lock and key? Do emergencies never happen? Do you decide the appropriate amount of times to enter a patient's room?
I can't imagine having to run in to a code in an iso room but first stop by a locked place for PPE.
Seriously? Of course there is PPE available on a daily basis for direct patient care needs.
The bulk supply is under lock and key because of the anticipated action that other organizations are now dealing with - people who don't need the supplies walking off with them in bulk for personal use.
Identified parties - probably charge nurses - have department supplies under lock and key so they can monitor the supply usage more closely against volume/need, and it isn't stolen. There are supplies readily on hand for immediate use but as they get replenished, there is monitoring against patient volume in case people try to take whole packs of masks out for family members and such.
Don't "seriously" me. You're the one who said the supplies were under lock and key. I was asking for clarification because CLEARLY things differ from hospital to hospital.
Not to mention, hospitals are already doling out the masks to be used incorrectly. Where is HR defending the nurses there?
Thank god, JACHO suspending inspections during this time. *eyeroll*
Our workforce screening asked about sore throat as well as congestion, so I think they are including those. They determined I need to be swabbed so I will go tomorrow morning. If it's negative I can return after 24 hours of no symptoms, positive 72 hours. Hopefully it's negative and I can get back to work!
I hope everyone is hanging in there, I appreciate all of you!
Glad they’re screening you. Am I reading correctly that if you test positive you can return to work after 72 hours of no symptoms?
I just read this thread. As dentists we have been told to postpone anything elective. I'm reading it's more of a measure to remove us from the supply chain continuing to buy PPE versus fear of the virus spreading from seeing the patient and doing procedures that involve a lot of aerosols.
I closed my office but now I feel bad that I was even thinking about staying open. With all the crap being floated on social media, there definitely needs to be more of this kind of info coming from our organizations to help justify why doing veneers and braces right now while wearing an N95 mask (there are colleagues who "stocked up") is absolutely not the right thing to do.
I just got a call from our dentist (in WA state) cancelling DH's appointment next week. They're closing for at least 2 weeks but likely longer. The office manager told me they are running low on masks and gloves and can't order more at this time. Someone will be checking their voicemails daily for emergency care only. She said they are discussing opening up for Saturday appointments once they do reopen to catch up. They already regularly run a couple months out for new appointments.
Our workforce screening asked about sore throat as well as congestion, so I think they are including those. They determined I need to be swabbed so I will go tomorrow morning. If it's negative I can return after 24 hours of no symptoms, positive 72 hours. Hopefully it's negative and I can get back to work!
I hope everyone is hanging in there, I appreciate all of you!
Glad they’re screening you. Am I reading correctly that if you test positive you can return to work after 72 hours of no symptoms?
Yes, that's what they said today. I thought I would be out 2 weeks no matter what but I guess not.
I just read this thread. As dentists we have been told to postpone anything elective. I'm reading it's more of a measure to remove us from the supply chain continuing to buy PPE versus fear of the virus spreading from seeing the patient and doing procedures that involve a lot of aerosols.
I closed my office but now I feel bad that I was even thinking about staying open. With all the crap being floated on social media, there definitely needs to be more of this kind of info coming from our organizations to help justify why doing veneers and braces right now while wearing an N95 mask (there are colleagues who "stocked up") is absolutely not the right thing to do.
I just got a call from our dentist (in WA state) cancelling DH's appointment next week. They're closing for at least 2 weeks but likely longer. The office manager told me they are running low on masks and gloves and can't order more at this time. Someone will be checking their voicemails daily for emergency care only. She said they are discussing opening up for Saturday appointments once they do reopen to catch up. They already regularly run a couple months out for new appointments.
Most reasonable private practices have closed based on the ADA and the White House recommendations. But there are greedy offices still open and people still KOKO especially in the states where they haven't told all the non-essential businesses to close. Lots of doctors who work for chain dental offices are being told that the office is staying open and they have to work, and the doctor is nervous to leave because you can't get unemployment if you quit. Or some of them are afraid to stop working for the corporation even if they want to because they have visa requirements to work or else they have to leave the country after a certain time. It's ugly.
. Am I reading correctly that if you test positive you can return to work after 72 hours of no symptoms?
This is our new policy as well. In addition, asymptomatic employees exposed to COVID-19 aren’t even required or be tested. They do have to do daily “self monitoring” of symptoms, have temp checked before each shift and wear a surgical mask at work.
My boss covered my shifts for this week. Still haven’t received my letter for HR to even get my appointment to make my leave official. It’s a cluster but I understand this is low priority and I’m just grateful my boss (and peers who are covering my shifts) are being so accommodating.
. Am I reading correctly that if you test positive you can return to work after 72 hours of no symptoms?
This is our new policy as well. In addition, asymptomatic employees exposed to COVID-19 aren’t even required or be tested. They do have to do daily “self monitoring” of symptoms, have temp checked before each shift and wear a surgical mask at work.
My boss covered my shifts for this week. Still haven’t received my letter for HR to even get my appointment to make my leave official. It’s a cluster but I understand this is low priority and I’m just grateful my boss (and peers who are covering my shifts) are being so accommodating.
This is our new policy as well. In addition, asymptomatic employees exposed to COVID-19 aren’t even required or be tested. They do have to do daily “self monitoring” of symptoms, have temp checked before each shift and wear a surgical mask at work.
My boss covered my shifts for this week. Still haven’t received my letter for HR to even get my appointment to make my leave official. It’s a cluster but I understand this is low priority and I’m just grateful my boss (and peers who are covering my shifts) are being so accommodating.
1. Asymptomatic infection: without any clinical symptoms and signs and the chest imaging is normal, while the 2019-nCoV nucleic acid test is in a positive period. 2. Mild: symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infection, including fever, fatigue, myalgia, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and sneezing. Physical examination shows congestion of the pharynx and no auscultory abnormalities. Some cases may have no fever, or have only digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. 3. Moderate: with pneumonia, frequent fever and cough, mostly dry cough, followed by productive cough , some may have wheezing, but no obvious hypoxemia such as shortness of breath, and lungs can hear sputum or dry snoring and / or wet snoring. Some cases may have no clinical signs and symptoms, but chest CT shows lung lesions, which are subclinical. 4. Severe: Early respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough, may be accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea. The disease usually progresses around 1 week, and dyspnea occurs, with central cyanosis. Oxygen saturation is less than 92%, with other hypoxia manifestations. 5. Critical: Children can quickly progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or respiratory failure, and may also have shock, encephalopathy, myocardial injury or heart failure, coagulation dysfunction, and acute kidney injury. Organ dysfunction can be life threatening.
Seriously? Of course there is PPE available on a daily basis for direct patient care needs.
The bulk supply is under lock and key because of the anticipated action that other organizations are now dealing with - people who don't need the supplies walking off with them in bulk for personal use.
Identified parties - probably charge nurses - have department supplies under lock and key so they can monitor the supply usage more closely against volume/need, and it isn't stolen. There are supplies readily on hand for immediate use but as they get replenished, there is monitoring against patient volume in case people try to take whole packs of masks out for family members and such.
Don't "seriously" me. You're the one who said the supplies were under lock and key. I was asking for clarification because CLEARLY things differ from hospital to hospital.
Not to mention, hospitals are already doling out the masks to be used incorrectly. Where is HR defending the nurses there?
Thank god, JACHO suspending inspections during this time. *eyeroll*
I made the mistake of assuming some applied logic here. Obviously a mistake that has plagued me throughout this thread. See also others' practice of applying my comments to violence against nurses, requiring lack of PPE, etc.
If I'm coming across as bitchy, my apologies - i'm worn out by this post and the underlying assumptions within it, as well as working 14 hour days for over 3 straight weeks with no days off, walking people through critical thinking analysis on things that seem like pretty obvious common sense decisions here at work.
I read that this morning and have observed some of the listed symptoms in my 4mo DD this week. Wrote it off previously because of her age. I haven’t seen any testing rubrics that address symptoms in children at this point.
Don't "seriously" me. You're the one who said the supplies were under lock and key. I was asking for clarification because CLEARLY things differ from hospital to hospital.
Not to mention, hospitals are already doling out the masks to be used incorrectly. Where is HR defending the nurses there?
Thank god, JACHO suspending inspections during this time. *eyeroll*
I made the mistake of assuming some applied logic here. Obviously a mistake that has plagued me throughout this thread. See also others' practice of applying my comments to violence against nurses, requiring lack of PPE, etc.
If I'm coming across as bitchy, my apologies - i'm worn out by this post and the underlying assumptions within it, as well as working 14 hour days walking people through critical thinking analysis on things that seem like pretty obvious common sense decisions here at work.
Coming from a facility that does not require PPE to be "locked up", whatever that means, to assume that I would need to "apply logic" to your healthcare system is a bit insulting.
We have PPE for each room, outside the room. Then, in the clean utility room, we have MORE of the same PPE should we need to restock during the shift. If those are used up, we are to go to the other wing and raid their stock. If that is done, we call central supply and they bring us more. But central supply also stocks once per day shift and once per night shift. So maybe you're talking about the central supply being locked...well sure, but that's so far down our supply chain it would never be on my radar.
Surely you can see why so many of us are distrustful of hospital HR. They've never really given us a reason to trust them and you're certainly not helping the field.
Thanks for your 14 hour days. Now you know what our shifts are like.
I made the mistake of assuming some applied logic here. Obviously a mistake that has plagued me throughout this thread. See also others' practice of applying my comments to violence against nurses, requiring lack of PPE, etc.
If I'm coming across as bitchy, my apologies - i'm worn out by this post and the underlying assumptions within it, as well as working 14 hour days walking people through critical thinking analysis on things that seem like pretty obvious common sense decisions here at work.
Coming from a facility that does not require PPE to be "locked up", whatever that means, to assume that I would need to "apply logic" to your healthcare system is a bit insulting.
We have PPE for each room, outside the room. Then, in the clean utility room, we have MORE of the same PPE should we need to restock during the shift. If those are used up, we are to go to the other wing and raid their stock. If that is done, we call central supply and they bring us more. But central supply also stocks once per day shift and once per night shift. So maybe you're talking about the central supply being locked...well sure, but that's so far down our supply chain it would never be on my radar.
Surely you can see why so many of us are distrustful of hospital HR. They've never really given us a reason to trust them and you're certainly not helping the field.
Thanks for your 14 hour days. Now you know what our shifts are like.
See "clean utility room" in your example - that stock was moved centrally and locked up. PPE in the room was not, and people were in charge of keeping it stocked but monitoring use.
It isn't normally locked up. Seeing the trends in other organizations of PPE walking off because of the nationwide panic, and knowing there is limited supply in the entire nation after shipping it off to China, we acted proactively to secure our PPE for the safety of our staff by placing it under lock and key.
Post by wanderingback on Mar 18, 2020 18:34:09 GMT -5
Yikes. I don't think this thread needs to spiral in to this. At this time more than ever we should support each other. I think the point of this thread was to come together with other healthcare workers who "get it" and understand the ethics and difficulties in this situation.
The president of the Ohio Dental Association, a woman, is the first one to come out and tell dentists to GO THE F*** HOME. For the sake of having masks and gloves. Here is the best part of what she wrote -
"As for the order. From this time until after this pandemic has peaked, your office should be on emergency only status. The goal is to preserve Personal Protective Equipment (masks and gloves) and protect our patients and staff from the Corona virus. NO CLEANINGS OR PROPHIES should be performed on patients that do not have an emergent periodontal problem. DO NOT start any crowns, fillings, etc. unless it is the only way to relieve pain. DO NOT treat orthodontic cases unless it is an emergency. DO NOT do any cosmetic procedures. DO NOT treat those patients in high risk categories. Period."
I'm embarrassed at my profession. That other dentists have to be told what exactly constitutes a dental emergency and are not smart enough to figure it out for themselves despite earning a professional degree. So many still have their heads in the sand that this is all a conspiracy or the "government can't tell me what to do" or enter whatever lame excuse they're spouting.
Yikes. I don't think this thread needs to spiral in to this. At this time more than ever we should support each other. I think the point of this thread was to come together with other healthcare workers who "get it" and understand the ethics and difficulties in this situation.
So I thought so too, and as someone fighting to make sure our workers are protected through their concerns, I have participated.
I left this thread behind until someone I know IRL brought my attention to how my comments were twisted.
While I am not on the front line, I work hard to protect the safety and civil rights of those who are, and partner with my peers to find creative solutions to help caregivers like creating a special fund employees can use to pay babysitters while schools closed (that pays more than care.com even though we already use them), waiving the STD elimination period for employees who get covid whether here or in the community and paying std at 100 percent. Creating an online pool for our employees who are pregnant, over 60, or immunosuppressed to keep them working but in safer assignment. Other things I mentioned up thread, and more.
But because I am not in scrubs I am not allowed to speak to the ethics of the work? Even though I write the policies, which certainly means I need to understand the ethics, laws, and more, I can’t weigh in on the discussion?
That is ridiculous, and if it adds to the downward spiral to say so, oh well.
ETA my frustration is not pointed at you and your comment I quoted here wandering jack. Just the overall concept of it all.
michelle I think you are directing comments at me. I think I already responded to your response but happy to add more if you would like me to.
I appreciate the HR departments that have employees interests and health at the forefront. I think Saudade is coming from a place where that is not consistently happening at her institution.
I also know, being on the front lines, that what was unacceptable PPE last week is now considered ok. Criteria that was used to keep people home for 14 days is now 3 days. Things are changing by the hour. It is really freaking scary to be caring for patients despite this being what we signed up for. I imagine it doesn't feel that great for you either as you try to work behind the scenes, and sounds like within the community at some points.
I know we are all trying to get through this and help each other the best we can. I have nothing but respect and good wishes for everyone in this right now.
72 hours with a positive?! No quarantine if exposed to a positive person?
No wonder this virus is spreading so quickly. The different restrictions and criteria for testing and what PPE is needed changes every day.
This is where I am, and why I split my staff into teams. We can’t all be out 2 weeks if one of us is exposed or tests positive. There’s got to be a middle ground... and 72 hours doesn’t seem like it.
As providers we’re damned if we do, and damned if we don’t. Not only are we likely contributing to the spread with these plans, but we’re also sending folks back into hell when they’ve barely recovered themselves from something that we don’t have full grasp of symptoms and recovery and long term effects.