TAKING OVER IN A PANDEMIC
Medical society casts Summerfield in leading role
Dr. Jessica Summerfield has known for a year that she would be taking over as the president of the Essex County Medical Society for 2021.
What she didn't know a year ago was that she'd be assuming the position leading the region's 460-plus doctors in the midst of the worst global pandemic in a century.
“It's sort of like running into a burning building,” Summerfield said with a chuckle Friday shortly before the society's virtual annual general meeting and her installation.
If anyone is cut out to bring an understanding of COVID-19 to the position it's Summerfield, 38, who works as a family doctor and a hospitalist at Windsor Regional Hospital.
She has been on the pandemic front lines frequently since March, even writing an essay for the Ontario Medical Association about her experiences.
“It certainly is on my radar,” Summerfield said of COVID-19.
“There is lots of opportunity and a lot of things to focus on this year, for sure. The pandemic is certainly one of them I think our main mandate for the ECMS, regardless of a pandemic time or not, is always to ensure our patients come first.”
The nature of health care has evolved drastically in the months since the pandemic was declared mid-march, Summerfield said.
“The way we deliver health care has certainly changed with utilizing virtual care,” she said.
“The volume we've seen of patients in primary care has not necessarily decreased, it's just the percentage of patients we see in person versus virtual is probably 75 per cent virtual versus 25 per cent in person. That's to keep the community safe and decrease risk and there's a lot we can do virtually to ensure patients' care isn't interrupted.”
Summerfield said another focus will be working with other players in the health-care sector.
“Another main objective will be to continue to build and strength
en our relationships with local public health and our local hospitals,” she said.
“I think we've really adapted, and this is really everyone in health care, be it the dietary needs at the hospital, the nursing staff, our front-line workers that answer the phones in our offices.
“The way we do our jobs has drastically changed and we've adapted and continued to do the work we need to do, day after day.”
A year from now, as her term comes to an end, Summerfield hopes things will have changed for the better.
“Hopefully within a year there'll be a lot more optimism, hopefully we'll be coming to the end of things,” she said.
“The access to virtual care will certainly continue, I think the population certainly appreciated that. I think our overall understanding of infectious diseases in general has certainly improved and I think certain things will be maintained, such as maintaining social distancing, wiping down surfaces, people will be a little more hesitant moving forward.”
Summerfield, a graduate of Belle River High School, first studied nursing at Western University and worked as a nurse in Windsor for two years.
“Even as a nursing student I've pretty much done every job in health care,” said Summerfield, listing off dietary aid, linen handler, PSA and birthing centre nurse among the roles she's played.
After her nursing experience she decided she wanted to “expand my skills of practice” and returned to medical school at Western in 2008.
“I had a house, I had a car, I had a life and then I went back to living as a student with a highlighter in my hand,” Summerfield said.
“Trust me, it was quite an experience. But well worth it, believe me.”
Another main objective will be to continue to build and strengthen our relationships with local public health.