Medical workers feel COVID-19’s toll
‘I’ll be the first in line’ for vaccine, doctor says as first doses set to go out
Loss of smell, taste, fever, chills. Sounds like COVID-19, maybe.
These are symptoms Dr. Scott Samlan said are described by 30 to 40 patients a day.
But only a fraction of those will test positive for the virus, he said. Seeing so many patients has helped him predict who is sick and which cases appear most severe.
“We’re getting pretty good, like, yeah, you have COVID,” said Samlan, 44, CEO at NW Indiana 24/7 ER & Hospital, which is near Cabela’s in Hammond.
While most people recover, he said, a “subset” tends to fare worse — namely those with diabetes or obesity, some who require oxygen or ICU stays.
“I don’t know (why),” he said. “That’s just what I see.”
Samlan discussed his experiences and answered some questions posed by the Post-Tribune to help readers better understand one physician’s perspective from the front lines.
Since the facility opened this summer, Samlan said the number of patients with symptoms who test positive has jumped to 23% in November, up from 7-8% in August.
“Which is staggering,” he said.
Earlier, they were seeing otherwise young, healthy people getting intubated in the ICU. That’s still happening, he said. Over time, the medical field has figured out which drugs, therapies or steroids might give some relief. It’s still going to be a while until a vaccine gets rolled out to everyone, Samlan said.
People are catching the virus from their friends and family.
“They go to have a beer or cup of coffee with a friend, and that’s where they’re getting it, because they think they know these friends,” he said. “Because they think their circle is insular, but it’s not.”
As Community Hospital in Munster should get its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines for medical workers within days, Samlan said he’s eager to get inoculated.
“I’ll be the first in line,” he said.
For enough people, he’s seen the bodily damage the virus can inflict.
“I see long-term side effects of patients getting COVID. Even now,” he said. “People’s long-term lung issues. Something called ‘COVID fog’ where people have trouble concentrating. People with cardiomyopathy ( heart muscle disease).”
But, what about people worried the vaccine was developed so quickly?
It’s important to have “a healthy skepticism, question all,” he said. “That’s why I think it’s so important to get the information from our scientists. Because you’re right, it is a new vaccine.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has conducted a rigorous review, he said. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, requiring two shots, now seeking emergency use approval offer 90-95% protection rate, compared to 40-60% for the seasonal flu.
Possible side effects for the COVID vaccine include a sore arm, fever, fatigue, headache, joint pain, and muscle aches. Those are all signs the
vaccine is kicking in, experts said.
A genetic code, mRNA, used in the vaccine has been researched for years prior, he said.
“I feel to get the vaccine outweighs getting COVID,” he said.
Despite the pandemic’s grim toll, there are positives, when asked, that haven’t been widely reported.
“People are learning and taking a better interest in their health. People come in and they have ideas about COVID, or suggestions.”
“I also think people are treating their co-morbidities (health complications) their diabetes, their blood pressure, what they eat, it’s definitely becoming better.”
On a personal level, he said the pandemic has been hard.
“Like everybody else, you go to the hospital and you see COVID all day. Then
you come home and you gotta wash off and make sure you have proper ‘sanitizing rituals.’
“Take my clothes, put
them in the washing machine, take a hot shower and then I can see my kids (ages 1, 3). Especially in the health care scene, with
COVID patients, I don’t see anyone. It’s just me and my wife and kids. We’re insulated from everyone. It’s really hard.
“I worry about how this is going to affect people — PTSD, especially people in the ICU. They see 30- or 40-year-olds come in, are intubated, won’t come off the respirator. We’re just not trained for this.
“And, it’s not like we have an outlet. You go home and you see your family. It’s not like you can go out and do s o me t h i n g . I t ’s just, ‘Groundhog’s Day.’ How long can you be in that role?
“We’ve all had people in health care that have contracted it and are out. How many shifts can you cover? Without burning out?”
Samlan acknowledged many people have gone back to their lives with pandemic fatigue.
“The easier things are the hardest things to do,” he said. “We have a culture, everybody’s going out, running around, doing things and now you have to sit back and relax.
“There’s only so much ‘Netflix and chill’ we can do. And puzzles.
“I think people who work in health care, we can actually shine,” he said. “We can actually make a difference. I think it’s kinda an honor to be in health care. Yeah, it’s difficult, but it’s an honor.”
Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered hospitals to cancel or delay elective surgeries from Dec. 16 to Jan. 3 to free up patients and beds. He said he’s not sure if that helps, because his facility doesn’t do those kind of surgeries.
The state of Indiana getting a vaccine logistics plan is “a huge undertaking and I think it’s amazing that they are doing this.”
“I think it’s very, very exciting that a vaccine is coming. But, we are not out of the woods yet,” he said. “This is not the time to relax and have outdoor parties and get together for Christmas.”
Until then — masks, washing hands, social distancing, he said.
“If we don’t, it’s going to blow up, even worse than it is right now.”