COM Outlook Summer/Fall 2020

8 | DR. KIRAN C. PATEL COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE make even more room for the newly departed.” According to Andrade, the specter of death was unrelenting, as about 90 percent of the patients admitted to New York City hospi- tals at the height of the pandemic tested positive for COVID-19. “One of my hospitals has about a 20-bed intensive care unit,” he said. “At one point, we had more than 100 patients intubated. We were spread thin, to say the least.” Staying Safe—and Sane “Some days, a smile comes naturally. Other days, I force a smile,” said Andrade about cop- ing during the COVID crisis. “Affirmation and support from my friends and family have carried me and given me strength. Occa- sionally, I get a sense of unwaver- ing despondence that sinks into my mind and my body for a while. Eventually, the feelings subside and yield to the prospect that, one day, this will end. I keep reminding myself that, little by little, nothing is insurmountable.” Although saving lives and dealing with death are skills Andrade mastered during his medical training, the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to face his own mortality in ways he couldn’t have imagined months earlier. The reason? Lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), which put numerous health care workers at risk of exposure. “All I can do is protect myself with the PPE available. I’ve used the same N95 mask and face shield for three weeks,” he added. “Were we underprepared for this pandemic? We were unequivo- cally and grossly underprepared. I’m not a geopolitician. I’m not placing blame on any level of government or administration, but the reality is we have to do better. We need to place more emphasis and weight on the value of our health care system and providers.” Receding Chaos As April progressed to May, the number of COVID-19 cases being admitted to the hospitals began decreasing—signaling the end of Andrade’s volunteer stint. With a slow return to some semblance of normalcy, Andrade resumed his paid hospital duties, which include dealing with plastic surgery emer- gency calls, such as hand injuries and facial trauma. While reflecting on his experi- ences, Andrade shared a full-circle moment that hearkened to his initial moments in the COVID-19 units. Like his initial patient, a 19-year-old Hispanic female re- quired intubation due to respirato- ry failure caused by COVID-19 and was placed on a ventilator. The prognosis was bleak. Gradually, however, she was weaned off the ventilator and allowed to return home. “These are the stories that serve to reignite my spirits and give me hope as a clinician,” Andrade concluded. BIG APPLE ANGUISH From left: Andrade and two resident physicians on a COVID-19 patient floor at the Staten Island hospital