What We’re Reading: 05/01/20

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Continuing to lead with news around COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. Here are a few highlights from the week that we recommend you check out and follow—

Daily COVID-19 Updates from Dr. Craig Smith, Chair of the Department of Surgery

Sticking with what works; the best place to start. Every evening we share Dr. Smith’s daily COVID-19 memos with the public. Look no further to stay up to date on the coronavirus crisis in NYC.

What We Don't Know About the Coronavirus

This article does an incredible job breaking down the complexity of the unknowns—what COVID-19 does to the body, physiology we don’t yet understand, and everything in between. Mysteries are plentiful, and illuminating the struggle is an important step in getting answers.   (From newyorker.com)

The Coronavirus Could Cause a Child Abuse Epidemic

We will be evaluating the traumas collected from this era of pandemic for time to come. Households confined, dysfunction exacerbated, abuse magnified. Normally, teachers, community leaders, friends, and neighbors play a critical role in protecting children and alerting protective services. With those lifelines temporarily severed, what will we find on the other side? Nina Argawal, MD, child abuse pediatrician, sheds critical light. A tough yet important read.   (From nytimes.com)

Rapid Development of Resident-Led Procedural Response Teams to Support Patient Care During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Epidemic

This one gets a bit technical, but it’s worth it. Our residents are leading a critical support effort of epic proportions—they created a Surgical Workforce Activation Team (SWAT) available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to do beside procedures in the ER and ICU.

SWAT teams work in 12-hour shifts, each team consists of 2 senior surgical residents, a surgical intern, and a surgical attending physician. What’s most impressive is the process and planning that went into this effort, down to the standardized contents of every SWAT Go Bag. A success to be mirrored, if we do say so ourselves.   (From jamanetwork.com)

Now for some flash fiction to give you a moment of reprieve. 

Courage 

By Daniel Smith

A story that will take you only a couple minutes to read but will stick in your craw all day. A poignant and rapidly effective exploration of courage—the way we find or don’t find the will “to do.” How much of our own baggage informs the courage we see?   (From newyorker.com)

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