Part 2: How Front Line Workers Feel

Front line clinicians have become very crucial, especially during the pandemic, representing the best of humanity. Take a look at the interviews done by Scientific American, asking doctors, therapists, nurses, and respiratory therapists working in the hospitals across the country.

MATTHEW BAI

Emergency Room

Physician

New York City

"I honestly have no idea how I feel. I don't have time to digest any of this. I go to work, and then I go to sleep. Training in emergency medicine in New York, with the speed and number of patients, probably prepared me somewhat for what's happening now. But nothing can prepare you for an event of this magnitude. Everything is in flux. The upside is realizing the level of flexibility that's possible in a hospital. I'm seeing new faces in the ER all the time-nurses and doctors from other departments even surgeons. OBs and people flying in from all over the country. In the back of my head I'm constantly thinking, Can we manage our resources and keep our staff healthy for however long this lasts?"

JOHN BERK

Pulmonary Critical Care Physician and Associate Professor

Boston, Mass.

For providers there's a really complex psychology to all this. Everyone realizes the importance of what they are doing but want to be the next person felled by COVID-19. You're grappling with the fear of unknown and your call to duty. My wife, who is also a doctor, an I have been at this game for longer than we care to admit, and we've never been in a situation where there was a real fear of interacting with patients like there is now."