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COVID-19 UPDATE

3. Be prepared to stand up a cross-department deployment program. during this constantly changing crisis.
I was once told directing physicians is like leading an army of gen-
erals and nowhere was that more evident than during this pan- 4. Appreciate the need for positive, steady, yet flexible leadership dur-
demic. Physicians are inherent problem solvers, so they do not ing a sustained operation, particularly in a stressful and everchang-
generally take orders without questioning them. Consequently, reg- ing environment such as a pandemic. Ensuring self-care and the
ular effective communication was vital in directing our group of physical and emotional wellness of your teammates is essential.
over 1,000 physicians working at multiple sites. Crises have a way Simply taking the time to ask how they’re doing and encouraging
of drawing the best from people, and I was privileged to witness a brief break from the action goes a long way.
this among our faculty and staff. Radiologists volunteered to place
central lines and psychiatrists volunteered to work on the palliative This list is not all inclusive. A plan for Predictive Modeling, inno-
care service. Trauma surgeons, anesthesiologists and pediatricians vative use of Health IT, dispersing personal protective equipment and
who trained in critical care worked alongside our other intensivists recovery were all important as well. The one silver lining from this
to serve our critically ill COVID patients. Subspecialty physicians pandemic is that I will forever be inspired and thankful for having
were quickly trained on modules prepared by our hospitalists and worked with such outstanding faculty, staff, as well as partners
then placed on standby until deployed to care for COVID patients. throughout the city. Despite the shadow cast on 2020 by this pan-
I was greatly inspired. Likewise, we worked closely with our hospital demic, my memories will forever be framed by the impressive work I
partner UH to coordinate the opening of additional COVID units witnessed by these individuals. Good job San Antonio.
and assignment of nurses. When it was my turn to attend to the
care of COVID patients, without exception, a nurse would help Robert Leverence, MD is Chief Medical Officer of UT
me with the tedious ritual of donning and doffing my PPE. Fortu- Health San Antonio and is a member of the Bexar County
nately, a good amount of trust had already been built with UH lead- Medical Society.
ership which helped maintain smooth relations and operations

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