Working in a Clinic During a Pandemic

Being an essential operation, the MASS Free Health Clinic has, so far, stayed open in spite of the Coronavirus pandemic that has caused many states to shelter-in-place, closed universities and public schools, and triggered travel restrictions. Being primarily volunteer/intern based, those who work at the clinic, including myself, have continued to come in to help as we are still the primary place for uninsured people in the Jacksonville area to receive needed care- and of course their need for medical attention does not go on hold in spite of a pandemic.

Working in such a high risk place during this time has come with numerous changes and precautions, and it has been a very beneficial opportunity for me to observe first hand the steps a healthcare facility must take in order to remain operational while ensuring the safety of the workers and patients.

We had been aware of coronavirus months before it became a severe issue near us. In the beginning we would ask patients to disclose if they had travelled out of the country recently as a precaution, then we would screen for flu-like symptoms and not see them if they exhibited any.

As the virus became more severe in the US, we implemented more cleaning measures, like providing hand sanitizer when patients entered the building, before they went into the back, using gloves any time we were in contact with patients, and providing more cleaning measures in each room.

The last time I worked in the clinic there were many greater precautions being taken. We limited the number of patients in the building, bleached everything after every patient, had patient's temperatures taken before entering the building, didn't let anyone who had travelled or had any cold, flu, or even allergy symptoms in the building, wore gloves the entire day, and limited visitors of patients to only translators being allowed to accompany the patient.

It had been educational to see the level or precautions that must be taken and the sacrifices that have to be made in order to ensure, to the best of their ability, the safety of staff and patients.

I have also gotten to witness and participate in the transition to telemedicine, or virtual appointments. Though it is only being used as a necessity during this pandemic, the advancements being made will surely be implemented even after this is over which will be a revolutionary change to the medical field.