Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

An emergency physician to President Trump

Matthew S. Kuchinski, MD
Conditions
March 30, 2020
Share
Tweet
Share

I am a practicing emergency medicine physician in Indianapolis, IN.  I work in a county hospital whose mission is to serve the underserved.  I, like you, was born into a life of privilege with white skin and parents with the means to provide all that was needed and more. My college education was paid for, and I lived a carefree life through college.

I graduated from pharmacy school and entered the workforce as a pharmaceutical sales representative.  I quickly discovered that sales was not for me and that physicians were not rocket scientists.  My older brother was correct; I could be a physician and should go to medical school.  I found my way to the emergency department.

The ER is where the rubber hits the road.  You meet people from all walks of life, some of them on the worst days of their lives.  Most, on a typical day, are just trying to do the best they can for their families and loved ones.  Most of the failures of America’s health care system manifest themselves in the ER.  Mental health care, substance abuse disorders, and manifestations of poorly controlled common medical conditions.  On a daily basis, I see the inequalities of our society.  Medically, socially and, in the eyes of our judicial system, we are not all equal as are constitution mandates.

I experienced 9/11 as a young adult and saw how the country pulled together.  It reminded me of the stories I heard from my mother about growing up during World War II and the sacrifices that were necessary and gladly endured.  The current pandemic is a situation that most of us could not have imagined a few short months ago.  We have heard of death on an unimaginable scale from across the ocean.  It has now come to our shores.

Over the last few weeks, our hospital has begun to prepare for the anticipated volume of sick patients.  We have been thankful that the residents of Indianapolis have heeded warnings about staying away from the hospital.  Suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 have steadily increased.  We are now expecting to enter the steep part of the epidemiological curves for cases and deaths.  The anxiety and fear among my coworkers and nursing colleagues have been palpable.  We linger a little longer after shifts and ask a few more questions about cases and PPE procedures.  We have all been scouring the web for information about COVID-19 and experiences our colleagues around the country and globe have lived.  Several graduates from our program work in Seattle, ground zero in the United States.  They have given us first-hand insight about what to expect and what missteps to avoid.  We have been inundated with emails regarding policies and procedures that change frequently.   Yesterday, for the first time, I received an email with projections of PPE supply by days (2 days for gowns,  20 to 30 days for N95 masks, and 27 days for surgical masks).  I go back to work tomorrow night, wondering, “Will there be gowns to wear?”

Regardless of whether or not there are gowns available, my colleagues, nurses, and ED staff I work with will be there.  We will be doing our jobs to the best of our abilities, caring for patients like we would like our family members to be cared for.  I have one request for you and your coworkers.  When you are making decisions and making policy, consider what kind of care someone by the name of “John/Jane Doe” might receive as a result of your decisions.  Is the kind of care you would want for yourself or your loved one?  If not, perhaps you need to speak with Dr. Fauci.

Matthew S. Kuchinski is an emergency physician. 

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

I am an emergency physician. I risk my life for the future of our world.

March 30, 2020 Kevin 1
…
Next

False negative: COVID-19 testing’s catch-22

March 31, 2020 Kevin 2
…

Tagged as: COVID, Emergency Medicine, Infectious Disease

Post navigation

< Previous Post
I am an emergency physician. I risk my life for the future of our world.
Next Post >
False negative: COVID-19 testing’s catch-22

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

  • Denying payment for emergency care: a physician defends insurers

    Michael Kirsch, MD
  • A prayer from an emergency physician

    Edwin Leap, MD
  • The climate crisis as viewed by an emergency physician

    Elizabeth M. Barreras-Rivest, MD
  • Bias when treating supporters of President Trump

    Anonymous
  • A physician’s addiction to social media

    Amanda Xi, MD
  • President Trump: Stop focusing on insurance and focus on health

    Shivam Joshi, MD

More in Conditions

  • Medicaid lags behind on Alzheimer’s blood test coverage

    Amanda Matter
  • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

    Angela Rodriguez, MD
  • Why the Sean Combs trial is a wake-up call for HIV prevention

    Catherine Diamond, MD
  • New surge in misleading ads about diabetes on social media poses a serious health risk

    Laura Syron
  • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

    Harry Oken, MD
  • The critical role of nurse practitioners in colorectal cancer screening

    Elisabeth Evans, FNP
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • What street medicine taught me about healing

      Alina Kang | Education
    • Are we repeating the statin playbook with lipoprotein(a)?

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • The silent cost of choosing personalization over privacy in health care

      Dr. Giriraj Tosh Purohit | Tech
    • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

      Angela Rodriguez, MD | Conditions
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Conditions
    • Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives

      John Wei, MD | Physician
    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • Confessions of a lipidologist in recovery: the infection we’ve ignored for 40 years

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • A physician employment agreement term that often tricks physicians

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Finance
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
  • Recent Posts

    • A systemic plan for health worker well-being [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why pain doctors face unfair scrutiny and harsh penalties in California

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • Why physicians need a place to fall apart

      Annia Raja, PhD | Physician
    • The joy of teaching medicine through life’s toughest challenges

      John F. McGeehan, MD | Physician
    • Why health care can’t survive on no-fail missions alone

      Wendy Schofer, MD | Physician
    • An addiction physician’s warning about America’s next public health crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 3 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • What street medicine taught me about healing

      Alina Kang | Education
    • Are we repeating the statin playbook with lipoprotein(a)?

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • The silent cost of choosing personalization over privacy in health care

      Dr. Giriraj Tosh Purohit | Tech
    • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

      Angela Rodriguez, MD | Conditions
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Conditions
    • Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives

      John Wei, MD | Physician
    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • Confessions of a lipidologist in recovery: the infection we’ve ignored for 40 years

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • A physician employment agreement term that often tricks physicians

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Finance
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
  • Recent Posts

    • A systemic plan for health worker well-being [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why pain doctors face unfair scrutiny and harsh penalties in California

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • Why physicians need a place to fall apart

      Annia Raja, PhD | Physician
    • The joy of teaching medicine through life’s toughest challenges

      John F. McGeehan, MD | Physician
    • Why health care can’t survive on no-fail missions alone

      Wendy Schofer, MD | Physician
    • An addiction physician’s warning about America’s next public health crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

An emergency physician to President Trump
3 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...