SAGES primer for taking care of yourself during and after the COVID-19 crisis

Abstract

COVID-19 is a pandemic which has affected almost every aspect of our life since starting globally in November 2019. Given the rapidity of spread and inadequate time to prepare for record numbers of sick patients, our surgical community faces an unforeseen challenge. SAGES is committed to the protection and care of patients, their surgeons and staff, and all who are served by the medical community at large. This includes physical health, mental health, and well-being of all involved. The fear of the unknown ahead can be paralyzing. International news media have chronicled the unthinkable situations that physicians and other health care providers have been thrust into as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These situations include making life or death decisions for patients and their families regarding use of limited health care resources. It includes caring for patients with quickly deteriorating conditions and limited treatments available. Until recently, these situations seemed far from home, and now they are in our own hospitals. As the pandemic broadened its reach, the reality that we as surgeons may be joining the front line is real. It may be happening to you now; it may be on the horizon in the coming weeks. In this context, SAGES put together this document addressing concerns on clinician stressors in these times of uncertainty. We chose to focus on the emotional toll of the situation on the clinician, protecting vulnerable persons, reckoning with social isolation, and promoting wellness during this crisis. At the same time, the last part of this document deals with the "light at the end of the tunnel," discussing potential opportunities, lessons learned, and the positives that can come out of this crisis. Keywords Surgeon wellness • COVID-19 • Pandemic well-being • Burnout COVID-19 is a pandemic which has affected almost every aspect of our life since starting globally in November 2019. Given the rapidity of spread and inadequate time to prepare for record numbers of sick patients, our surgical community faces an unforeseen challenge. SAGES is committed to the protection and care of patients, their surgeons and staff, and all who are served by the medical community at large. This

Mental Health and the SARS-COV-2 Epidemic—Polish Research Study

“…A different group, yet also significantly related to the risk of emotional consequences of the pandemic, are representatives of medical services [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Yip et al [ 23 ] estimate that emotional difficulties as a consequence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic will occur in almost 30% of health care workers.…”

Self-care management 101: Strategies for social workers and other frontline responders during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural communities

“…As a result, social workers do not acknowledge that they are stressed. They are trained not to focus on their own needs, but to continuerendering services to clients (Dort et al, 2020). Social workers must acknowledge the existence of stress in order to move forward in caring for self and be alert to signs of fatigue, which can negatively impact them and their clients.…”

“…Fear of the unknown in relation to the virus is real and the uncertainty of what lies ahead is unimaginable. (Dort et al, 2020;Lateef, 2020). Social workers are fearful of contracting the virus and having to adhere to workforce quarantine guidelines.…”

The COVID-19 reset: lessons from the pandemic on Burnout and the Practice of Surgery

“…SAGES examined concerns about surgeon wellness during the pandemic [9]. SAGES concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic is taking a significant emotional toll which is exacerbated by fears about personal and family safety, transmission of the COVID-19 virus, clinical redeployment, financial hardship, and reestablishment of a new normal in clinical practice.…”

“…SAGES concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic is taking a significant emotional toll which is exacerbated by fears about personal and family safety, transmission of the COVID-19 virus, clinical redeployment, financial hardship, and reestablishment of a new normal in clinical practice. Moreover, the jarring changes in the conduct of a typical day let alone the practice of surgery may lead vulnerable persons to social isolation [9].…”