AAP Voices

Since the pandemic began, I’ve felt so honored to work in health care. 

I can still work, give accurate advice to friends, understand the New York Times epidemiology articles. We’re like the firefighters of Sept. 11; it felt great to be relevant.

Once I realized the country had failed at containment and mitigation, our clinic moved into contingency planning—no more non-essential visits. 

That makes sense, I thought, until I realized almost everything I do is non-essential—well-checks, anxious teens, autism, constipation. It was a bit of a blow. Non-essential.

The next day I had six patients on my schedule and lots of free time. I took out staples and sutures; reduced a nursemaid’s (or pulled) elbow; and made weekend schedules, which were immediately obsolete. 

I was frustrated and confused. I logged in to the staff inbox, found a message left 8 minutes prior from a dad concerned that his 9-year-old son had lost 10 pounds and was drinking a lot of water. 

I called dad, took the history, and booked him to see me at 5:40 p.m., hoping I could defend my clinical judgment that this visit was essential if quizzed by somebody further up the food chain. 

By 6:15 p.m., the STAT labs were drawn, and his mom asked if we could pray together while we waited for results. I reviewed the plan and sent them home. 

At 8 p.m., the results were in: Glucose 789 and HgA1c 12.9. I called Seattle Children’s, faxed my note, called mom on her cell, and texted the address of the emergency department. She called back in tears, and I reviewed the plan with dad: send only one parent and bring an overnight bag. Can we please wait till tomorrow? No, go now.

This patient was on his way, with one terrified parent accompanying him and one left behind, to get treatment for new-onset diabetes, less than four hours after dad’s phone call. 

I air-high-fived the two nurses with whom I share an office, all of us exhausted. I’m essential after all!

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