In this Article
- Physician Profile
- How has COVID-19 impacted the emergency department?
- What has surprised you most about this pandemic?
- How has the team in the ED handled this unprecedented time?
- What kind of support has Baylor Scott & White Health shown your team?
- What have you done to recharge your own batteries while leading this response?
Physician Profile
In this Article
- Physician Profile
- How has COVID-19 impacted the emergency department?
- What has surprised you most about this pandemic?
- How has the team in the ED handled this unprecedented time?
- What kind of support has Baylor Scott & White Health shown your team?
- What have you done to recharge your own batteries while leading this response?
Doctor John Garrett is chief of the department of Emergency Medicine at Baylor University Medical Center, where he also serves as the chief patient safety officer. Dr. Garrett is also the co-chair of the Emergency Department Governance Council for Baylor Scott & White Health, where he works with other facilities in the system to support initiatives that support quality care for patients needing emergency medical care. Dr. Garrett is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
How has COVID-19 impacted the emergency department?
COVID has presented our ED with many unique challenges. Most importantly, we focus on how to keep both our staff and patients safe. We accomplish this through immediate screening for COVID, widespread use of personal protective equipment and segregating our COVID patients from non-COVID patients. We were initially concerned about a large surge of COVID patients, based on the experience from New York’s emergency departments and predictions suggesting our ED total volume may double or even triple. Fortunately, social distancing has worked to reduce that risk for now.
What has surprised you most about this pandemic?
The support from our colleagues and community has been tremendous. In all honesty, I was surprised at the level and scope of this community support and how it affected our physicians, nurses and techs. Every person who worked in the ED knew the surrounding community was behind their efforts and praying for their health.
How has the team in the ED handled this unprecedented time?
Our team has really rallied behind each other. When preparing for a potential surge, our team volunteered for additional shifts so that our call schedule was five people deep. In addition, our staff was willing and ready to obtain emergency COVID credentials at other hospitals around DFW to provide coverage for other emergency departments. Despite the personal concerns about the disease, their health and the health of their families, our team showed up with smiles on their faces and jumped into caring for patients with COVID. They are truly remarkable.
What kind of support has Baylor Scott & White Health shown your team?
Baylor Scott & White was ahead of the curve regarding personal protective equipment. Our leadership was responsive to concerns and ensured that our staff’s safety was of paramount importance.
What have you done to recharge your own batteries while leading this response?
One of the early lessons from COVID was that this was not a sprint; we knew it would be a marathon. We also knew that one of the most important ways to prevent serious complications of COVID was to ensure our immune systems were strong, so we stressed the importance of taking care of ourselves by getting enough sleep, exercising, taking time to relax and eating well. We also developed a peer network and connected to a group of psychologists and psychiatrists to ensure we focused on our mental health during this incredibly stressful time.
