Running makes a better Doctor

Science of medicine has its limits, not the Art of it!! Dealing with patients comes naturally to physicians. That’s what our job entails and to do it well, communication with patients is a fundamental requirement. COVID19 is no different, or is it! Few moments and interacting with some patients during my first round of the wards, I realized that this was not going to be the usual. This virus had created some unusual situations and challenges and my standard way of dealing with patients was not going to be enough. A decorated war hero, now with a heart, weakened after multiple heart attacks and stents in his coronaries, a chronic lung ailment, was now inflicted with this dreaded virus, just a few days after his last coronary intervention. Having had frequent hospital visits and recovery from ventilator for his lung disease in the past, he was one strong man, confident that he would beat this virus too. Afterall, he had beaten the Paki tanks in 1971 war for which he was aw...

Running marathons teaches life’s lessons. And whenever a difficult task confronts a runner, nothing seems bigger, if he is a marathoner.   Similar thoughts crossed my mind when I was given the responsibility of managing the COVID zone of my hospital, the busiest center in the armed forces dealing with this pandemic, with more than 200 active cases admitted. What would I do before a marathon? Prepare for it before getting into it, and while in it, to stay positive, energized and pace it well through to the finish. In this case, I had to take the team along the way I would run this race, because winning this race would mean all of the team making it to finish line well. The most important part of this marathon was the patient, for whom this team was there. And hence, all our efforts had to be directed towards doing our best for them. In a disease where there is little to be done by the way of curative drug treatment, it was necessary to identify the critical ones and those...

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the nation, and lockdown in various degrees of stringency followed, the way we practiced medicine had changed drastically. Out-patient department that used to be bustling with activity, full of patients often even on days that weren’t scheduled as OPD days were shut down. Numerous patients, especially those requiring close follow up were on regular touch through phone and Whatsapp, that ensured regular dose titration and better glycemic control. Already the patient consultation had shifted to the telephonic follow ups and a few zoom web meeting sessions especially those who were in critical need of follow up, like type 1 Diabetic and gestational diabetic patients While the way patients were being seen was changing, the pandemic was slowly but surely creeping up with our hospital becoming the hub of COVID response for the Indian army. As the initial preparations were put in place with diligent planning and military precision by the head of th...