At the start of the coronavirus crisis, Dr. Shi-Wen Lee was preparing Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s emergency room to handle the anticipated surge of patients. As Vice Chairman of the Emergency Medicine Department, Dr. Lee says some of his primary goals were keeping the staff safe and building capacity for patients.
“We are using non-traditional patient care spaces, we set up tents on the parking lot to accommodate for the surge of patients that are to come,” he explained. “We wondered if we had enough ventilators, enough monitors. What if our colleagues get sick from COVID? How will we staff the [emergency department so we can accommodate the surge?” he recounted about the issues he was tackling.
But after working every day for nearly two weeks, Dr. Lee says he got a fever and body aches. For him, these were the first symptoms of the coronavirus. He stayed home where he says he got worse. He experienced shortness of breath.
Dr. Lee was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was admitted. His family could not visit.
“From that point on, I was going to be alone. And that was a scary moment and I thought about all the patients who had expired or passed away in the hospital, that passed away alone with no loved ones at their bedside,” Dr. Lee said.
During his hospital stay, he considered some of the worst case scenarios. “If I’m lucky enough to have a discussion regarding intubation, I would have to be responsible for myself because there’s no loved one making that decision,” he said.
But after four days in the hospital, Dr. Lee’s condition improved. He was discharged home where he continued to recover.
It would take him three weeks before he would return to work at the emergency department, the very place where he may have caught the virus.
“I thought I would be somewhat timid or little bit anxious before walking back to the emergency department. It was great that I didn’t have that,” said Dr. Lee, who has worked at Jamaica Hospital for more than 20 years.
“He’s a real hands-on doctor and sets a tremendous example for the rest of his team,” said Bruce Flanz, CEO of Jamaica Hospital. “Everyone at the hospital is thrilled to have him back,” Flanz said.
Now, back at work, Dr. Lee says the experience gives him a new perspective on the practice of medicine.
“I would always hope I was a kind person, a kind physician in the past. With this experience, I really learned about being a patient. We forget they are here because they need our help and don’t want to be here. We should be mindful that they are here alone,” explained Dr. Lee. “I really realize how family’s input or someone being next to you, how important that is when you’re the weakest.”
“Hopefully, I’m a better physician going forward,” he added.
