Dear Colleagues,
I would to thank all of you for supporting each other during these unprecedented times. If we look at the experience from Wuhan, then South Korea and now Washington, California and New York, we are potentially heading to a tremendous surge in patients with COVID-19 or presumptive diagnosis in Virginia.
We are at war with an invisible foe with unclear mechanisms of transmission and inadequate methods of detecting and treating. The main method for control in Wuhan was quarantine and limiting exposure.
We as health care providers are going to be at the tip of the spear. We will need to limit our exposure, conserve resources, yet be able to provide care for those in need. Other disease processes unfortunately do not stop and we will be confronted with challenges of providing care for others with critical illnesses unrelated to COVID-19 at a time of constrained resources.
I have asked Dr. James Whelan as the Director of Clinical Operations for Acute Care Surgery to lead our effort in streamlining our services. In this capacity he will work with all our division chairs and other leaders to combine services, develop redundancy in teams, and partner with the larger plan at the health system level.
During this time, I would also ask that all providers focus on clinical care as most of our research and other activities are going to be limited. Please also limit travel to reduce exposure and if feasible consider reducing vacation or other time off to be available to support each other. We will endeavor to continue educational activities by remote access. We must engage our residents and advanced care providers as trusted colleagues in this war on virus.
Please visit the intranet site frequently for updates and do not hesitate to reach out to me. My mobile is 804 405 9446.
Sincerely,
Vig Kasirajan
