On COVID-19

It is hard to put into words the magnitude of the challenge facing the world and our nation today. But you know, the thousands of Doctors for America members across all 50 states are on the front lines. You are caring for patients who are worried for themselves, for people they love, and for their livelihoods. You are working to do whatever we can to serve an influx of patients in primary care clinics and community health centers, in care facilities, at major academic centers and community hospitals, not to mention those of you in key public health roles at the local, state, and federal level. You are fielding questions from patients, co-workers, family, and friends asking what will happen to them and how to keep people safe.

As sports leagues are cancelled, communities cancel mass public events, candidates transition to virtual rallies, and schools send their students home, we are mobilizing to do our jobs – provide the best care for the sick that we can, and prevent disease when we can. Our communities and nation need us as their trusted, informed voices now.

We have all envisioned the worst-case scenario, and we are all exasperated with the frustrating responses of our national leaders. We have watched colleagues across the planet struggling to keep up. But we at DFA also know there are solutions to these problems – working together, learning from and relying on each other, being innovating and comprehensive in our approaches, we can overcome these challenges – as other nations are demonstrating to us is possible.

While the crisis highlights the dysfunctions in our health care system and the institutional and administrative flaws, we cannot afford to be lost in our frustration. We must instead focus on solutions to the issues in front of us – effectively caring for our patients, our families, and our communities in a time of crisis.

DFA’s commitment is to provide our communities with well-reasoned, evidence-based, meaningful resources, as well as training, actions, and advice that is consistent with our mission focus and work. DFA wants to offer support to all of you – our members and colleagues, and our other health critical care team members working so hard to collaboratively design and implement strategies to treat patients, and to fight and control COVID-19.

In this public health emergency, just like around other important issues that affect us all, it is clear we must take effective advocacy action. DFA leaders across our organization are coordinating and developing specific actions around this issue as part of our Healing America Campaign – deciding how to dedicate resources that will offer you ways to engage and make a big-picture difference.

Access to timely, pertinent and reliable information is a challenge for us and for the public. To share (just) two reliable sources of information: the CDC has information around basic strategies for clinical practice and even provides detailed school recommendations. You also may find this infographic from Johns Hopkins University helpful – as well as the embedded link to additional resources and a map tracking new cases.

DFA’s response to this pandemic is evolving – if and when you can, please share with us your COVID-19 observations and concerns at [email protected] in order to inform DFA actions, and so that we can contribute to a rational assessment and interventions around what is happening across our nation.

Expect to hear more from DFA about how you can engage as an advocate on these issues. Specifically look for a social media campaign launch in the coming days to share your frontline experiences, and provide input on solutions.

In the meantime, stay strong. Take time for self-care… give yourselves a “nature” or “exercise prescription”. And please reach out to us at [email protected] with any suggestions or ideas on how we might help you weather the crisis.

COVID-19