I had an unsettling week at CHOC when my 4 year old was diagnosed with Type 1 DM. We were potentially exposed per CDC standards to more than 2 dozen carriers of COVID19. There was a COVID19 patient in the ICU when we were there. All but one nurse was in an N95 (because she had been working with another patient who was possibly positive). While in the ICU our son’s COVID19 test was pending and he was on 2 IV drips and acidotic. He was being monitored to prevent swelling of the brain while treating the metabolic derangements. When we provided N95s and asked staff to use them for our high risk son (in DKA) the Charge Nurse AND Nurse Supervisor said they have a plentiful supply but cannot let anyone use them. “It was against hospital policy”.  That Charge Nurse and one other nurse prevented our caregivers from using proper PPE in the ICU and floor. I actually step in front to argue with one nurse who demanded a resident take off his PPE before entering. She was blocking his entry into the room. I lost sleep for 2 nights over this issue when I should have been focused on my sons new diagnosis. I have been helping 5 patient families at CHOC this past month, and tested several of them for COVID19 upon their discharge per their request. I now agree and I couldn’t dream up a more dangerous medical environment. 

Through help from a physician liaison I was able to have a formal meeting with Dr. Knight (who is a PICU MD associated with COVID19 command center), as well as the head of business development to ask them to raise their standards and reconsider what is at stake. 

Three good outcomes: 

First, my husband and I were able to catch their attention by explaining that CHOC is acting in negligence by not using a “plentiful supply” of PPE for high risk patients. They agreed this is an outdate policy they had not revamped.  They were once fearful to not have enough but now really do have a plentiful supply. The agreed that high risks patients who are on the same floor as COVID19 patients should be better protected. I also requested that doctors and nurses get better training and education on precautions. The resident did not clean his stethoscope and nurses believed that we were offering our N95 masks to protect them rather their patients.  

Second, we are asking them to form a reporting policy of staff with positive COVID19. This needs to be done for patients who were close contacts by CDC standards. In fact in the hospital we were told we would NOT be informed if our nurse tested positive. In the meeting, we explained that from a legal standpoint it would be much better for them to have a transparent and clear policy.  If a patient was exposed to someone within 2 days of them testing positive, CHOC needs to call that patient at home. This seems extremely important as they are not wearing PPE on the floor while high risk sick patients.

Lastly, I addressed the danger in purposefully having NO hand sanitizers in all pumps from the parking garage elevators, hallways, lobby, cafe, ER waiting room and bathrooms. They have a sign on all dispensers that they have reallocated all sanitizer to the floors. I explained that across the street CVS was selling gallons and there is no shortage of hand sanitizer that anyone is aware of. With Flu season approaching and the number of enteroviral infections that I am seeing as a pediatrician, there is no doubt that elevator buttons, counters and door handles are currently contaminated with infectious particles. I touched more than 20 surfaces (6 elevators buttons) and 10 empty pumps (which would have accumulated pathogens on it from others) before I got to the ICU and even then the pump in our room was empty. This was true in our room in the ER and bathrooms. In the public areas this was not a mistake but some bizarre policy. Dr. Knight was not sure why this is the policy but we joked that we will personally supply and fill all of the pumps if CHOC does not change this ASAP.  I offered a fundraising campaign for hand sanitizer and promised I could get them all they need in 24 hours!!! 

Fusion School has a standard 1:1 teacher to student ratio and I can offer my patients a 5000 dollar scholarship.