An Interview with a Healthcare Worker
This week our fabulous Social Media Ambassadors interviewed a healthcare worker on their experience working through this pandemic. We’re excited to spotlight some of the amazing individuals keeping communities safe and healthy. Take it away, Maddie…
Interview with Katie Hill
Occupational Therapist working at a Hospital in Hartford, CT
1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got interested in a career as a healthcare professional.
My name is Katie Hill and I am an Occupational Therapist. I have been an OT for 20 years and have worked in inpatient and outpatient therapy. Currently I specialize in hand therapy and breast cancer rehabilitation. I became interested in this career in high school when a family friend suggested I research / intern over a summer for school credit. I stayed in this career because it matches well with my empathic nature, my love of creative problem solving, and my interest in seeking alternative routes to success when life changes due to disability.
2. How does your work compare now to before the pandemic?
There has been a lot of fear. The first few months so much was unknown. Our safety was our biggest concern and when that was at risk it was hard to focus on anything else. Many of our employees were redeployed to other departments who were in need of assistance and were directly working with Covidpositive patients. We were asked to screen all employees’ temperatures and work extra shifts to maintain safety. It was all hands on deck and I was happy to see everyone jump to do their part. Once our hospital secured safety protocols and employee support, we were able to feel safe and return to focus on patient care. Now we stagger patient treatment times, work extra hard to keep everyone socially distanced (both staff and employees) as well as keep morale up.
No more staff shared lunches or parties which help build staff bonding. We got creative and made games up to get to know each other better, complimented patients when they wore creative and unique masks, and tried to lead by example. We have had to adjust to frequent Covid testing, daily use of masks and face shields. Our job depends on creating a trust between ourselves and our patients and that has been difficult to do with all the physical barriers between us.
3. How are you and your colleagues coping?
We check in with each other. When someone needs a break, we cover. Our management has monitored our vacation time and makes sure we take it and they work to reduce our burnout. Our Hospital has employee support lines to call 24/7. There is a dedicated staff wellness page with links to yoga, mindfulness, exercise, and other activities to reduce stress. Our office has weekly opinion polls and we created a covid playlist. We have made a bunch of tik tok dances during down time. During morning meetings I have led 5 minute mini meditations or 5 minutes of yoga stretching / breathing to aid in stress reduction. Most of us like to be active outside of work and that can include going for walks, working out, just being outside as much as we can.
4. What special protective equipment do you wear to stay safe?
We wear surgical masks at all times and face shields. We wear gloves. Our job requires us to physically touch patients. Everyone is screened for temp and asked a standard set of questions to rule out possible exposure. We disinfect all surfaces / equipment in between each patient and wash hands pre and post treatment sessions and multiple times in between. We also offer telehealth visits to go through treatment sessions with patients who are uncomfortable coming to the clinic in person.
5. Do you have enough equipment/resources?
Initially like most places, PPE was limited. We were given one mask a week and asked to make it last. We were cutting alcohol wipes in half to make them last longer. Our Hospital works hard to keep the supply chain going and we get a new mask every day and have unlimited access to wipes, disinfectant sprays, etc.
6. What does a typical day at your job look like?
I arrive at the clinic about 30 min prior to my first treatment to prepare the treatment areas, review my cases for the day, answer emails. I see patients for 30 or 60 minute sessions one on one depending on the complexity of the diagnosis. I have time for lunch and paperwork and after that continue to see patients until the end of the day. During the day I try to keep up with paperwork, cleaning procedures, calling patients who did not show for appointments, and making sure the patients have been properly screened prior to their appointment.
7. What is your biggest challenge?
Time management with the extra safety procedures, keeping my face shield free from fogging up, maintaining a safe environment that both my patients and I would want to return to, and keeping a positive attitude when I’m fatigued myself.
8. How does it feel to be working during this pandemic?
As a healthcare worker, I am trained for what we call sentinel events, hospital wide mobilization efforts, or natural disasters. We run the drills, we read the protocols, we prepare as much as we can. When something on this global level occurs, it is hard to wrap your head around it. I have always been proud to be a healthcare worker. I decided after about a month of crying after work every day, that this was not sustainable. I wanted to be the helper. I just had to take it one day at a time. Now when my patients thank me for staying open, for being available for them even during a time of crisis, I’m proud of the work we have been doing consistently since the start. I’m confident that we are doing the right thing.
9. Going forward what changes are you hoping to see with Biden’s national strategy for the Covid-19 response and pandemic preparedness?
I want to see consistency in diagnosis, treatment, and care. Our country is in crisis, our globe is in crisis, and there has been a lack of national united efforts across party lines to focus on the elimination of Covid-19 spread. I hope communities across the country can unite to support each other in stopping the spread, understanding the importance of masks and social distancing, and vaccination. Mass vaccination efforts in an organized, fair, and rapid action are necessary across the states.
Most importantly, I feel like we need more education on a national level that is transparent, easily understood, and science positive to assist people who may fear the science behind this vaccine. There are many marginalized populations who have been underserved, disrespected, and ignored by the medical community. They are also some of the most high risk populations who would benefit most from vaccinations. The Biden Administration needs to focus efforts on education / support to reduce these feelings of medical distrust to increase positive healthcare experiences for all populations.
10.What advice would you give to people during this time?
Ask for help if you need it. This is an isolating time and feelings of loneliness can lead to depression and hopelessness. There are services, people, and communities that want to offer support. Hold on. Take one day at a time and celebrate the wins. Recognize that feelings of trauma, grief, stress, anger, sadness are normal. We are all going through trauma and there is a need to process these feelings, not to stuff them away. When you have questions that are Covid-related, seek out trusted and valid sources for your information. Bad rumors spread rapidly and do more damage.
11. Masks4Missions is all about promoting mask-wearing as a positive and selfless act. What does it mean to you when you see people wearing their masks?
Wearing a mask sends out a message of respect. It says “ I want to protect myself and I want to protect my community”. I consider it armor against the virus. I feel a sense of relief and security when I see people wearing masks. I feel people caring for others with this simple act of compassion.
-Interviewed by Maddie Ahmadi