In Michigan, COVID-19 first took root in southeast Michigan and the Detroit area, quickly overwhelming the healthcare system. While West Michigan initially seemed spared, cases have now spread into Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties. Dr. Stork talks with Casey Callahan of the AUA Inside Tract Podcast about COVID-19 in Michigan – at a time when some of his coworkers and colleagues have started to test positive for the virus.
When you have coworkers and colleagues test positive. It gets real, really fast.
– Dr. Brian Stork
COVID-19 in your medical practice
How has COVID-19 changed your practice?
In an effort to try to limit our patients’ risk of exposure to the virus, we are trying to manage as many issues as we possibly can by video or telephone visits. When we are physically seeing patients in the office, we are all wearing masks, washing our hands frequently, and investing additional time and effort in keeping surfaces clean.
Stress for physicians
What type of stress are physicians experiencing?
While the current pandemic is a time of high stress, it also adds to our sense of purpose. Our skills are constantly being tested, but we believe that we are continuing to make a positive impact in the lives of our patients.
It’s very stressful to be waiting and not knowing how this pandemic will ultimately affect our patients and our community. I’ve been trying to maintain a regular routine, including exercise, avoiding stress eating, and staying focused on the positive things. News and social media add to the stress and negativity. In my own life I have found that taking a few minutes to think about the good things in life and/or meditating can help break the stress cycle.
To learn more, please listen to the 8-minute podcast, including how this experience may drive change and solve inequities. AUA Inside Tract is an official podcast by the American Urological Association.
The longer this goes on, the more potential we have for real change going forward – and using this experience to unify us and not divide us.”
