The COVID pandemic brought with it extra swab testing for each patient especially prior to surgery. For the most part there seemed to be less people crowding the medical college building. This was most likely due to the now mandatory online classes for the 1st-4th year medical students. It was coupled with the admittance of mandatory patients only (emergency medicine, surgery, and pregnant patients).
COVID Screening:
Every month a group of interns were assigned to different smaller outpatient clinics that dealt with COVID screening. I was assigned on the days of some of my emergency medicine rotation to go out on the front lines. There was a nearby clinic to Dr. DY Patil Hospital where I was tasked to collect information with positive covid patients or potentially positive patients. I served a kind of stepping stone in the system of collecting data from the patient in person. I ascertained their name, address, occupation, family house status, comorbid conditions and contacts of exposure.
Oxygen, PPE, and COVID:
As well, I took the temperature and the pulse oximetry readings of the patients. From there the information was written down on a form and given to the patient for a near future nasal swab at another nearby hospital. There was no extra PPE equipment given to me for this job besides the gloves and mask I had to bring from home. This often scared me because of the close contact I had had with the actual COVID positive patients.
However, I’m glad I got to be directly involved with helping people gain access to COVID testing. At this time the virus had left one of the largest mortality rates in India compared to the total deaths across the world. This was a stressful time for both medical care workers and everyday citizens. I’m glad I got to help in the aid even if it was mainly clerical. For that month each day I would see at least 50 worried patients and I appreciate the opportunity to assist in their future well-being. I don’t think I would be able to get this experience as an intern in America.