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David Zodda, an emergency medicine physician, took to Twitter to share what he learned as medical workers across New Jersey -- and the globe -- work to keep up with the surge of coronavirus patients that overwhelms hospitals.
Zodda, of Montclair, requested Daily Voice remove the name of the hospital he works at to protect the identity of his colleague.
Daily Voice's request for comment sent to the health system's spokesperson Saturday was not returned, nor was the request for information regarding patient admission, case number and discharge at the health system's more than 15 hospitals in New Jersey.
As of Saturday, New Jersey had more than 11,000 total cases of coronavirus as of Saturday, with $146 million set aside for hospitals ahead of a surge expected in the next two or three weeks, state officials said.
Zodda did not disclose his colleague's condition, but shared a series of tweets Friday night:
- 1. As scared as I was, I knew that I owed it to my colleague to be calm, focused, and collected. We’ve trained for this and with a little courage and vulnerability, we can meet any challenge.
- 2. This virus does not discriminate with regards to age or health status. But it does have an affinity for us. Health care workers represent more than 20% of all #COVID19 cases.
- 3. Use highflow, proning, and a NRB, to buy yourself some extra time. This gave our team the opportunity to set up for a safe and organized intubation.
- 4. PPE like you life depends upon it because it does. Limit the number of providers in the room. The most senior physician should intubate, and use video laryngoscopy.
Zodda's posts garnered support from other physicians, caretakers and the general public, thanking him for sharing his experience and information.
This isn't the first time Zodda has taken to Twitter to share integral information about coronavirus and more. Zodda on March 22 shared a triage strategy last week that he said worked for his department, along with COVID-19 stats pertaining to healthcare workers.
A video report by the New York Times shows how New York hospitals are in dire need of PPE equipment.
"When it’s over, it’s ok to be human," said Zodda of Montclair. "It’s ok to show emotion for in doing so, we show that we care, we grieve, we love.
"In the end, our love and service to one another, may very well be the thing that gets us through this."
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