An experience in time of pandemic
Students and Medicine graduates battling COVID-19
Abstract
In recent months SARS-CoV-2 has generated a global crisis, which has had an impact on all aspects of life. The quick spread of the virus amongst medical professionals has meant that more and more health workers are needed. To address this demand, many countries have approached Medicine graduates to assist health care providers. The state of emergency in Spain started the legal process so this initiative could materialise and, ultimately, Medicine students and pre-resident medical interns could be hired across different territories. This account describes the experience of two pre-specialty graduates and a consultant ophthalmologist within this context. This team conducted clinical follow-up phone calls on 274 patients discharged from hospital with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, 790 calls and 26 referrals to A&E. Although with limitations, clinical follow- up conversations can be carried out by less experienced doctors. Their role has been key as they ease up congestion in hospital services as well as contributing towards the provision of epidemiological control and contact tracing. This experience has brought to light other issues related to the uncertainty in these fast-moving times, the psychological needs of social interaction and the strengthening of human values. Therefore, aspects such as telemedicine, the importance of primary care services and the role of students in health care will have to be taken into account in university programmes of study in the future.
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