Courage in the Crisis
CMDA and COVID-19
Care for the Frontline Healthcare Worker as the Coronavirus Progresses
Are you worried about spreading the disease to your family? Are you ramping up to fight the virus or being placed on standby because much of your work is elective or “noncritical?” Are you fearful for the future, whether your health, your finances or your job?
If you’re asking yourself these questions and more, remember that you are not alone! CMDA is here for you for such a time as this. As a ministry for Christians in healthcare, we stand ready to pray for you, to assist you in any way we can and to offer resources to help you sustain the onslaught of extra work.
We are going to be here with you every step of the way, so check back often for the latest information and resources to help you as you fight against COVID-19.
Anxious? Me, Too. How To Lean On God When Feelings Don’t Cooperate
by, Amy Givler, MD
I’ve been a family doctor in the same location for 30 years, so many of my patients have been with me a decade…or two…or three. Following people through their life stages has been a joy. We’ve grown older together. I’ve been acutely aware of this in the last two weeks as I’ve called patients to reschedule them. I’ve wanted to call them myself to make sure they don’t need anything, because I’d rather they avoid any medical facility for the next six months.
Most of my patients are over the age of 60, and many are over 80. As I call, I picture each one and can’t keep my mind from wondering how COVID-19 would affect that patient. They all have co-morbid conditions (why would they see me otherwise?), and many already have compromised lung function. Could they tolerate even a “mild” case? I doubt it.
And then, before I can stop myself, I find myself thinking, “Will I ever see this person again?” I love being a doctor. I love these patients. I don’t want to lose them.
I think about my patients, and my elderly father, and all my precious older friends, and then my mind multiplies those folks by a million—will the world lose a vibrant older generation in one fell swoop? The thought terrifies me.
CMDA's Position on Mass Gatherings:
Romans 13: 1, 2 gives clear guidance in times like these. “1Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. Christian Medical & Dental Associations endorses the efforts of state and federal government authorities to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus by limiting large gatherings. We believe that churches that ignore those instructions are placing their congregants at increased exposure and risk of SARS-Co-V-2 (Covid-19) infection and therefore we cannot condone such decisions or actions by churches.
