MONMOUTH, IL (06/08/2020) Lauren Bergstresser-Petoskey ’12, Kelsey (Barnes) Barger ’14 and Kaitlyn (Winkler) Damewood ’14 shared common experiences as members of the Monmouth College softball team, and now they’ve created an even stronger connection as healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bergstresser-Petoskey and Barger – both physician assistants – and Damewood – an emergency room nurse – aren’t resting easy just because the curve has been flattening and the country is reopening.
“I am not breathing easier yet,” said Bergstresser-Petoskey who works with family medicine at OSF Medical Group in Galesburg. “We have just begun reopening and I am preparing for a potential increase in cases as we do. I will not be breathing easier until we know more about treatment for COVID-19 and have a vaccine.”
Likewise, Barger’s workplace at Genesis Occupational Health in the Quad Cities is keeping their guard up.
“Every patient is screened prior to their appointment and all patients and staff members must wear masks,” she reports. “However, I am beginning to do some things outside and see some friends while still maintaining social distancing. Restaurants are open in Iowa, but we still have avoided crowded locations.”
Bergstresser-Petoskey and Barger each experienced a decline in patient volume at the onset of the outbreak, albeit for different reasons.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, we called patients to reschedule well-child exams, annual exams, and routine follow ups,” explained Bergstresser-Petoskey. “Our hospitals have not seen the surge that we were preparing for. However, our prompt care has been very busy testing suspected cases in our area.”
Barger’s lower volume was more the result of the economic impact and the loss of jobs due to the pandemic.
“The volume of patients originally decreased in the area I practice in,” she said. “We are responsible for any work-related injuries that occur as well as pre-employment physicals. One of the reasons the volume decreased was due to the decrease in number of employees being hired during the pandemic. We also have been doing telemedicine for work-related COVID exposures, so in that aspect, the number of those types of encounters has increased. With the reopening of the country, however, our census is starting to increase as more employers are hiring.”
As one might expect, Damewood’s ER experience at McDonough District Hospital was quite different.
“We had two separate tents set up,” she explained. “One was used for patients without COVID-19 symptoms coming in to the ER, seeking outpatient services, and employees. The other was for anyone experiencing a list of symptoms related to COVID-19 or pending/confirmed COVID-19 tests that are seeking outpatient services or medical attention, but we never denied any patient who wanted ER care. Our incident command team worked tirelessly to best serve and protect the people in their community and these requirements worked well for our facility.”
On the immediate front line, Damewood took every precaution to protect her two young children and husband.
“In the very beginning I was worried sick about my children getting the virus, specifically from me,” she admitted.
Initially, Damewood isolated herself and her work clothes from her family the minute she walked in the door. Clothes in the washer and a shower followed before greeting the family. It didn’t take long for the newly minted ER nurse (she’s approaching her first full year) to come up with a more efficient routine.
“The family knew they could not touch ANYTHING mommy had touched on her way in,” said Damewood of her four-year-old daughter and three-year-old son. “This was probably the hardest part because I look forward to the big hug my babies give me when I walk in the door. Luckily, my husband helped me with them in understanding that they had to wait in the living room until mommy was finished showering and disinfecting everything she touched. About midway through the pandemic I got smart and decided to start bringing an extra set of clothes to work and showering at work. I would place my ‘contaminated’ work clothes in a bag that I sealed and my work shoes always stayed in the trunk of my car in a plastic bag and sprayed with disinfectant.”
It was a similar post-work ritual for Bergstresser-Petoskey, minus the two toddlers.
“After work, I changed my clothes immediately and showered as soon as I got home,” she said. “Away from work I have tried to follow all guidelines provided by the CDC. We have refrained from visits with friends and family until recently, which was very difficult. Even now, we are social distancing and washing our hands frequently.”
While their healthcare experiences differed, the trio agreed on one thing: isolation is hard.
“I’m a ‘hugger,’ so knowing that it is not safe to hug any of my family members or close friends at this time is extremely hard,” reported Barger. “I went several weeks without seeing family members. I recently have visited family members in my hometown, but remained outside six feet from them with a mask on. This experience shows just how fragile life can be.”
Bergstresser-Petoskey agreed. “I am much more appreciative of social interaction. I will no longer take for granted hugging a friend, being welcomed into a home, or see a smiling face at the grocery store.”
With two young children, Damewood’s perspective centered on her family as her military husband prepares for a future deployment.
“This whole experience has taught me to enjoy every second I get with my family,” she said. “There were days when it was rough, because we had been cooped up for such a long time, but I think the bond between my children, my husband and myself has greatly improved. So often we forget that true quality time together is what is missing in relationships. We live in a digital world that never rests. The lockdown gave many people the opportunity to give their body and souls time to re-energize. Many took this shutdown as an opportunity to improve health and quality of life. They’re are out walking, and playing outside with their children. How beautiful is that?”
Their views on the softball diamond were from different perspectives – Bergstresser-Petoskey a catcher, Barger a second baseman and Damewood an outfielder – but they all have the same view to staying healthy when it comes to reopening the nation, and their message is simple.
“Practice good hygiene and social distance,” says Barger.
“I encourage my patients to continue to educate themselves from reliable sources,” advises Bergstresser-Petoskey. “With social media, it is easy to be misinformed with fake news or biased reports.”
Damewood was a little more blunt with her advice.
“WASH YOUR DAMN HANDS!” she says.
**Report Courtesy of Monmouth College**
