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2020-04-09
Who works in the hospital? Popular Facebook statement about conventional thinking about who’s important in health care
This is a vivid graphic in bright greens. Similar to public health educational posters: easy to read, point contradicts common thinking. In this case it’s taking doctors and nurses down a peg—the ones getting public applause and thank yous right now in the pandemic—and lists all of the other people who care for the sick, injured, dying, and those getting well. They should be seen as heroes too.. Top of the list: respiratory therapists. A group of workers whose expertise is extremely important in covid19 and that many had never heard of or thought about. A long list of people keep a hospital going. At the bottom are the CEOs, nurses, and doctors—the ones we traditionally think of as important and running the show. As a historian of medicine, I admit that I fall into it too. This is an excellent message. I’d put the cleaners and janitorial staff much higher on the list. They are crucial in keeping infectious diseases from spreading. And they are surely the most poorly paid.