(Short episode: ~18 minutes)
I expect next week will be an exceptionally difficult week for many people and many cities, New York City chief among them. There are several very urgent needs.
This episode will highlight things that can be done to help healthcare workers (food, temp housing, PPE, ventilators and vent modification for higher capacity, etc.), as well as a few companies well positioned to immediately help.
I would encourage you to think of healthcare workers, alongside people working on vaccine development and drug development, as the walls of our collective city. By protecting and helping them, we protect and help ourselves and everyone around us. If they fail, we all fail. These brothers and sisters on the front lines need help now, and it cannot wait a week.
If it weren’t for healthcare workers, I would be dead. If not for healthcare workers, my dad would be dead, and three uncles and two aunts would also be dead. If you are lucky enough to be healthy and reading this, you likely owe some thanks to healthcare workers. They are the (usually) invisible safety net for us all.
Thank you for listening to this one. It’s important.
You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
- tim.blog/fightcovid
- tim.blog/ventilator
- Flexport.org/donate
- Bill Ackman (@BillAckman)
- Ryan Petersen (@typesfast)
- Paul Graham (@PaulG)
- @Airbnb
- @HiltonHotels
- @sweetgreen
- @UberEats
- @Amazon
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No sooner does a simple hack appear from the medical community to stretch resources, than the government comes out with ventilator specifications to “help” manufacturers.
Hi Tim,
I’m a rheumatologist who is one of the co-leaders of recently/rapidly formed The COVID-19 Rheumatology Global Alliance — we are building a registry to gather information about patients with COVID-19 who have rheumatologic conditions and/or exposure to rheumatologic medications (which include hydroxychloroquine, and others such as tocilizumab).
We’d appreciate any help at all in spreading the word about this registry, so that as many physicians see it and add to the fund of knowledge. Thanks!
Paul Sufka MD, on behalf of The COVID-19 Rheumatology Global Alliance team
https://rheum-covid.org
https://www.stanforddaily.com/2020/03/20/gsb-professors-we-must-all-fight-the-coronavirus/
Dear Tim,
I have 30 units of idle Airbnb properties (mostly rented property) in Malaysia for the upcoming dates due to the recent government city lockdown rule and all the guests have cancelled their upcoming reservations.
As most of them are not far from the hospital, serving the healthcare workers a place of rest or quarantine after duty sounds like a great idea at this moment.
Do you have any idea how to effectively reaching out to the needs, or to put the Airbnb properties into a better use?
I see Airbnb has a link for this: https://www.airbnb.co.nz/openhomes/disaster-relief
Hi Tim… I wrote this for my family and friends… my wish:
A message to my friends and family …
Thinking back only a couple of weeks…who knew that we would be entering such a time of turmoil, uncertainty and fear. Who contemplated that an entirely new vocabulary would become commonplace. Flattening the curve, self isolation and social distancing are terms that seem more appropriate applied to the distant past instead of rising to the forefront of our everyday existence. As this seemingly unending nightmare drags on, look around to the positives that exist around us.
We see couples and families out walking…at an appropriate social distance of course
We are blessed with more communication with family and friends than most of us can recall
We see neighbours helping neighbours, a mutual wish to assist each other
We see appreciation for our healthcare workers who are at the front lines of our defense and
We see global cooperation in a mutual goal to reduce disease transmission
Dare we dream that the future will be reinvented to be more positive because of this tragic time? Will there be an equal and opposite benefit?
Perhaps:
We will see politicians working together in a non-partisan way to improve our lives rather than sustain their existence
We will see an emphasis placed on health and happiness, not stuff
We will see a coordinated effort worldwide that seeks to research ways to improve our overall health, our own personal immune response and our ability to fight disease
We will see a reset of our ailing financial systems that does not exponentially create debt and respects our individual privacy
We will see renewed respect for hard work, honesty and integrity
We will recognize that love for our families, friends, and our world must dominate our future
Let’s dare to dream
Stay well…
Dare indeed. Let it be.
LOGISTICS, how is all this stuff going to get to the places it is needed if the truck drivers are not moving freight? Then what about their support, truck stops,fuel and all the rest? I heard that PA shut down all there rest stops, where are these guys going to P or take a nap, they waist time coming off the interstate to do that. Warehouses, most big trucks go to w/h and unload and then small trucks take over for delivery to hospitals, etc. All these people do not have the luxury to stay at home and are on the front lines now.
Tim, thank you so much for addressing the healthcare support issue. I’ve been trying to find these answers for days.
Sent you an email; I hope it makes it above the noise. I’m starting an initiative to help health care workers that I hope to have an increasing impact through this crisis. I have the full support of my record label Ropeadope Records and I’m funneling 100% of the proceeds from my upcoming single release “No Rest For The Weary” to support health care workers.
I’m about to listen to the podcast episode and I see you list some resources but if you have a moment to step in and guide my efforts towards where would be the most effective place to funnel the proceeds, I think this effort could have a strong impact over the coming months and I could use any help and guidance on making this the biggest reality possible.
Huge fan of your books and podcasts and will already be using a lot of what the greats have said in your interviews.
Thank you for looking for the best answers to so many important questions, including what the fuck we should all do right now.
Greg
Hi Tim,
My name is Pacifico and I am the VP of Marketing at Gruene Anolyte, a green tech company with a suite of Hypochlorous Acid (HOCL) in Electrolyzed Water (EW) products. Over the last 18 months I have become a world leading lay expert on HOCL/EW and have been sounding the alarm to raise awareness for months now and could use your help.
HOCL is nature’s oldest disinfectant as it is the same chemical produced by our own white blood cells to help fight infection. HOCL is up to 100 times stronger than bleach yet is virtually non-toxic at 500ppm Free Active Chlorine (FAC) and non-toxic at 200ppm FAC.
It was first synthesized by humans around 1900 and got its start during WWII as a wound disinfectant, but had to be made on site and used immediately as the formula was so unstable that it would break down in minutes. Over the last century scientists around the world have continued to refine the manufacturing process and today we have one of the world’s first shelf stable HOCL products that lasts for 30 days at 500ppm and 18 months at 200ppm.
HOCL kills superbugs like MRSA and C. diff, as well as viruses from Rhinovirus and Norovirus, to Hep C and HIV. It also kills a wide variety of familiar pathogens like E. coli, Staph, and Salmonella.
One of the machine manufacturers, EcoloxTech has one of the world’s best resources for learning more about HOCL at hypochlorousacid.com.
Under the EPA’s emerging pathogen guidance, any disinfectant that kills small or large non-enveloped viruses (e.g.- Norovirus) can kill Coronavirus and they are moving to expedite emergency label updates for coronavirus kill claims. The link below is to the EPA’s List N which covers disinfectants that are approved by the EPA to kill coronavirus. If you type “hypochlorous” into the search bar you’ll see the four companies that currently have been approved. We submitted an application last month and are just waiting for ours as well.
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2
I know this probably sounds crazy or too good to be true and I can assure you I felt the same way when I first met the founders of this company. After a month of research and talking to scientists and doctors I realized it is the real deal and a monumental step forward for our species in combatting superbugs and other pathogens through disinfection and sanitization.
I strongly believe this should be in every home, hospital, senior living facility, school, and office in the world. It is too safe and effective and once commoditized will be too cheap not to become the default cleaner worldwide and will be as ubiquitous as baking soda. I hope you are able to read this and can do some research to verify everything I have written. As supply chains run out of disinfectants and sanitizers I believe the government should turn to the HOCL industry and subsidize expansion of production and distribution as soon as possible. My hope is that you can signal boost this technology and share it with your readers to help people to protect themselves in these dark times.
Thank you for all that you do and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or if I may be of any further assistance. Stay safe out there!
Peace and love,
~Pacifico
why does society value those more who solve man made problems such as accountants, lawyers… if humans wouldn’t have created those complicated laws we probably wouldn’t need them whereas health workers are always needed its a basic need for all beings be it humans or animals. But health workers don’t get well paid are not respected (maybe doctors are but what about nurses). We need a shift in our mindset what is more important to use getting our paperwork in order or getting our health and the health of those we love in order?
I am so grateful we have amazing health care workers and my heart goes out to not only them but also their families during this extremely difficult time. I do however have to comment on your take on accountants and lawyers…. Your view of them only being needed is extremely shortsighted and only relates to “compliance” work that they do in relation to laws and regulations.
At our core, like doctors we are a helping profession. As an accountant I can tell you that this week has been about helping clients that own their own business take a deep breath and navigate what COVID-19 means for them. For many of them it could mean an end to their business as well as loss of income for their employees and families that they are responsible for. None of them are taking this lightly Of course physical health is at the forefront of everyone’s mind right now but I can tell you this week lawyers and accountants are spending their time supporting as best they can the amazing business owners that are their clients so that they can in turn be strong and calm for their employees who can in turn be strong for their families. Hopefully by sharing some calm we can all take care of our mental health.
Even when compliance with laws and regulations aren’t there accountants help business owners understand what their financials statements mean and how they can use them to make educated decisions about the future of their business. It’s like learning another language and we are translators. At the end of the day our goal should be to help business owners “own” their numbers.
So I ask -please can we focus on the positive and praising of everyone who is helping in this world wide crisis. We all have a role to play -even the accountants….
Ditto on supporting the accountants! My dad is the hardest working man I know, a CPA, and he supported me throughout my entire training to be an ER doctor and still does. He was there for me when I went to Afghanistan with the Navy and helped me not only personally and as a dad, but as a tax professional! I would not be here, right now, working in the ER in all this craziness if not for him. ALL of us have roles in society and we ALL help each other. There is no profession that is “more important” in my opinion. We are in this together.
Yes, Accountants role in this can be to offer free or discounted tax services to health-care people working under these circumstances.
We should only need accountants for keeping business books in order, if there were no taxes or at least personal taxes then an army of in effect number and paper shufflers could do something that actually produces useful stuff instead of just compliance with government beaurocracy. It is man made and largely drains good brains and money into an abyss of wastefulness.
Hi Tim,
Found your shout out to health care workers to be very timely and important, praise for tech and corporate assistance less so. We can and should expect more from corporations an tech companies that have received millions of dollars in tax breaks and research funding. I recently read the post below by Dr. Joshua Lerner, a Massachusetts based ER physician and it is on point. It would be amazing if you could amplify this ask by doing a similar shout out on your show. Hope you and your family stay well.
Laura Heyman
The post:
In one of the most vivid scenes in the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl” (among many vivid scenes), soldiers dressed in leather smocks ran out into radioactive areas to literally shovel radioactive material out of harm’s way. Horrifically under-protected, they suited up anyway. In another scene, soldiers fashioned genital protection from scrap metal out of desperation while being sent to other hazardous areas.
Please don’t tell me that in the richest country in the world in the 21st century, I’m supposed to work in a fictionalized Soviet-era disaster zone and fashion my own face mask out of cloth because other Americans hoard supplies for personal use and so-called leaders sit around in meetings hearing themselves talk. I ran to a bedside the other day to intubate a crashing, likely COVID, patient. Two respiratory therapists and two nurses were already at the bedside. That’s 5 N95s masks, 5 gowns, 5 face shields and 10 gloves for one patient at one time. I saw probably 15-20 patients that shift, if we are going to start rationing supplies, what percentage should I wear precautions for?
Make no mistake, the CDC is loosening these guidelines because our country is not prepared. Loosening guidelines increases healthcare workers’ risk but the decision is done to allow us to keep working, not to keep us safe. It is done for the public benefit – so I can continue to work no matter the personal cost to me or my family (and my healthcare family). Sending healthcare workers to the front line asking them to cover their face with a bandana is akin to sending a soldier to the front line in a t-shirt and flip flops.
I don’t want talk. I don’t want assurances. I want action. I want boxes of N95s piling up, donated from the people who hoarded them. I want non-clinical administrators in the hospital lining up in the ER asking if they can stock shelves to make sure that when I need to rush into a room, the drawer of PPE equipment I open isn’t empty. I want them showing up in the ER asking “how can I help” instead of offering shallow “plans” conceived by someone who has spent far too long in an ivory tower and not long enough in the trenches. Maybe they should actually step foot in the trenches.
I want billion-dollar companies like 3M halting all production of any product that isn’t PPE to focus on PPE manufacturing. I want a company like Amazon, with its logistics mastery (it can drop a package to your door less than 24 hours after ordering it), halting its 2-day delivery of 12 reams of toilet paper to whoever is willing to pay the most in order to help get the available PPE supply distributed fast and efficiently in a manner that gets the necessary materials to my brothers and sisters in arms who need them.
I want Proctor and Gamble, and the makers of other soaps and detergents, stepping up too. We need detergent to clean scrubs, hospital linens and gowns. We need disinfecting wipes to clean desk and computer surfaces. What about plastics manufacturers? Plastic gowns aren’t some high-tech device, they are long shirts/smocks…made out of plastic. Get on it. Face shields are just clear plastic. Nitrile gloves? Yeah, they are pretty much just gloves…made from something that isn’t apparently Latex. Let’s go. Money talks in this country. Executive millionaires, why don’t you spend a few bucks to buy back some of these masks from the hoarders, and drop them off at the nearest hospital.
I love biotechnology and research but we need to divert viral culture media for COVID testing and research. We need biotechnology manufacturing ready and able to ramp up if and when treatments or vaccines are developed. Our Botox supply isn’t critical, but our antibiotic supply is. We need to be able to make more plastic ET tubes, not more silicon breast implants.
Let’s see all that. Then we can all talk about how we played our part in this fight. Netflix and chill is not enough while my family, friends and colleagues are out there fighting. Our country won two world wars because the entire country mobilized. We out-produced and we out-manufactured while our soldiers out-fought the enemy. We need to do that again because make no mistake, we are at war, healthcare workers are your soldiers, and the war has just begun.
Lyft has instituted something called LyftUp
3M and Procter and Gamble can probably play a big role in this.
I have a hospitality resource in NYC that scales. Feel free to ping me 310-663-2865 / aaronloringdavis@gmail.com
I have a hospitality resource in NYC that scales globally. Feel free to ping me.
I have a virtual childcare idea. I want an open job board created linking at home working parents with kids ages 5-10 with college kids, teens, any babysitter. The idea would be to link them up for paid virtual babysitting for short periods of time – 30-60min time periods – 1:1. Crafts, storytime, imaginative play, actual teaching etc. etc.
I might reach out to an App like Be My Eyes (connects blind and seeing people) to ask then to replicate their infrastructure to create Read to Me (connect a parents of a preschooler with a volunteer reader) for when a parent just needs a 15 minute break.
Transcript? Would love to forward segments of this to others in hospitality industry as well. Thank you so much, Tim.
Information, hacks and any other load management needs to be shared widely. We may need to rethink many things to find solutions that will keep healthcare providers and patients safe. One idea mentioned in passing in a podcast (there are no lacking of podcasts covering various aspects of COVID19) mentioned putting a viral filter on a full-faced scuba mask (the odd looking ones with the snorkel coming out of the top). Ideally, the snorkel could be mounted with an exchangeable viral filter that could be worn continuously containing droplet and aerosolise spread. Obviously a smooth design without cracks or channels to avoid taking anything with the person wearing the mask. Another ideal is allowing the submersion of the mask in cleaning solutions that kill pathogens. This could further be a device of social distancing. The only real concern could be communication but maybe external speakers? Happy for anyone to take off on this idea. I am trying to get some viral filters to see how they might be adapted or the face masks could be adapted to take the filters.
Not sure if this is in the right spot. Anyway.
Tim
Here is something to tackle. Since we are at home we are doing long overdue organizing. As we clean out the pantry we find lots of food that we want to give away but……. It’s expired. Most of it is perfectly edible but food banks won’t take it or they chuck it. Heartbreaking. I wish there were a food network/bank that takes everything. Thoughts? If you know of a place like this please spread the word. If I was broke (like how I grew up or when I was younger) I would love this.
Thanks for the work you do.
Ken
Ken,
If the food is perfectly fine to eat, why don’t you eat it instead of going and buying new food. A lot of this, “food shortage” is being caused by the people who aren’t broke going out and buying more than they need. This in turn causes those people who are living on the edge of their budgets, to have to spend more on food or even stops them from getting the basics they need because the only thing left on the shelves is the really expensive items and the stuff no one else wants.
This isn’t meant as a bash, it’s meant as a nudge to check your heart!
Mike
In 1-2 weeks, Health care workers (HCW) will desperately need support outside the hospital. NPR this AM: English nurse sobbing in the grocery store after a 48 hr shift – grocery store had no produce. End of her rope. Italian docs traumatized, literally, by having to select patients for life or death (ventilator or not). These folks likely have families at home.
If only HCW could be given a one-stop website produced by a partnership among e.g., (a) Good Eggs + Whole Foods + Target + restaurants and (b) Instacart/ Uber/Lift/Kangaroo (the school age kid driving service – out of biz in shelter in place areas). Result would be a website where HCW could order and have provisions and meals delivered to their homes (ideally subsidized pricing).
The website would be accessed employer VPN, as a work perq so would need to rollout thru hospital employer.
I’m a tech idiot. But you get the point of the above. These people, HCW, should not be having to squander/risk their precious health and nervous system reset time on shopping for themselves and their families.
Here in SF some therapists are organizing to offer pro bono therapy to HCWs online. IT would be great if a web-based company would create some online infrastructure to facilitate this, and work with therapist professional associations to recruit therapists who post profile, website link and availability.
Tim, I’ve been impressed and grateful for the tone you’ve taken on this. Seems like it was such a long time ago now when you announced you wouldn’t attend SXSW. Thanks for communicating with such sobriety and hope about these actions.
Hello Tim! I’m a doctor working in Austria and I wanted to let you know that I really appreciate the work you are doing. Not only the scientific but also emotional resources have helped me greately those last few days. The poem you posted in your most recent newsletter actually made me tear up. I am going to watch the Coyote and the Badger now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
These may be dark days but there is so much light coming through human interactions.
Hi Tim,
A very important topic, thanks for doing the podcast. We own a small distillery in WA state and we shifted our production to make hand-sanitizers for the local first responders, medical facilities and high-risk individuals, this is based on the FDA / World Health Organization formulation and guidelines.
Thank you for all you do and stay healthy!
Not sure if you want this kind of info on the page; I’ll share it here in case you do. I have a Patreon page with (30+ free) podcasts for stopping smoking and vapor, and a small, new Facebook group with the same purpose: Kick Butts Take Names with Joanna NicciTina Free. This is all free support.
Kicking smoke and vapor can strengthen immunity, but most people need guidance and ongoing support to effectively do and sustain that. I needed LOTS when I kicked.
Thanks for what you’re doing here, Tim. I’m here to help.
Joanna
Hi Tim, regarding this and your brilliant curated Twitter feed, do you have anything similar in Spanish language? I am helping community leaders there, let down by poor info & leadership from govt and consequent panic from the public to set up a volunteer group and provide high quality info in Spanish language.
Hi Tim,
Thanks for this episode, I really thought it was great. I am based in NYC and work at a flexible office space provider. We’ve been thinking about ways to partner with others and use our unoccupied office spaces during this time, especially in NYC. I shared your idea about using the space for healthcare workers with leadership. If you’d be open to talking further about it and maybe brainstorming please let me know and I can connect you. Feel free to shoot me an email (mfinlayson008@gmail.com).
– Meghan Finlayson
@Tim, great podcast and grassroots initiative. As a nation I feel like we really need to help the troops (our health care professionals and scientists) on the front lines of this war on COVID-19 if we are going to win. Thank you for helping to focus us on this mission.
Having been in self-imposed isolation/quarantine for 1 1/2 weeks to protect myself and fellow human beings, I would love to hear what you’ve been doing, your daily routine, food supplies, exercise, etc. Maybe as a podcast?
Tim, I am a lab manager at Austin Community College. I have an idea that the college could offer use of the autoclaves, Ultra Violet lights that we use in our biology labs. You are in touch with people that may know the answer to this. Can the respirators be sterilized and reused? ACC, and other colleges will have 100% alcohol and bleach in inventory in our labs. Could we spray masks and ventilators and recycle them? Aren’t used masks and ventilators better than NO masks and ventilators?
You are a smart guy and well connected to more smart people…. How can the education community help?
I also have an inventory of gloves.
Laura
Hi Tim,
Maybe this info can be mentioned in your next newsletter to help spread the word?
Some hospitals started reaching out to local communities asking to donate supplies AND to make cloth masks. There are video instructions and templates available for those who are able to make them.
Cleveland hospital reached out to makers community. https://www.atlantichealth.org/patients-visitors/donate-volunteer/donate-supplies-covid-19/make-facemask-help-covid-19.html
Atlantic Healthcare in NJ is asking to make and donate masks:
https://www.atlantichealth.org/patients-visitors/donate-volunteer/donate-supplies-covid-19/make-facemask-help-covid-19.html
Cloth masks can be washed and reused.
I suspect you are correct about sanitizing and reusing supplies. helphospitals.io aggregates medical needs with suppliers. They can probably help connect you, or you can offer it to your local hospital.
As nurses and CRNAs are battling front line risks, we or our families will be exposed and possibly permanently injured. If we are, we go without pay. Many areas have no PPE to use. Over time, the disabilities from this disease will be shown. Think of the 9/11 injuries who were just compensated for their risks last year. We are essentially doing hazardous duty without pay or compensation. Even some malpractice is restricting cross practicing to help short departments. My life insurance company said if I die, Covid not covered. What if I bring it home to my wife and her asthma takes her down? The government needs to provide a life net to the nurses and NP/CRNAs who are having no voice on not having equipment, testing, or future income. Where do we start?
Hi Tim,
I’ve been reading online that in some places in the US, the ICUs are empty and some part-time ICU nurses have been called off of their shifts. Do you think it would work to provide some of those nurses with transportation and lodging to go assist in the harder hit areas? Kind of like how firefighters will often go fight a fire in a different place when a large-scale response is needed?
Tim,
Thank you for your most recent podcast.
I appreciate your call to action.
I am a fellow Austinite and would like to mention what we are doing to help healthcare workers at the startup I work at.
We are offering a free membership and use of the [Moderator: electric moped ridesharing] service:
https://gorevel.com/safety/coronavirus/service-provider-form/
I am also working on ways to help local food services by providing logistics assistance.
Those in the Austin food eco-system who are needing help can email me at jose.ortega@gorevel.com
#isupportmedical
I am opening a bakery (bagel shop) in Dallas, TX and I am prepared to get bagels and coffee to healthcare works in the DFW area if the case count gets extremely bad. Would like some help making that happen. Communicating with UberEats has been very difficult lately, I can’t get in touch with anybody.
I just want to say thank you Tim for putting this out, I’m positive this is going to save a lot of lives!
Before the Great Outbreak, doctors around the country were over worked and stressed due to corporate MBAs (I am an MBA) trimming and not allowing support staff. Suicides were up across the country. Now with the added extreme pressure of CV-19, that stress is multiplied significantly. Please start the conversation about how to support frontline MDs, nurses etal as the situation winds down…and post.
Exactly. I like your language of MDs, nurses, etal. rather than the generic, devaluing corporate speak of “health care worker” or “provider”- as if they’re a replaceable commodity. These professionals didn’t go to medical school or nursing school to get a degree in workership or providership. Let’s show them respect through our language and actions.
One option – although hopefully there are others – for child care for health care workers and first responders: YMCAs across the country, closed because of the virus, are re-opening as child care centers. There are logistics to be considered to keep kids and parents safe and they are working on that as fast as they can. Find out more on your local Y’s website or go to ymca.net. Hope that helps. I can’t even express how grateful I am to all those doctors, nurses, social workers, first responders and more who are tirelessly taking care of our most vulnerable people right now.
This war on COVID-19 has multiple fronts. I in no way want to diminish the the focus on the medical aspect of this it is the most important factor. A secondary factor is the economic factor and I am sure several small business owners follow this blog and it is important to get accurate and quality information and help to them this is a link http://www.sba.gov/disaster to apply for the SBA disaster loan. There is a SBDC service center in your area to help small businesses with accurate and quality information about the economic programs as they are launched. https://americassbdc.org under the Home tab Find local SBDC for free services in your area. Ferriss thanks for all you have done to get this out. This is a all hands on deck war against COVID-19 we all have a part to play nobody is exempt.
Hi Tim,
Great article on how to help. I heard from a friend in Portugal that they cannot use cloth masks because it doesn’t have an antivirus coating that the regular masks provide.
Emanuel
If anyone has a website to collect contact info on health care workers needing help, pls post. I have resources in Miami, but can’t contact anyone.
Now with the added extreme pressure of CV-19, that stress is multiplied significantly. Please start the conversation about how to support frontline MDs, nurses etal as the situation winds down…and post. [Moderator: link removed.]
Tim: This episode had a huge impact on me as most people in your position do not use their platform for the common good. Thank you for your leadership in helping to fight COVID-19.
I wanted to draw your attention to a cause that is gaining momentum in the Hospitality sector to help Health Care workers and state governments solve the growing concern with the shortage of hospital beds. A company called Cloudbeds out of San Diego has started a campaign called #hospitalityhelps.org which has helped to mobilize the hotel industry to do help with a solution. As of 3/24/20 they have received a commitment of 50,000 hotels nationwide to help the cause.
Hopefully this information can help solve one of the problems you identified on the episode. Thank you for inspiring me to start a blog and podcast. You are a true digital Renaissance man.
ROSES FOR HOSPITAL HEALTH CARE WORKERS!!!
Imagine big containers of different colored roses parked in emergency departments, nurses stations, radiology, laboratory, chaplain areas, Respiratory and physical therapy areas. Besides brightening the area, a nurse or lab technician for example, at the end of their shift and after Hand sanitizing, can select a rose to bring home. Maybe they will give the rose to their wife or 5 year old or put in a jar of water. The next day the person returns to work and again selects a rose to bring home. Roses in hospitals will remain until there are no more covid 19 patients. The rose will become a symbol of dedicated health care workers.
Yes, it will cost money, but aren’t large corporations wanting to contribute in some way and make a difference? Most likely the rose growers of America will be glad to do their part. I think My idea could spread throughout the country and roses will be regularly delivered to hospitals all over the United States.
The logistics will to be worked out and modifications may be necessary, but lets just get roses in hospitals.
Thank you
Dude the garbage collector the guy at the grocery store warehouse the trucker the cop the UPS driver all these guys and gals are as valuable as the health care worker. They should be paid the same equal salary.
Thanks for sharing this!
This rallying call is much much needed in every country right now, including the UK and the Philippines where I’m connected to.
The Philippines especially have an urgent need for more PPE for front line staff (among many many things) and I want to help in sourcing more but struggling to find good suppliers worldwide. I only have contacts in Vietnam where I’ve been able to get a supplier but apparently there may be restrictions for exporting critical medical supplies from Vietnam currently as they’re in dire need of it too.
My hope is to find contacts in South Korea and China where I believe have the capacity to produce more for export. Do you or anyone else know suppliers I can reach out to? There are a group of us in the Philippines who want to buy as many as we can to donate to struggling hospitals who can’t get supply.
YMCA Orange County,CA is providing child care for first responders/essential services. Google YMCA Orange County (or your local YMCA to see if they are doing the same) to make a donation.
Tim –
You may not be a “mask expert” but I feel like you may have the answer to this (Or could get to a person who has the answer to this). I know that people are making masks with typical fabrics, but the are somewhat unhelpful since they are being made with cotton fabric, which captures liquid.
I am curious if you know if people could use medium duty weedmat (the kind used in garden landscaping) since it is a spun bond polypropylene (what is used in single ply surgical masks)? Although it is not what N95 masks are made of (melt blown polypropylene), would it be helpful to spread the word to those who are making home made masks, to add this fabric layer to their mask building?
My wife is a doctor in KC, an area yet to be hit hard with COVID-19, and they are already running low on supplies due to a horrible flu season. Starting yesterday she was given two surgical masks (one single-ply surgery mask and one heavier-duty surgical mask) to use for the entire day. I hope that the above suggestion may be something that could be put to good use if it is possible/would be of benefit.
Let me know if you find anything out. I really appreciated your podcast focused on healthcare professionals.
Thank you.
Tim, I think this is worth shining a light on. It connects a lot of dots on health, compassion and economic impact to fight this thing as a society.
Famed chef and restaurateur, Jose Andres also know for his community leadership in response to the devastation to the island of Puerto Rico with is World Central Kitchen puts forth a bold plan and idea to enable unprecedented economic and social impact with the appropriate direction of funds from the pending support legislation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/22/opinion/restaurants-coronavirus-food-aid.html
Hey everyone! Once we get through this, governments and organizations must begin thinking about how we will address the next one. Notice that pandemic discussions focus on secondary prevention, aka mediating the impact of the next pandemic. However, infectious diseases aren’t out of our control like natural disasters. We can actually prevent many infectious diseases from spreading to humans in the first place, by fundamentally changing animal husbandry. Watch “Dr. Michael Greger on Pandemic Prevention | Infectious Diseases, Aids, Influenza, Coronavirus” on youtube. It’s an old recording, but quite insightful and prescient. This is a discussion very much worth having!
Would you risk flying to go some place you think it’s less likely you’d get covid-19? Specifically I’m considering flying from Los Angeles to Michigan as the Governor of CA is predicting 56% of the state will get the virus…
I think the development of home test kits is critical. Here’s an email that I sent two days ago to Gregory Adams, CEO of Kaiser Permanente. I haven’t heard anything back.
Dear Mr. Adams,
I have been a member of Kaiser Permanente since 1971. I was also an employee for 16 years and retired in 2016. I am turning 70 years old in May. I had my daughter at Kaiser Sunset and she and her family are members. We have a long history.
I have always admired and supported the innovations and proactive responses KP has had in health care. Now is the time for KP to step up and show what powerful and responsible health care organizations can do for their members and the rest of the population. KP needs to set the standard for quality and effective response to COVID-19.
We Americans are running around blindfolded not knowing who has COVID-19 and who doesn’t have it. If we know who has it, then isolation and quarantine would be easier. Those who test negative could return to work and help stabilize the economy.
Kaiser Permanente should throw all of its resources into developing a home test kit for COVID-19. It should be similar to the colon cancer screening kit that can be done at home and mailed in. Test results are reported on the member’s account. Tests could be delivered every 2 weeks to those individuals who test negative. Those who test positive no longer get tested.
When a person tests positive, specific instructions should be given to that person. Instructions would be specific to single and multiple person households. Instructions should include what to do if you get ill and what to do when you must be quarantined. Households should post if a person in it has the virus and the date of the end of the 2 week quarantine. These instructions should be easily available at KP.org, emailed to every member and posted to every member’s health care account.
I strongly urge you to actively work on this or a similar proposal. It would benefit everyone.
Thank you for your consideration.
Susan Dasso
You’ve been ahead of the curve on this one Tim and really guided my thinking and preparation – thank you!
Please check out this page. Masks might be a huge part of the flattening of the curve, Tim.
Thanks for all you do, Tim.
Amir Jamali MD
Home sick with presumed COVID infection (thankfully I haven’t needed oxygen), I’ve been thinking of those in hospital for whom the disease progresses rapidly and they find themselves alone, hooked up to machines, afraid, and many dying. And I desperately want to help.
At first I imagined creating a pool of recovered/positive volunteers who could sit with the suffering patients and alleviate some burden on nurses. Then realized the logistics of this would be too daunting, use valuable PPE, strain hospitals etc.
So now I’m wondering about a tech solution. Would it be possible to take donations for tablets to be used for zoom and FaceTime calls for the most ill, essentially to facilitate communication with loved ones? I imagine having the chance to say/hear some last words would be a comfort to families.
I know in Italy the staff have become too overwhelmed and have been unable to provide any but the most necessary care. Could staff from elsewhere in hospital facilitate calls? (I’m an artist, not a medical worker, and lack expertise in ICU workings)
Love to hear thoughts/solutions to this heartbreaking reality.
Hi Tim,
You have done a great job on the front end of the Coronavirus epidemic, highlighting the exponential growth potential of the virus. In spite of this, we are in big trouble in the US. If you can, I am asking you to step up your support for a mandatory nationwide social distancing initiative and to encourage people to wear masks outside the home. In two weeks, I suspect the government will do this but thousands of people may die prior to that mandate.
Thanks again,
Amir Jamali MD
Just wanted to follow up on my initial comment – my company (Knotel) will begin promoting this next week: https://www.spacesforcities.com/.
Please let me know if you are interested in partnering with us and the larger Real Estate community on this. Thanks for everything you do!
I am a travel nurse, i volunteered with you last year, zendo, and i want to thank you for your support, it means a great deal during these times. Was working covid unit at small hospital in st pete florida, contract ended so now looking for other areas in need possibly NYC. we could not do it without the support of community and ppl like you so thank you x a million! love you and all that you do. -Jill Gross
Thanks for your continued great work. We in the UK are slightly ahead of the US in this disease cycle, the most important massage is to isolate and do not socialise. Listen into the intensive care nurse who calls into this show, [Moderator: link to James O’Brien’s podcast on coronavirus removed.] its about 9 min in, or you can listen to the entire thing. The reality of this disease is awful, no one is safe from it. Stay safe. Matt
Hi Tim, I came across this article of a researcher at Yale who has a simple, home, peanut butter test to potentially help identify or self identify people who may be infected and are either asymptomatic or in the pre symptom stages. She won’t likely get grant funding for this until September which could mean many more infections and deaths. If she can get someone or some people to fund her research now it could be a useful tool in this fight. I’m putting it out there on multiple streams to you in the hope of reaching you so you see it and might have an idea or find it useful. It looks interesting to me at least. I know you’re not supposed to put links in here but in this instance think I have to. Thanks https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/heroes-of-the-pandemic-a-canadian-professor-has-a-peanut-butter-sniff-test-to-combat-covid-19/amp
Hey Tim,
I’ve loved all your books and have been a True Fan for years and I really love the work you’re doing in the psychedelic assisted therapy space. I’m currently in my early 40’s and have a lifelong history of trauma (beginning in childhood) as well as substance abuse, homelessness, and incarceration. I’ve been in recovery from substance abuse disorder for nearly 10 years but I find that I still self-medicate through various behaviors (food, shopping, etc) and as a result of my late start in life, as well as the handicap of all the damage done—financially and otherwise—I’m without the necessary resources to seek out professional treatment options. I’d really love to ask if you have any tips for someone in my circumstances that truly believes they could benefit from these life-changing therapeutic modalities, but without the means financially to pursue them, and how I may be able to gain access to this type of treatment. I’d certainly be open to participating in clinical trials but I can’t seem to find any that are open/recruiting at the moment. Anyway, if by chance you read this thanks again for the work you do and I’ll be looking forward to the day when this type of treatment is available to all!
God Bless!