COVID-19 fight could use some help from the homefront

Every Saturday morning, I volunteer at a free medical clinic in Atlanta. Even if the weather is grim, people come from everywhere.

This is a unique health center that serves primarily refugees from war-torn countries and oppressive governments. In their own languages, they tell me: "I am sick."

Many patients arrive at the clinic with fear and discomfort, but most leave with hope and smiles. I love spending Saturdays there because I have the opportunity to assist nurses with triaging patients (taking their temperature, blood pressure, glucose levels, etc.) while listening to their stories about adjusting to American society. I can see the difference the clinic makes for the community.

However, things suddenly changed when COVID-19 came to town.

Fewer individuals volunteered. The city restricted gathering sizes for all services. Medical equipment and personal items such as masks and hand-sanitizer became scarce. But patients kept coming. Their numbers only increased, and a screening tent was set up in front of the clinic.

I wanted to help. I work in healthcare and I understand how deadly the virus can be. But I am not a doctor or front-line caregiver. I'm an administrator—someone who is typically far behind the front lines. So I was told to stay home.

I can be stubborn, and I occasionally like to question authority. Nurses and doctors need help, too. So I drove to the clinic just to get a sneak peek from my car of how many providers and patients were there.

When I arrived, there was a line outside the screening tent with a handful of nurses and doctors. And if I am honest, I felt ashamed and embarrassed. While my colleagues were frantically working, I was in my car watching. I could see how tired the providers were. I could see how worried everyone was. Yet I felt powerless. I work in healthcare but am not clinical. What can I do to help? What can you do?

For nonclinical leaders, there are opportunities to help define reality of this pandemic for the general public and others. As nurses and doctors have their hands full treating patients, it is the duty of health administrators and nonclinical staff to help manage the needs and ease the anxieties and loneliness of our colleagues. But we'll also find no shortage of opportunities to help each other in this crisis outside the walls of our organizations—even as we observe the mandate for social distancing.

For example: Atlanta citizens are spreading hope to the most vulnerable by providing food to the homeless. Ebenezer Baptist Church and other houses of worship have been hosting online church services to help communities cope with the fear and uncertainty. A local fitness studio is sharing resources on how to stay physically and mentally fit at home by streaming free online yoga sessions. You'll find countless stories about creative ways people are contributing across the country.

This is also the moment for everyone to step up by providing communities with appropriate information to navigate the situation and most importantly buying time for the healthcare system and helping those on the front lines to reload. Local volunteers are sewing masks for nursing homes and first responders. Restaurants struggling with their own low cash flow are donating meals to hospital workers. All of us can find a role to play.

The stock market's drastic decline and the 16 million-plus spike in unemployment over the past few weeks exemplify the impact of COVID-19 on everyone. Companies that are often rivals are now collaborating with data and creating partnerships to provide hospitals, patients and communities with the right information at the right time for the right care.

Opportunities to collaborate at work and use data insights aren't just for analysts and tech professionals, but also for everyone on the homefront. Every individual has skills and subject matter knowledge that they can apply to unlock new insights and spark actions that inform providers and patients on best practices and can indirectly save lives.

By defining the reality and collaborating in any number of ways, you can be on the homefront and still make a difference for our providers and communities.

A few hours after my recent trip into the city, I received an email from the clinic. It read, "(We are) taking every safety precaution we can. … When time permits, can you help us analyze the data (to know who needs medication refills)? We need all the help that we can get."