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| How a Virus Triage Tent Became a Serene Oasis for Health Care Workers | How a Virus Triage Tent Became a Serene Oasis for Health Care Workers |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| On a rare quiet evening in late May, Dr. Dahlia Rizk asked her staff to join her by a campfire. They sat together for more than an hour, sharing the overwhelming horrors and occasional triumphs they’d experienced while treating the coronavirus, as the sounds of burning logs crackled in the background and a bright orange glow filled the room. | On a rare quiet evening in late May, Dr. Dahlia Rizk asked her staff to join her by a campfire. They sat together for more than an hour, sharing the overwhelming horrors and occasional triumphs they’d experienced while treating the coronavirus, as the sounds of burning logs crackled in the background and a bright orange glow filled the room. |
| “It was a moment to realize that this all happened, this is real,” said Dr. Kamana Pillay, one of those employees in the room. “And to try to get back to some level of normal as a person.” | “It was a moment to realize that this all happened, this is real,” said Dr. Kamana Pillay, one of those employees in the room. “And to try to get back to some level of normal as a person.” |
| But Dr. Rizk’s team hadn’t left the hospital. They were sitting on the floor of a former Covid-19 triage tent, right outside the doors of the emergency department at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Manhattan. The fire wasn’t actually a fire; it was a video projected onto the wall. | But Dr. Rizk’s team hadn’t left the hospital. They were sitting on the floor of a former Covid-19 triage tent, right outside the doors of the emergency department at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Manhattan. The fire wasn’t actually a fire; it was a video projected onto the wall. |
| A couple months before, this tent had been used for the overflow of patients who had come to the hospital during the worst weeks of the pandemic. | A couple months before, this tent had been used for the overflow of patients who had come to the hospital during the worst weeks of the pandemic. |
| But with the number of virus patients in New York City dwindling down to levels not seen since March, the hospital has transformed the tent into a recovery unit for health care workers. | But with the number of virus patients in New York City dwindling down to levels not seen since March, the hospital has transformed the tent into a recovery unit for health care workers. |
| Where doctors and nurses once tested patients at sterile medical stations, they now lounge in leather recliners surrounded by plants, watching one of nine landscapes. They just need to say where they want to be, and the voice-activated system transports them to the scene. Dr. Rizk prefers the sun rising over the ocean, because it reminds her of her family home in Florida. Each scene has its own soundscape designed by music therapists, and diffusers fill the space with lavender, chamomile and other scents that decrease anxiety. | Where doctors and nurses once tested patients at sterile medical stations, they now lounge in leather recliners surrounded by plants, watching one of nine landscapes. They just need to say where they want to be, and the voice-activated system transports them to the scene. Dr. Rizk prefers the sun rising over the ocean, because it reminds her of her family home in Florida. Each scene has its own soundscape designed by music therapists, and diffusers fill the space with lavender, chamomile and other scents that decrease anxiety. |
| “You go from hearing beeps and vents and whistles and all the intensity on the ward, with the bright lights, to this serene space,” said Dr. Rizk. “Suddenly something happens that really allows you to decompress almost immediately.” | “You go from hearing beeps and vents and whistles and all the intensity on the ward, with the bright lights, to this serene space,” said Dr. Rizk. “Suddenly something happens that really allows you to decompress almost immediately.” |
| In a survey of about 500 visitors, hospital officials said self-reported stress dropped 60 percent after just 15 minutes in the rooms. Other forms of self-directed stress relief, such as meditation, generate about a 30 percent drop, said Dr. David Putrino, the director of rehabilitation innovation at Mount Sinai. “And that requires learning to meditate. This requires you to just sit down and chill,” he said. | In a survey of about 500 visitors, hospital officials said self-reported stress dropped 60 percent after just 15 minutes in the rooms. Other forms of self-directed stress relief, such as meditation, generate about a 30 percent drop, said Dr. David Putrino, the director of rehabilitation innovation at Mount Sinai. “And that requires learning to meditate. This requires you to just sit down and chill,” he said. |
| In early March, Dr. Putrino asked Studio Elsewhere, a New York-based start-up, to design a space where hospital staff could recharge in the same ways they might if they had been able to spend time in nature. | In early March, Dr. Putrino asked Studio Elsewhere, a New York-based start-up, to design a space where hospital staff could recharge in the same ways they might if they had been able to spend time in nature. |
| Dr. Putrino and Mirelle Phillips, one of the founders of Studio Elsewhere, built the first room in a sub-basement of a Mount Sinai building on 98th Street. They’ve since opened more than 10 of these rooms at five Mount Sinai locations — the tent at Beth Israel opened on May 20 — and have numerous requests from other hospitals looking for ways to help their staff cope with the trauma of recent months. | Dr. Putrino and Mirelle Phillips, one of the founders of Studio Elsewhere, built the first room in a sub-basement of a Mount Sinai building on 98th Street. They’ve since opened more than 10 of these rooms at five Mount Sinai locations — the tent at Beth Israel opened on May 20 — and have numerous requests from other hospitals looking for ways to help their staff cope with the trauma of recent months. |
| When the pandemic reached Beth Israel, the doctors at the hospital feared for the physical and mental well-being of the staff. Physicians usually have a playbook to follow. With Covid-19, they were writing the rules as they went. | When the pandemic reached Beth Israel, the doctors at the hospital feared for the physical and mental well-being of the staff. Physicians usually have a playbook to follow. With Covid-19, they were writing the rules as they went. |
| “There’s fear and there’s anxiety walking in knowing that you don’t have all the answers,” Dr. Pillay said. “And that people who are making decisions don’t have all the answers yet — decisions that involve your safety and your patient’s safety.” | “There’s fear and there’s anxiety walking in knowing that you don’t have all the answers,” Dr. Pillay said. “And that people who are making decisions don’t have all the answers yet — decisions that involve your safety and your patient’s safety.” |
| The small teaching hospital treated more than 1,000 of the city’s 209,000 Covid-19 patients, according to hospital administrators. | The small teaching hospital treated more than 1,000 of the city’s 209,000 Covid-19 patients, according to hospital administrators. |
| There was the man in his 60s who walked in with slight trouble breathing and within 24 hours needed to be intubated. | There was the man in his 60s who walked in with slight trouble breathing and within 24 hours needed to be intubated. |
| “You know in your heart that the likelihood of him coming off of that was very low and you know to tell him that,” said Dr. Pillay, who treated her first confirmed-positive patient on March 19. | “You know in your heart that the likelihood of him coming off of that was very low and you know to tell him that,” said Dr. Pillay, who treated her first confirmed-positive patient on March 19. |
| The man eventually decided against intubation. He was transported to the intensive care unit, where he died days later. | The man eventually decided against intubation. He was transported to the intensive care unit, where he died days later. |
| “We referred to patients who died as casualties, because we really felt like we were at war,” said Dr. Barbara Barnett, the hospital’s chief medical officer. “And we didn’t know when the end was coming.” | “We referred to patients who died as casualties, because we really felt like we were at war,” said Dr. Barbara Barnett, the hospital’s chief medical officer. “And we didn’t know when the end was coming.” |
| Members of the staff fell ill, and suddenly doctors were treating their friends and colleagues. There were young patients who looked fine one moment and then five minutes later needed to be intubated. Fathers and daughters and long-married couples came in together, and in many cases, one of them went home alone. “That was really, really hard to witness,” said Dr. Rizk. | Members of the staff fell ill, and suddenly doctors were treating their friends and colleagues. There were young patients who looked fine one moment and then five minutes later needed to be intubated. Fathers and daughters and long-married couples came in together, and in many cases, one of them went home alone. “That was really, really hard to witness,” said Dr. Rizk. |
| Others came in alone, and because of strict visitor policies, could not see family again. Doctors frequently offered their cellphones so that patients could see loved ones via FaceTime or Zoom in their final moments. | Others came in alone, and because of strict visitor policies, could not see family again. Doctors frequently offered their cellphones so that patients could see loved ones via FaceTime or Zoom in their final moments. |
| Updated July 23, 2020 | |
| The stress mounted. Were they wearing the personal protective equipment properly? Would it run out? Would their colleagues get sick? Dr. Pillay worried about her boyfriend, who had already contracted Covid-19 at his job and was quarantining in a different room of their apartment. Dr. Rizk’s husband and two young children are staying with relatives in Florida. She’s glad to know they’re safe, but that doesn’t fill the silence of an empty apartment. | The stress mounted. Were they wearing the personal protective equipment properly? Would it run out? Would their colleagues get sick? Dr. Pillay worried about her boyfriend, who had already contracted Covid-19 at his job and was quarantining in a different room of their apartment. Dr. Rizk’s husband and two young children are staying with relatives in Florida. She’s glad to know they’re safe, but that doesn’t fill the silence of an empty apartment. |
| “You’re afraid to stop, because if you stop and look around it’s overwhelming,” said Dr. Pillay. | “You’re afraid to stop, because if you stop and look around it’s overwhelming,” said Dr. Pillay. |
| In late April, Dr. Barnett learned that her friend and former colleague, Dr. Lorna Breen, the medical director of the emergency room at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, had died. Dr. Barnett knew that Dr. Breen had contracted Covid-19, and assumed her friend had succumbed to the virus. The next morning, Dr. Barnett learned that Dr. Breen, who had no history of mental illness, had died by suicide. | In late April, Dr. Barnett learned that her friend and former colleague, Dr. Lorna Breen, the medical director of the emergency room at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, had died. Dr. Barnett knew that Dr. Breen had contracted Covid-19, and assumed her friend had succumbed to the virus. The next morning, Dr. Barnett learned that Dr. Breen, who had no history of mental illness, had died by suicide. |
| “None of us can understand why,” said Dr. Barnett. “She was such a strong, incredible individual. A beautiful person.” | “None of us can understand why,” said Dr. Barnett. “She was such a strong, incredible individual. A beautiful person.” |
| She added: “But no one can prepare you for this.” | She added: “But no one can prepare you for this.” |
| She hopes the relief tent can help the hospital’s physicians, doctors, nurses, security guards and all other employees make it through another day. | She hopes the relief tent can help the hospital’s physicians, doctors, nurses, security guards and all other employees make it through another day. |
| “Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined they’d transform it into this little oasis,” she said. “From the minute you walk in you feel a release.” | “Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined they’d transform it into this little oasis,” she said. “From the minute you walk in you feel a release.” |
| Initially Ms. Phillips’s team at Studio Elsewhere and Dr. Putrino were in the process of installing this type of room for the Brooklyn Nets. But then the pandemic reached New York. They quickly redirected their effort to focus on the health of front-line workers. | Initially Ms. Phillips’s team at Studio Elsewhere and Dr. Putrino were in the process of installing this type of room for the Brooklyn Nets. But then the pandemic reached New York. They quickly redirected their effort to focus on the health of front-line workers. |
| New York City’s Covid-19 cases are now at their lowest point since March 17. The stress of treating patients with a mystery virus has been replaced with that of uncertainty; public health experts warn that a second wave is likely to hit sometime this summer. As her team waits to see what happens, Dr. Rizk is encouraging them to take time to recharge. | New York City’s Covid-19 cases are now at their lowest point since March 17. The stress of treating patients with a mystery virus has been replaced with that of uncertainty; public health experts warn that a second wave is likely to hit sometime this summer. As her team waits to see what happens, Dr. Rizk is encouraging them to take time to recharge. |
| “Everybody is human. Everybody has families. Everybody is also an individual with emotions and feelings. They put that aside and they took care of the patients,” said Dr. Rizk. “But the amount of death and despair and emotion has been far more than anything we’ve ever experienced. ” | “Everybody is human. Everybody has families. Everybody is also an individual with emotions and feelings. They put that aside and they took care of the patients,” said Dr. Rizk. “But the amount of death and despair and emotion has been far more than anything we’ve ever experienced. ” |
| She invited her team to sit by the campfire in the tent as a first step in what will likely be a long healing process. | She invited her team to sit by the campfire in the tent as a first step in what will likely be a long healing process. |
| “You go in there and you’re in a different place,” she said. “And then you feel like you’re ready to get out there and face what you need to face again.” | “You go in there and you’re in a different place,” she said. “And then you feel like you’re ready to get out there and face what you need to face again.” |