"Some of my colleagues say that once this is over, that's it. They're done with medicine, and they're going to do something else." In the first episode of our series on the coronavirus, we sit down with Dr. Laura Falkowski, whose experiences in OB/GYN provide a unique perspective of healthcare in the era of COVID-19. Dr. Falkowski explains current changes that had to be implemented due to the overflow of patients in hospitals: mothers now must spend a lot of their time in labor alone, and after delivery, are transferred to off-site locations in order to provide beds for COVID-19 patients. Changes that are not ideal, but necessary to reduce risk for mothers, infants, and medical staff. "I discussed with my family my wishes if something were to happen to me. Morbid, but it's not if I'm going to be exposed to it - I am exposed to it." In addition to changes in tactics enforced by hospitals, Dr. Falkowski also provides insight on how healthcare workers on the front lines are coping with these tumultuous times. "You wake up and think 'Oh my gosh, the sun's out! - oh wait, the pandemic."
