testing. testing, 123

 Three weeks ago, I stepped out of my usual routine and into a new world of testing for COVID19. Monday, March 16 I found tests were available for me to order through Boone Hospital.  I swabbed noses and submitted 10 samples in the next few days. Wearing my home made PPE was sobering.  Looking into the eyes of people who were so sick and so afraid is something I will not soon forget.  Sadly, those samples went to LabCorps and took weeks for the results to return.  Those weeks were forever for me and even longer for the people waiting for those results. Since then I have been ordering the tests and having the swabs be collected at Boone Hospital. Results are coming back in a day or two. Right as I started testing, local officials recommended I have my office manager work from home and I then hired my daughter to work in person in my office.  Lots of shifting.  Learning to manage health care with a new staff arrangement, over the phone first and now also by secure video, responding to shifting requirements for testing.  Friday March 20th, I posted about testing on a local FB community group and within an hour, there were hundreds of likes and shares.  My sleep that night was disrupted by dream and waking fears of being overwhelmed. I woke the next morning to internet and phone lines down.  An hour later, the phones started ringing and didn't stop for days.  I haven't counted, but I am guessing I have ordered testing on 50 people and talked to another 25 who didn't meet the criteria from the lab. There has been so much grace in the overlapping of a slowing of need from my regular practice just when the testing was so busy.  Now that the testing system is streamlined and the demand for testing has slowed, I am ready to get back to seeing my patients.  If you are one of those people who had to wait a little longer to get your medication prescriptions refilled, I am so grateful to you for your patience.  If you have been waiting and hoping to get to see me soon, now is your time.