From the Pool, to the Front Lines of a Pandemic - Nick Polydefkis

1. Tell us what you have been doing to work on the frontlines to combat COVID.

I am working three different positions currently; I am working full-time as an EMT at Johns Hopkins transporting critically ill patients who need upgraded care to a Johns Hopkins hospital or within the hospital from an intensive care unit to a procedure or radiologic study. These patients are on ventilators, have COVID-19, or are critically ill. At Johns Hopkins I have also been trained as a transport safety officer, and am responsible for ensuring the safety of the any patient with COVID or who is under investigation (PUI), the staff caring for these patients and anyone else who could come in contact with the patient during transport within the hospital. Additionally, on weekends I am also working as a volunteer EMT in the Baltimore County Fire Department and at George Washington University EMS (EMeRG), where I respond to emergencies in people's homes or places of work and transport them to the hospital.

2. Tell us about your decision to volunteer your life and risk your time?

Ever since I was a kid, I have enjoyed volunteering with my family, my scout troop, and my high school teammates. My parents, who are both physicians, have taught me that caring for a patient is a great honor and responsibility. When the pandemic started, my parents encouraged my sister and me to contribute in any way we could and to be “part of the solution”. I had been doing research on viruses with a faculty member in the Department of Emergency Medicine before the pandemic and in the spring, I earned my certification as a contact tracer. Yet, I wanted to contribute more clinically. I see serving as an EMT as the best way for me to help move us toward resolution of the pandemic, using the skills I currently have and building new ones.

3. Has this decision in any way hindered your water polo career?

Everyone has been impacted in some way by the pandemic. When I made the decision to not return to campus and subsequently not train or practice with the team, I knew that I would lose the camaraderie of the team and would have less chance to swim to stay in shape. I have been doing my best to stay in touch with the team electronically and to exercise on our Peloton. Unfortunately, as part of my work at Johns Hopkins, I contracted COVID-19 this fall. Thankfully I recovered, and I am now healthy. However, the long-term effects of this virus, particularly among athletes, are unknown and it is not clear yet if it will affect my ability to play water polo next spring. It’s clear that the lessons I have learned being a college athlete have allowed me to do what I am doing now. Similar to when we are in season, I am working long hours with short periods of time off and have to be very careful with my sleep schedule, exercise routine, diet, and study habits to maximize my academic performance despite being very busy outside of the classroom. 

4. What have you learned from working on the frontlines?

I have seen incredible bravery and sacrifice from our frontline workers. Many health care workers and essential personnel have lived apart from their families, worked long hours and have gone above and beyond to optimally care for their patients by calling families and having very difficult conversations, sometimes with a translator, on the phone or through an iPad. Witnessing these acts has been inspirational. However, I have also seen the negative impact that of COVID on the healthcare industry. Currently, no visitors allowed into the hospital, some exceptions are made in extraordinary circumstances. This means that patients spend all their time alone in their rooms and do not see anyone outside of those in their care team. Secondly, more patients who would have otherwise come to the hospital for routine health care are delaying seeking medical care because of COVID. This has resulted in many patients presenting late in their illness or with complications that could have been avoided.  Finally, and potentially most troubling I have seen more and more patients and front-line workers who are struggling with their mental health. Healthcare workers are getting tired. Like everyone, they want to see their friends and families and they are tired of seeing their patients get really sick and die. In addition, I have seen an alarming number of mental health issues in our patients, particularly among teenagers and young adults, including several who have attempted suicide or are depressed.

5. Has this in anyway made you a better athlete, teammate or competitor?

Working in the hospital has reaffirmed the lessons we learn as athletes are applicable out of the pool or field. When caring for patients, health care providers including doctors from different specialties, nurses, image technologists, transport teams and all work together to help treat the patient as a coordinated unit. Everyone may have a special area of focus, but communication and coordination of efforts are essential to optimize patient outcomes. The team that works together and can anticipate what the other team member is going to be doing have better clinical outcomes.

6. Any powerful stories to share about your experiences?

Personally, I have seen many powerful stories in my time working during the pandemic. 

Regrettably many patients who are non-believers in COVID or who don’t want to wear masks see the light when it is too late for themselves or their family members. 

This week I transported a patient who had contracted COVID after seeing her family on Thanksgiving to an ICU. During the transport the patient was stating that everything hurt, and she felt terrible. After we had arrived in the ICU and transferred the patient to her bed and given report to their nurse, a paramedic on the transport team said, “I hope you feel better and that Christmas will be better than Thanksgiving.” The patient responded by saying “I won’t be seeing anyone for Christmas, I didn’t think this was really bad and now I can’t breathe. If I get out of here, I am not risking infecting anyone by seeing them for Christmas.” Obviously, she had learned that COVID was highly transmissible with even a small “lapse in judgement.

In addition, when I had COVID, I took part in research trial to prevent complications from COVID with the administration of plasma. Though I don’t know if I received plasma with the antibodies to COVID, I was happy to take part in a scientific project that may help other patients with COVID in the future. 

Working during the pandemic has not been all gloomy or somber. I have assisted with several childbirths, responded to several CPR calls that have been successful in saving the patient’s life. However, most importantly I have seen first-hand the dedication that medical professionals have to helping their patients. This will always stick with me and will motivate me to be the best clinician I can possibly be.