PADUCHAH, Ky. (WSIL) -- An internal medicine physician who works as a hospitalist at Baptist Health Paducah knows what it's like to be on the frontlines fighting COVID-19.
Dr. Ben Thompson shared with News 3 some of the experiences he sees in the COVID unit everyday including how the virus has changed his bedside manner.
Dr. Thompson was the first doctor to admit a COVID-19 patient to their facility back in March and he's been caring for COVID-19 patients ever since. Dr. Thompson said their facility has two areas set up to treat patients with the virus.
"We have one area that is an intensive care unit that has been carved out to manage COVID-19 patients, there we have our sicker patients, the ones that are requiring much more oxygen the ones that are on a ventilator," said Dr. Thompson.
The other unit is for patients who are not as ill, but still need medical attention. One of the hardest changes as a hospitalist Dr. Thompson has to deal with is the manner in which he is able to communicate, console and provide answers to patients and their family.
"COVID has changed that, so a lot of my conversations now, when I'm talking with family member, it may be a spouse, a brother or a sister I'm having those conversations on the phone where I can't see their face, I can't look at them eyeball to eyeball, nor can they look at me," said Thompson.
Dr. Thompson said overtime they have learned of regiments that help them treat the virus but nothing permanent.
"We have some options Remdesivir is a good option, there is a steroid called Decadron that we administer that's a good option but none of these regiments cure a patient with the virus," said Dr. Thompson.
Dr. Thompson said right now the best method available to the public in combating the virus is wearing a mask.
"If they could, they could suit up with me, go into some of these patient's rooms and see everything that the physicians here who have been taking care of COVID since March, if they could see what we get to see, and how this virus has impacted patients and their loved ones, I think they would understand the cry of from the physicians to be more compile in wearing the masks," said the hospitalist.
Dr. Thompson said he understands people not wanting to wear masks but said the job is not done and we must continue wearing them until it is.
