Illinois COVID: Pandemic forces fast changes for 1st year doctors, nurses at Swedish Covenant Hospital

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The COVID-19 pandemic meant some first year healthcare workers had to make a specialty switch in a hurry.
Dr. Benjamin Johnson began his medical career at Swedish Covenant Hospital as an attending general surgeon on March 1, just days before the coronavirus hit. He immediately switched gears and volunteered to work in the ICU.
"I had training in that field and felt my risk was not as high for physicians qualified for that," he said.
But there wasn't any medical school training that prepared Johnson for treating COVID patients.
"It was the first time, as a doctor, I knew people were not going to make it and that was really tough, unable to have a good plan, especially talking to families," said Johnson.

Related Keywords

Chicago , Illinois , United States , Benjamin Johnson , Meryl Cook , , Swedish Covenant Hospital , Grace Kealy , Illinois Covid , Covid Pandemic , Covid Nurse , Covid Doctor , Swedish Covenant , Swedish Covenant Illinois , First Year Doctor , First Year Nurse , Medical School , Covid Hospitals , Covid In Illinois , சிகாகோ , இல்லினாய்ஸ் , ஒன்றுபட்டது மாநிலங்களில் , பெஞ்சமின் ஜான்சன் , மெரில் சமைக்கவும் , ஸ்விட்ச் உடன்படிக்கை மருத்துவமனை , கருணை கேலி , ஸ்விட்ச் உடன்படிக்கை , ஸ்விட்ச் உடன்படிக்கை இல்லினாய்ஸ் , முதல் ஆண்டு மருத்துவர் , முதல் ஆண்டு செவிலியர் , மருத்துவ பள்ளி ,