When the novel coronavirus first emerged at the end of 2019, few could have envisaged the destruction it was bound to cause. Healthcare facilities worldwide were unprepared for the havoc, chaos, and deaths that would follow, while healthcare providers had to find solutions to a strange disease as quickly as possible. Sadly, many frontline workers died as they attempted to save lives. Reading “Every Day is a Minute” by Robert Meyer and Dan Koeppel reveals healthcare providers’ challenges as they tried to stem the spread of the virus, treat the infected, and mourn the dead. The memoir exposes the inadequacies inherent in the healthcare system and the sacrifices some people had to make on behalf of humanity. Accordingly, “Every Day is a Minute” is an apt memoir demonstrating unparalleled commitment, unwavering compassion, and extraordinary courage in the wake of the destruction and death occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meyer and Koeppel reveal the challenges they encountered at a New York City hospital, mirroring the experiences of other healthcare workers worldwide. The book is interesting because it gives a first-hand account of frontline workers. The book underscores the need for society to understand the trauma frontline workers experience as they attempt to cure the ill. From the onset, one must note that not much was known about the disease. However, this did not deter healthcare workers from taking risks on behalf of their patients. I was impressed by their courage in the wake of uncertainty and their selflessness when caring for ill people.
“Every Day is a Minute” is a remarkable story of humanity at its best. The book shows how some people are willing to go out of their way for the sake of their patients. The chaos that occurred at the Montefiore attests to the challenges patients, families, and healthcare providers faced when they encountered a strange disease that was killing people in their thousands. Admittedly, it is disheartening for any healthcare worker to lose a patient under such conditions; it brings feelings of despair and helplessness. However, the book shows that some professionals dared to attempt the unthinkable: to put their lives on the line for the sake of their patients in line with their training and professional oath. The doctors and all healthcare providers who collaborated in creating care plans for the sick deserve recognition for their sacrifices.
The book is commendable in that it exposes the inherent weaknesses in the US healthcare system and renews calls for continued reforms. From the book, one gathers that the healthcare system was unprepared for the unprecedented calamity. Healthcare professionals were still determining the most effective response while facilities were overcrowded and overwhelmed. For instance, the authors reveal, “Since Covid, bagging for extended periods of time has become commonplace, either because a vent isn’t ready or there’s no respiratory therapist available, but it carries a tremendous risk of exposure” (Meyer and Koeppel 39). Some deaths may have been prevented if the system had been efficient enough. Admittedly, no one could have imagined a calamity of that magnitude, but that does not serve as an excuse enough for the weaknesses identified in the healthcare system. The authorities concerned with healthcare reforms should expedite the process to ensure the country is fully prepared to handle future emergencies.
The book is commendable for its graphic descriptions of the events at the Montefiore Medical Center. Doubtless, the authors have great admiration for the care facility and appreciate its role as the premier medical center in the Bronx, New York. However, I was disappointed since the book focused solely on the care facility, creating an “us versus them” feeling. The global pandemic brought unparalleled suffering to millions of people worldwide. Many healthcare workers died caring for their patients, often without due recognition. As such, the book could have taken an all-inclusive approach in solidarity with thousands of healthcare workers and volunteers who put their lives on the line for their patients’ sake. Research shows that healthcare workers who attended to COVID-19 patients experienced physical, psychological, and emotional distress, with many seeking interventions to enable them to cope with the reality occasioned by the pandemic (Gupta et al. 283). Thus, it would have been prudent for the authors to acknowledge all healthcare workers’ input and sacrifices instead of focusing on a single healthcare facility.
In hindsight, the COVID-19 pandemic brought out the best in humanity, as evidenced by the sacrifices many took to treat the ill and stop the spread of the virus. One must credit Dr. Meyer and countless other frontline health workers who took the risk to contribute positively to controlling the pandemic. Sadly, many healthcare workers in the line of duty demonstrated they were ready to pay the ultimate price for humanity’s sake. The global community’s concerted efforts might have controlled the pandemic, but people must learn valuable lessons from the experience. The advent of COVID-19 literature such as “Every Day is a Minute” is a welcome development that provides readers with insights into the intrigues of managing a strange disease.
Works Cited
Gupta, Nishtha et al. “Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers.” Industrial psychiatry journal vol. 30, Suppl 1 2021: S282-S284. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.328830
Meyer, Robert, and Dan Koeppel. Every minute is a day: A doctor, an emergency room, and a city under siege. Crown, 2021
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