This is probably the hardest column I’ve ever had to write
From the Editor
Dr. Schwarzenberger is the former physician editor of DermWorld.
By Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD, May 1, 2020
Because of our publication deadline, I’m composing this at the end of March. It’s not what I thought I’d be writing when I reviewed our scheduled lineup of articles several months ago. Since this issue follows our annual AAD clan gathering, I assumed I would brag about how well the meeting went, share new insights gleaned from lectures, and almost certainly, reminisce a bit about the joys of enduring friendships. I was even considering revealing a few secrets about our new AAD President, Dr. Bruce Thiers. (Did you know he tops his apple pie with chocolate ice cream?)
Instead, the unthinkable happened. A pandemic virus swept across the world, and life as we knew it and always thought it would be, changed.
We first heard of the novel coronavirus just two short months ago and as of the date I write this, we have already diagnosed over 100,000 cases in the U.S. I cannot fathom how high this number might be when you read this. Most of us in dermatology are fortunate enough to not be on the frontlines fighting this horrific pandemic. However, many of our friends and family members are out there engaging in an epic battle against a villain with, as of yet, no known antidote. This pandemic is a paradigm shifter and I know that all of you have been touched by it in some way. Cancelling the meeting seemed like a big deal a few weeks ago, but now seems almost incidental as entire states have practically shut down. Our practices have closed or scaled way back, seeing only urgent patients whose care we can best provide. Some have furloughed valued employees; I have heard of physicians themselves losing their jobs. Bankruptcy is no longer a hyperbolic threat for some. The financial recovery will be slow and painful for many of us; however, these financial casualties pale in comparison to the personal losses that some of our colleagues have sustained during this most difficult time. My heart goes out to all of you whose lives and loved ones have been impacted by COVID-19.
We at Dermatology World, along with the entire AAD leadership and staff, stand with you and pledge to help get you and our specialty through this pandemic. We have reworked this issue to include several hopefully germane articles about telemedicine coding. We have articles on legal issues pertaining to furloughs and layoffs, and new information about OHSA and pandemics. Many of you made the same “head-first, eyes closed” dive into telemedicine that we did in our practice, and I hope you found the information the AAD staff has made available on the subject to be as useful as I did. We will continue to publish updates as the rules and laws change and, as always, continue to advocate on behalf of our patients for the ability to provide them the very best care we can give.
I hope this remains the hardest column I have ever had to write, and that by next month we will be well underway in our recovery. Perhaps you will even find some time for joy in the midst of all the sorrow. And, in the meantime, be well my friends.
