We write to update you on our meetings with senior leaders in our hospitals and state government to share the messages that over 1000 of you have sent in endorsing our petition. Please continue to share with colleagues and we will provide further updates as the numbers grow.

In our meetings, we first highlighted the enormous pressure that the growing numbers of hospitalized and critically ill patients are putting on our health care work force, and emphasized that many are experiencing physical and emotional burnout and moral distress at the circumstances brought on by the pandemic.

Second, we explained that we are seeing that care is already being rationed in our healthcare system. As the proportion of patients hospitalized declines, the acuity of patients in both the hospital and the community is increasing, and the long waits for hospital beds in EDs and shortages of clinical staff in critical care units provide additional evidence of this reality. We also expressed concern that rationing elective surgery would lead to increased non-COVID morbidity and mortality as in the spring.

Third, we expressed concerns that public health messaging encouraging personal responsibility to prevent the spread of COVID not extend to shaming and blaming patients for their illnesses, especially since many are not in control or aware of the circumstances that led to their infection.

Finally, we have continued to call for economic relief for individuals ad businesses whose livelihoods have been impacted by the pandemic, including restaurants, gyms, and other areas where occupancy has been limited to reduce indoor transmission of the virus. 

As the state begins vaccinating those at highest risk of infection this week, we may be only weeks to months away from seeing a drop in hospitalizations and cases, and the chance to start planning for the reopening of our state.