Flattening the Curve: Minimizing the Impact of COVID-19 on a Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Training Program.

Abstract

A pandemic threatens to disrupt many aspects of a fellowship training program. The University of Washington pulmonary and critical care fellowship program was the first in the United States to encounter coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and it has had the luxury of having adequate staffing and resources to date. In response to questions and concerns from our fellows about the pandemic, our program prioritized patient care, effective communication, and efforts to support fellow well-being. Additional considerations for programs during a health crisis include impacts on clinical care, scheduling, training, and formal education programs. Although we continue to adapt to the needs of our fellows, these early lessons learned may be helpful to those who are just beginning to experience the repercussions of COVID-19.