Panthers Joining the Frontline Heroes
There is no doubt that the term "working from home" can mean different things to different people. That would apply to the staff of the Milwaukee Athletic Department as well.
It's a fairly simple step, for example, to see that members of the Athletic Communications Department can bring laptops with appropriate software home and continue to do their jobs without too much issue or change.
But when you look up and down the main directory, one of the positions that jumps out at you is the sports medicine staff. They are there to serve the student-athletes and, with no student-athletes in season when all athletic activities were cancelled in mid-March, it created an opportunity for athletic trainers
Chad Henneberry and
Kelly Clements to experience first-hand the new world that was created when COVID-19 came onto the scene in the spring of 2020.
The opportunity was created when Orthopedic Hospital of Wisconsin – who the athletic trainers are staffed through – told their employees that there was a need for additional staffing at local hospitals due to the influx of COVID-19 patients. They would help out a couple of times a week in that situation and then spend the remainder of the week working for the Panthers.
"Once we found out that spring sports and activities on campus were discontinued, our boss at Orthopedic Hospital of Wisconsin told us that there was a need at the Ascension hospitals for more staffing," Henneberry said. "They let us know that at all employees were going to be put into sort of a 'lottery' system to be randomly assigned to help out. The rest of the week we would continue working from home on our Panther sport/Athletic Training duties.
"When the athletes were sent away from campus and our buildings were closed, OHOW had to 'redesign' our position descriptions," Clements said. "Together with my OHOW supervisor, we decided I would work on Milwaukee Sports Medicine assignments three days per week, and work at an OHOW-assigned location two days per week. I go to where is needed most, and currently that is at Columbia St. Mary's Hospital."
A global pandemic is new to all of us and hasn't been seen in the world in over 100 years. So many things are unknown and overwhelming at times. So what even enters someone's mind when they are told they will be undertaking this responsibility?
"I think at first you're just so unsure," Henneberry said. "At that (initial) point, everyone was still figuring out exactly what the virus was. How contagious is it? How deadly is it? Am I safe? Are we all safe? But at the same point you just want to help. Athletic Trainers are not ones to just sit around and wait or watch, we are first responders and often times a go-to resource for athletes in need or emergency situations, so it's an opportunity to do your part."
Along with that, it's easy for emotions to be running high.
"I had a few emotions going into this different environment initially, one including being scared," Clements said. "One because I had a greater chance of acquiring the virus and one because these job duties were out of my expertise."
What an athletic trainer considers "normal" can be described by most of us that work in and around athletics. Taking care of injured players, taping ankles, supervising student-athlete practices … some of the stuff can be pretty routine. But what is the approach when you have no idea what will really be happening when you walk in through those hospital doors?
"It was really unfamiliar territory and you don't know anyone or how they normally operate, but I tried to treat it like I would a day in the ATR or at the field," Henneberry said. "The thing I enjoy most about Athletic Training is that every day is like its own adventure and you really don't know what's going to happen each day. So that ability to handle unexpected situations on the fly really was helpful. And, as a healthcare provider, you just keep reminding yourself that you do the best that you can to help and make everyone's life – whether that's an athlete or patient – just a little better."
"My first shift, I had no idea what to expect," Clements said. "I was intimidated.
Now each shift I remain positive, friendly, and do as much as I can to help make these healthcare workers lives easier."
Responsibilities changed on the fly. Thought you were a quick learner? Needed here for sure. The "normal" aspects of going to work every day quickly changed into a new normal. An enormous amount of thought and care had to be put into every step of the learning process.
"Our primary responsibility was to double check that whenever anyone (nurse, doctor, respiratory therapists, etc.) was going into a room or area where there was COVID-positive or potential risk, that they had all the proper protective equipment," Henneberry said. "Sort of like a second set of eyes."
"Even though I did not believe I was doing much to help these other very important front line workers, I am reassured during every shift that they are grateful for my presence," Clements said. "I am the last line of defense as other healthcare workers are entering and exiting COVID19 positive patients' rooms."
"Secondly, we would assist staff members once they were in the rooms with patients," Henneberry said. "Because of the amount of PPE equipment that they had to wear, and to limit exposures, once a staff member was in a room they would try to get as many tasks done in one trip. So we would grab whatever they needed and get those items to them."
"I am assisting nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, radiologists and patient-care assistants put on and take off their personal protective equipment (PPE)," Clements said. "I ensure they are wearing the proper mandated facemasks, face shield, gown, and gloves upon entering a room. And when they exit the isolation rooms, I assist them in removing their PPE and cleaning it properly prior to them going into the next patient room."
As in any job, not everything is glamorous. But the steps are all needed things that Chad and Kelly were able to provide throughout the process.
"Lastly we were disinfecting all the common areas or anything that multiple people would touch in the 'safe' areas (computers, phones, desks, etc.)," Henneberry said.
"When a healthcare worker forgets to bring something into the patient room, I can bring it to them," Clements said. "I help wherever I can, and sometimes that is stocking shelves and other times that's taking out the full trash cans.
There is always a difference between expectation and reality. Actually going through the process was also a step."
Now that the Panther duo has put in some shifts, it gives them a chance to reflect. So much has changed over the past six to eight weeks, sometimes just looking back on what gets done provides some insight.
"I think back to just how significant it really is," Henneberry said. "It's not just some reporter giving statistics about ratios and rates or projected totals. There are people in here that are going to die and they have families and loved ones."
They get to know their new co-workers quickly and see the difference these people are making in a world that changes daily.
"You look at the nurses," Henneberry said. "How brave they are. And every one of them is at high risk and expecting to get the virus themselves. They are staying late, picking up extra shifts. The patients with the weakened immune systems require a lot of attention. It's physically demanding, and I assume emotionally too."
The feeling was mutual.
"My first week of shifts at Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital, my eyes were opened," Clements said. "The hospital floors were converted to care for COVID19 cases, a surgical floor and recovery room was no longer present as the space was need for the influx of cases presenting daily. Nurses were running from room to room trying to keep patients alive. They were drained physically and emotionally. The hospital was understaffed, but everyone is working as hard as they can including picking up extra shifts to help their fellow staff."
That has had a carryover into their lives outside of their working environments and given a shift to their importance in this crisis.
"On the bright side, you see some signs of unification and support," Henneberry said. "Things like local restaurants and businesses donating free meals or treats as a thank you. Those small gestures mean a lot to the healthcare workers. Even Kelly and myself being there, as trivial as it felt to us, meant a lot to them to have an extra set of hands to help them or save them a few minutes of extra work here and there. They were so appreciative."
The attitude and perspective of the front line workers was an easy thing to notice for both of them.
"These nurses seem to be the hardest working staff in the building and are exposing themselves for 12 hours a day," Clements said. "At the end of my first week of working, I sent thank you cards to the healthcare workers I know personally working to save these lives."
For Chad and Kelly, this is just the perspective of going through this situation the first time they were asked. In the big picture, this is the everyday scenario that faces the heroes of this situation – the frontline members of the medical community that go out to battle this invisible enemy and put their lives at stake every single day.
"I'm not sure we are quite out of the woods just yet," Henneberry said. "Fingers crossed we are near the end, but we all (as a society) need to make sure we do our part not to spread or re-spread this virus. As for me personally, I'm just happy that I could help."
"At the end of my shifts, I feel grateful for all of the frontline workers everywhere," Clements said. "I feel grateful for my health. I feel disappointed in those that are not following the social guidelines. And I feel sad for those trying to recover in the hospital."
The Milwaukee Athletic Department is proud of the work that Chad and Kelly have been doing and are happy to share their story, allowing more people a behind-the-scenes look at life as part of the Panther Family.