COVID 19 – The BMC Radiology Experience

OUR ENEMY

The shape of the corona virus causing COVID-19 bears similarity with the flower of the Buttonbush pictured above
OUR HEROES
Linda Parker X -Ray Technologist
Perspective from a 45 year Veteran in X-ray
I have been a diagnostic technologist for 45 years and I can honestly say I have never been more proud of my coworkers and my profession as I have been during the Covid surge. I am sure each modality has their own stories of dedication as well. The Radiology Department always comes together and rises to the needs of our patients.
While I was off part of the time during the surge, my diagnostic coworkers were experiencing something that they have never dealt with before, as was most of the BMC staff. Almost every X-ray they took was a difficult portable exam and just about every patient was a Covid patient that required donning and doffing all day long. It was physically and mentally exhausting. They spent more time in Covid patients’ rooms than most of the nurses. The volume was unlike anything they had seen before. Yet, each day they came to work taking care of our patients, knowing that they themselves could end up as the patient. They worried about bringing Covid home to their loved ones, some of them with family members who had weakened immune systems. There was so much fear and uncertainty especially in the beginning with new information every day. In spite of this, they turned the words “Patient First” into actions and put the needs of our patients before their own. This is what our profession is all about.
Each day while I was home, I watched the numbers sadly rise for positive patients and staff. Although I felt bad for others in our BMC family that were sick, I was relieved to hear each day that my Radiology family had made it safely through another day without becoming a statistic. I also thought that if I ever got sick, I hoped that there would be a tech at another hospital that would take care of me like our techs did for BMC patients.
I want to mention the incredible job our managers did in keeping everyone calm when the information was changing by the minute. I’m sure they were just as worried as everyone else but always had a positive attitude. Malissa, Nick, Carrie and Katie were amazing cheerleaders with kind words of appreciation, treats, and the most important job which was making sure there was enough PPE to keep their staff protected. They helped everyone make it through the day when times were especially difficult. Also appreciated were the kind words from some of the radiologists and their concern for the technologists in all modalities who were on the front lines. Their thoughtfulness meant so much.
Hopefully we will never have another Covid, but it is heartwarming to see that after 45 years, there are still new generations of technologists out there who truly understand the importance in what they do and the difference they make in our patients lives. I am so proud and grateful for all of you. You make BMC a better place! Many Thanks!
Linda Parker
HOME AND WORK
Sarah Mc Crossan – X -Ray Technologist
Charity Drive
Dr Harp Bedi raised $18,585 for supplies, staffing and resources for two facilities in the Boston area to care for and safely quarantine our homeless patients with Covid-19 who otherwise would not have an appropriate place to isolate.
DIVING INTO COVID
Drs Leah Shaffer, Priscilla Slanetz and Michael Fishman

Stay safe!
Leah
OUR WOMEN RADIOLOGISTS – OUT OF SIGHT, BUT NOT OUT OF MIND

Our women radiologists including attendings and residents check in on each other during the pandemic
Pictured from top left to bottom right: Dr. Priscilla Slanetz, Neha Khemani (PGY-3), Aayushi Rai (PGY-5), Maryam Vejdani Jahromi (PGY-3), Geraldine Tran (PGY-3), Dr. Sara Meibom, Victoria Wells (PGY-3), Dr. Ilse Castro-Aragon, Dr. Vanessa Carlota Andreu Arasa; Not pictured: Dr. Bindu Setty
Submitted by Dr Neha Khemani Caption by Dr Geraldine Tran

In March of this year, as the COVID pandemic was making its way to the east coast, a local, grass-roots, multi-institutional physician led organization was formed in response here in Massachusetts: the COVID-19 Action Coalition (COVAC). One of our new radiology attendings, Leah Schafer, was an inaugural member of the organization and both serves on the steering committee for COVAC and has been co-leading the PPE team within this organization since its inception. This non-profit 501(c)(4) organization advocates for scientifically-based public health measures that will reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. Through public education, advocacy for best policies, and on the ground PPE donation and distribution, Dr. Schafer’s PPE team has reached across eastern Massachusetts and further to help our healthcare workers navigate the pandemic safely. The core missions of COVAC are focused around COVID detection and protection, access to effective PPE, and safe re-opening in Massachusetts. https://covid19actioncoalition.org/
If you are interested in volunteering with this organization, please reach out to Leah or contact the volunteer team through this Linked In Website .
GIFTS FROM LOCAL MERCHANTS DELIVERED BY DR GERALDINE TRAN
X-ray Technologists
From Left Geraldine Tran, Radiology Resident, Monica Marciano, X-ray Tech Malissa Danforth, Radiology Manager Veronica Ziolek, X-ray Tech Jennifer Carias, X-ray Tech Keara Doolan, X-ray Tech Jermecia Overstreet, X-ray Tech

Front Desk
Receiving Gifts from Local Merchants
Geovania Santos and Sohaib Daoud

Nuclear Medicine Receiving Gifts from Local Merchants
Darren Wilcox, Erin Loftus,
Monalisa Santos, and Bob Connors

“Resilience 2020”
Diverse and Resilient Breast Imaging Team.
From Left: Jill McCarthy(Mammo Tech), Kim Hartfield(Lead Tech),Samhita Joshi(Research Assistant),Dr. Fishman(Section Chief), Marsela Demo(Nurse Navigator), Melinda Tharps(Mammo tech), Zenobia Ransom(Mammo Scheduler),Rajaa Zorqi(Mammo Scheduler), Karima Thompson(Mammo scheduler), Anya Patrusheva(Project Manager)

From Left: Jill McCarthy(Mammo Tech), Kim Hartfield(Lead Tech),Samhita Joshi(Research Assistant),Dr. Fishman(Section Chief), Marsela Demo(Nurse Navigator), Melinda Tharps(Mammo tech), Zenobia Ransom(Mammo Scheduler),Rajaa Zorqi(Mammo Scheduler), Karima Thompson(Mammo scheduler), Anya Patrusheva(Project Manager)
IR Team
Top row: Abby (Cath/IR RN), Beata (cath/IR RN), Dawn (Cath,IR Charge RN), Marcella (cath/IR tech), Ashley (Cath/IR Tech)
Bottom row:
Ashleigh (Cath/IR RN), Beth (Cath/IR RN), Nicolette (Cath/IR Charge RN), Linda (cath/IR Chief tech)
Masks Created by Sara Meibom
and Friends Kris Clark and Gabor Furesz and Donated to
East Newton Pavilion Patients on Discharge

When learning of BMC’s need for fabric masks I recruited my quilting friends to make these homemade fabric masks with reversible patterns and I delivered them to BMC to be used for COVID patients upon discharge from the East Newton Pavilion. The masks in this picture were made by my friends Kris Clark and Gabor Furesz
Kitt Shaffer – Interconnectedness

This image of branching coral was painted on an antique cabinet to brighten and enhance its structure, but also represents a depiction of our essential interconnectedness, as manifested by the current pandemic. We are all in this together.
The Disease in Pictures and the Radiology
Normal
The Devil in the Lungs
The Virus Reaches the Alveoli, Multiplies and Causes Inflammation
The X-Ray
CT Early in the Disease
Patchy Peripheral Mostly Lower Lobes
CT Late in the Disease