LAGUNA HILLS, Calif.,
May 9, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/
-- COVID-19 has forced implausible complexities into the lives
of those working in frontline specialties. Recognizing the fraught
effects of the pandemic on households in the medical community,
healthcare students hope to support and assist them with childcare,
pet sitting, grocery deliveries, online tutoring, and other
essential services.
Social distancing and lockdown measures have strained the lives
of healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. Schools and
day care centers are still closed across the U.S., and the
increased workload that this pandemic requires has made the
situation much worse. Normally surrounded with the help of extended
family and sitters, healthcare providers are left with no one.
Meanwhile, most students in medical fields have headed home to
continue distance learning. Far from the hospital setting, they
feel helpless watching the pandemic unfold and are eager to find
ways to help in their respective future fields.
A local 'COVIDsitter' initiative to pair student volunteers with
frontline professionals was started by medical students at the
University of Minnesota and this
concept has quickly expanded into many regional initiatives across
the U.S. With new groups launching every day, there was a need for
an online directory that would consolidate information and
streamline the process of connecting volunteer students in medical
fields across the country with frontline healthcare workers in need
of childcare, pet sitting, or other basic needs.
MEDELITA was approached by Physician Moms Group, an online
organization that supports and empowers physician mothers, to
partner with the Facebook Group, "Law Mamas," and Dr. Ryan Grey from Medical School Headquarters to
create a platform that would bring all these healthcare families
and volunteers together in one place.
In appreciation for the bravery and sacrifices being made by
those on the frontlines, MEDELITA has dedicated itself to featuring
honest updates and heartfelt stories provided by the healthcare
community and its brand ambassadors who are fighting on the
frontlines of this crisis. MEDELITA brand ambassadors have been
featured recently as medical correspondents on ABC News, CNN, and
Fox News.
Most evident is the brand's deep, personal connection to the
medical community, with MEDELITA founder Lara Francisco's firsthand experience in
emergency medicine as a certified Physician Assistant. Lara remains
highly involved in fostering personal relationships with key
healthcare professionals and associations, and is also a mother of
three who can sympathize with the challenges clinician parents are
facing.
Asked about the current crisis and the benefits of COVIDsitters,
founder Lara Francisco, said, "Our
priority has always been to amplify the voices of those who work in
medicine. When Dr. Sabry reached out to me, I was eager to do as
much as possible to assist this effort."
Since MEDELITA launched the online portal, it has added more
than 18 regional COVIDsitter networks, and more groups are being
added daily. Any healthcare worker in need can request assistance
at their local COVIDsitter community using a simple form and they
will be matched with a list of students (in any healthcare field)
who have used a separate form to register as a volunteer. Each
local organization publishes specific requirements, collects each
request, coordinates the pairing and handles any of the logistics
involved in the pairing process. All services are free of charge,
but families may decide on compensation privately. Alternatively,
students have also welcomed letters of recommendation which could
be of great assistance on their path toward a healthcare field or
residency.
According to Lara Francisco,
PA-C, "This initiative alleviates the stress of finding reliable
help, especially because the students understand the risk. Families
can rest assured knowing that healthcare students provide a safe
and caring option because they are vigilant about COVID-19 safety,
hygiene and precautionary measures."
Student participants initially chose to study medicine because
they have a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of those
in their communities. They are looking to help wherever there is
capacity.
Full details can be found on the MEDELITA website:
https://www.medelita.com/covidsitter.html
SOURCE Medelita