More Than Words: Reflections to Build Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Physicians often forget to reflect or take time to process challenging patient encounters, which can ultimately contribute to burnout. This is even more relevant given the increased stressors on patients, families, and health care providers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Two resident physicians wrote this commentary to process a difficult experience in the hospital. It touches on the ramifications of health care institutions’ COVID-19 policies in relation to key geriatric syndromes including loneliness, mental health in older adults, and processing of our own emotions and feelings through narrative medicine. As part of the future health care workforce, we are motivated and optimistic about our future contributions, all the while practicing compassion and empathy.