Doctor fears precautions to ease supply shortage is making things worse in fight against coronavirus

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Those on the front lines of fighting the coronavirus are learning every day about how to fight it.

But one doctor told Channel 2’s Tony Thomas that he fears adjustments to help ease a supply shortage are only making things worse.

Urgent care Dr. Eric Powell says he doesn’t believe the oath is being followed amid the chaos of COVID-19 testing and the ensuing pandemic.

“We have a Hippocratic oath, do no harm,” Powell said.

He told Thomas that he’s trying to change working conditions for area doctors and nurses immediately.

Powell said he believes the reusing of protective gowns, even if it's following CDC guidelines, is only making things worse.

“What worries you about this?” Thomas asked Powell.

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“That they are spreading the virus, because they are using contaminated material, PPE, and then rechecking people with the same material on.

Powell works in the urgent cares owned by the Northeast Georgia Hospital System.

Its administrators say they are critically short of protective gear and bypassing normal procedures are not only allowed by federal guidelines right now, but safe and needed -- especially with a strained supply.

“We realize this is a marathon that we are in,” said Dr. Mohak Dave, chief of emergency medicine for the hospital system. We have beds, but this is taking its toll on our staff.”

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Powell and his medical staff under him conduct COVID-19 tests at several urgent care facilities in Gwinnett, Hall, Lumpkin and White counties.

Thomas shot video on Monday in Braselton and Gainesville, that showed medical providers go from vehicle to vehicle giving the tests and checking vital signs. All the time wearing the same protective equipment.

“Saturday, I walked in and told my mid-level we are not doing it. Just going to use the gowns single. We are not going to reuse them until we run out with the testing equipment,” Powell said.

Northeast Georgia Health System leaders say they are managing the COVID-19 outbreak right now and keeping staff up to date on changing CDC guidelines.

Leaders worry though the state's plan to reopen Georgia businesses may make matters worse.

“How critical is your supply?” Thomas asked Dave.

“We actually have over a month’s supply of our most critical areas, which are our N-95 masks and face shields. We are running critically low on isolation gowns,” Dave said.

Hospital system CEO Carrol Burrell issued this strongly worded statement just hours after Gov. Brian Kemp’s announcement Monday that he was going to allow some businesses to start reopening across the stat.

"Now is not the time to relax. Rather, now is the time to continue to take every precaution we can,” Burrell said in the statement.

“It’s definitely a concern. Is there a quote ‘second wave’ or just a continuation of our current wave? We aren't anywhere convinced we are anywhere close to completing our first wave of this illness,” Dave said.

Hospital administrators say they have the stats to back it up.

The system is currently treating 114 coronavirus positive patients with 68 more waiting for results at its facilities across the region.

The area has a population of about 1.5 million people. So far, 16 patients have died over the past few weeks, 196 of the sick have recovered and are now home.

The system added mobile units to help but says its intensive care units in Gainesville and Braselton are running between 60-80% full after increasing its beds by nearly 50%.

Administrators fear another coronavirus surge just as it's struggling to find enough protective gear for its staff.

Leaders say measured risks like reusing gowns is simply what’s necessary right now to keep everyone safe.

Powell disagrees and is potentially staking his career on it.

“Our mandate is to stop the spread and every step along the way I think they’ve done the opposite,” Powell said.

Powell has been put on administrative leave and has hired an attorney.

As for Dave, he said one thing he’s telling his family just because there is going to be more opportunities for you to go out in the coming days, it doesn’t mean that the risk isn’t there. It might be even greater than it is now.

Former VP of metro Atlanta health care company charged with intentionally delaying delivery of PPE to others Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Tony Thomas broke the news on Twitter Thursday afternoon that Christopher Dobbins, 40, of Duluth, had been charged.

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