Communicating Through COVID-19: Keeping Patients Connected to Loved Ones.

Notice went out hospital-wide: dying patients with COVID19 could have up to two visitors for only fifteen minutes As hospitals confronted the dual realities of PPE shortagesand that anyone could be a silent carrier of the novel coronavirus, a new dictum went out: no patient – ambulatory ordying, with or without COVID 19 – could have any visitors No exceptions Suddenly, nurses, residents and attendings would findthemselves breaking bad news through telephone Patientswould now be surrounded by healthcare workers separatedby layers of PPE rather than the embraces of their lovedones How would patients respond? Would they avoid thehospital until too late? Would the patients who were alreadyhospitalized rush to leave the hospital to avoid an isolatinghospitalization?