It’s Corona time.

The illusive virus that attacks worldwide makes us change our mind set and behavior. We all watch the news and try to adapt to a new reality that is forced on us for the past few weeks.

But it’s not only us as individuals that have to adapt. It is the entire state that needs to change rapidly, and especially the health system which stands to fight at the front of this battle.

It is a huge challenge for the health system and especially the hospitals to make the necessary changes, and make them fast, in front of a new disease that spreads quickly and kills thousands indiscriminately.

A hospital is a big and complex organization that employs thousands, and has to make many major adjustments in a matter of few days or weeks: split the ER to corona patients and non-corona patients; build new and special corona departments; write and apply new working procedures; change staff’s shifts; use special equipment and much more.

This unique challenge is very intriguing for me as an industrial engineer and a photography enthusiast, and I decided to do a documentary photography project at Rambam Healthcare Campus in Haifa Israel, not far from where I live.

Rambam is the largest hospital in the north of Israel, and I knew it is making a huge effort to prepare for hundreds of COVID-19 patients. I received the management approval for the project, made the proper arrangements and went to shoot at the heart of the hospital for two days, including inside the corona department.

Day 1 – Getting familiar with the changes

My first exciting day started at the ER.

To my surprise it was almost empty. In usual days the ER is packed with people and action, but these days most people are afraid to come to the hospital and prefer to stay at home, which is a risky decision. There were only 10-15 patients at the two regular wings. The other two wings of the ER were dedicated for suspected COVID-19 patients, and most of the beds were empty.

It’s easy to notice the difference between the wings. At the regular wings the staff and the patients wear masks, but at the corona wings the staff wears special protective clothing, and nobody gets in or out unless authorized.

I stood for a while at the ER near the security desk, trying not to obstruct the staff’s work, when someone told me a new corona patient is arriving. I rushed outside to see the ambulance team wearing white astronaut-like clothing take him out of the vehicle and bring him inside the ER, straight to the COVID-19 wing. Everything was done quickly and quietly with great care and caution. The patient was taken inside the closed wing where I couldn’t follow him anymore.

I noticed the staff at the COVID-19 wings suffers from heat inside their heavy protective clothing. From time to time they tried to relieve some of the tension, joke a little, move around in the long corridor, and chill themselves with a glass of cool water.

My wife which is a doctor in the hospital came to take me to my next stop - the brand new COVID-19 section. There are two new departments in this section, one of them is active with patients, and the other one is ready in case more patients will come. We visited the second department so I can walk freely and see how it’s built and organized. It was completely established in four days (!), including all the essential medical equipment, special communication systems and safety measures. Very impressive.

We continued to the control room of the active COVID-19 department. A staff of three watches over the patients 24/7 using big screens. They talk with the patients using communication systems, assist and guide them when needed. All the communication is done in a calm and kind way that gives confidence.

I took a few shots, we thanked the staff and went on to our next stop - the underground parking. Floor minus 3 is a huge parking lot designed to operate as an emergency hospital. Cars don’t park there at this time, and hospital teams work around the clock to turn the parking lot into a hospital with a potential capacity of 2000 beds. The infrastructure is ready, but a lot of equipment hasn’t arrived yet and there’s a lot of work to be done. This area will be used only if there will be hundreds of patients or more.

We finished the first day tour at the hospital management, where the nurses were having a meeting about the plans for the next stage. It was encouraging to see the great teamwork.

Day 2 – The heart of the fight

This day was dedicated to the COVID-19 department and labs.

My wife took me to the corona department and gave me different colored clothing and a detailed brief of what I can do and what I can’t. At the dressing room a nurse guided me step by step how to wear the special protective clothing. The procedure took a few minutes and I felt fine and quite comfortable. My breathing was OK, I could see clearly through the transparent face shield, and I knew I’ll be OK as long as I follow the instructions. It wasn’t bad for a short visit, but I’m quite sure it’s not the nicest feeling to do that on regular basis...

We went inside the department – a senior nurse, my wife and me. There were only few patients at the department, and one of them, I’ll call him “Mr. D”, was willing to tell us his story and to be photographed. Great !

Mr. D. told us in a quiet voice he was sick for some time, his condition got worse and he was connected to a respirator for 5 days. Now he can finally breathe by his own !

It was clear to see his enormous gratitude to the staff. Only now he begins to understand how critical his condition was. We all got emotional and I took a photo of the Mr. D. surrounded by the staff.

While walking in the department’s corridors I discovered that preparations were made for all kinds of cases like a birth, dialysis and other things. Challenging and impressive.

The patients that are in good condition need some distraction and activities, so the department includes a small but equipped training room (donation of Decathlon), reading books that people donated, and even a smoking area at the open terrace.

We left the department, undressed one by one with the guidance of the nurse, and took a deep breath. And then another one.

But this was not the end. We went next to the laboratories where COVID-19 tests are done. The laboratory workers work very hard, quietly and efficiently. I got as close as I could and took a few shots.

This was the end point of my tour, which turned out to be an exclusive, almost adventurous experience. I admire the hospital staff for their professional work, consistency and dedication.

THEY ARE THERE FOR US.

They took the load on their backs, and they adapted to the new condition and requirements admirably.

This is true not only to Rambam hospital, but also to other hospitals and health teams all over Israel and around the world.

I hope we won’t need their care. Stay at home, and STAY SAFE !

Special thanks to Rambam hospital management, and especially Mr. David Ratner, the spokesperson of the hospital, and my dear wife – Yael, that accompanied and guided me in this unique tour.