alumnispotlight
Compassionate Care: Casey Helms ’10 Navigates the Pandemic Frontlines
C
asey Helms ’10 always knew he wanted to work in health care, even as a young child. After following a premed track in college, he ultimately chose to pursue a career as a physician assistant (PA). Casey graduated with his master’s degree in August of 2020, took his board tests in September, and less than two months later began his official work as a health care provider at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio. The COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing and Helms jumped into his work at a busy emergency room with eyes wide open and hands ready to help. “Essentially, as a PA, I can do almost everything a physician can,” Casey explains. “In my daily work, I do histories and physical exams, diagnose and treat patients, order labs and prescribe medicines, and I can even help with surgeries. Working in the emergency department (ED), I am part of a larger team, collaborating with a multidisciplinary group of health care professionals all focused on patient wellbeing.” 6 bridgton academy today
Casey describes the timing of his entry to the medical field as “interesting.” COVID-19 numbers were on the rise, vaccinations were not yet on the market, and communities and individuals alike were frightened by the impact of this disease. Medical providers were inundated and health care employees such as Casey were working long hours in difficult conditions. “I was gowning up, masking up, putting on eye protection. We were doing everything we could to protect the health of our patients and each other. It can get pretty exhausting and take a toll on you.” Casey also shared that the pandemic itself has had a significant impact on his daily approach to treating patients. “It doesn’t matter what someone comes to the emergency room for—COVID is always a part of our differential diagnosis and always a part of our clinical thought process. All of the safety protocols can also take a toll on the provider/patient relationship. From the patient perspective, it can be intimidating when a provider comes into the room with full PPE and all you can see is a tiny slice of their eyes. So much of medicine is about
trust and rapport with patients. In a typical face-to-face interaction, you can see my smile, you can see my facial expressions, and you can tell I’m there for you. You have to find a different way to connect now with patients and really work hard to make them feel comfortable.” Helms, who is an active 29-year-old and self-proclaimed “workout fiend” came down with COVID-19 in December of 2020. Casey shares that many of his colleagues in the emergency department also caught the virus at this time. He recalls that it was a humbling experience to see how difficult it was for even a healthy young man to deal with this sickness. “I have been a huge proponent for getting the vaccine. If patients are worried about the side effects, I share with them firsthand what would happen if you get very sick with COVID. This disease hits everyone differently. You just don’t know what to expect.” “We still have patients coming in and testing positive for COVID every single day. Sometimes they are in respiratory distress, need to be intubated, and are admitted
