8 minute read
Compassionate Care
Casey Helms ’10 Navigates the Pandemic Frontlines
Casey 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.
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“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.”
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
to the ICU with COVID pneumonia. Sometimes we see healthy young people who don’t get sick and others who get very sick. It’s been an adjustment learning how to tell people they are COVID-positive, as that can be very scary news for people to hear. I try to reassure the patient as much as possible to allow them to feel better about the situation. Ultimately, I just try to help patients find a more positive mindset.”
Casey shares that coming into the fastpaced and ever-changing medical field during this unprecedented time was, at times, tiring. “As a new provider, I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can and take advantage of every opportunity I have. I’m taking extra shifts and trying to be in the ED as much as possible. Just being in the emergency department in regular times I’m sure is tiring. I know that many providers, working in this setting during the pandemic, are finding themselves with compassion fatigue. You are caring for sick individuals, and sometimes, if you aren’t good about taking care of yourself, it can get difficult. You have to be sure to take care of your own mental health. Providers can burn out during the pandemic, especially in the ED where we are dealing with it daily. When I get that feeling, I try to step back and take time to do things outside of work that help me feel happy.”
That said, Helms wouldn’t wish to trade his role in emergency medicine for anything else. “I love the emergency department. You never know what’s coming through the door. It can be someone with a cold, or a critical trauma patient. I like the aspect of always having to be on my toes and needing to know a broad spectrum of medicine. Having to think critically and in a potentially time-sensitive manner is both challenging and rewarding. Not every day as an ED provider is a positive one. Some days are good—you leave happy and feel that you have helped. At other times, things may not go your way. You have to take it day by day, leave behind what happened the day before, and come in positive and ready to start again.”
Casey feels that the vaccine is a light in the darkness for health care providers. He is beginning to see patients who were nervous about getting treatment return to the hospital. People are less afraid to come to the emergency department and a feeling of hope is continuing to grow. Casey credits his team at the hospital for really helping him to navigate an unprecedented time. “I am a team oriented person. Just like in the military when you hear about being in the trenches with your fellow soldiers, our emergency department team has been together in the trenches day in and day out. We are side-by-side going through this together. It’s wonderful to know that I can rely on these people and talk to them about anything. It helps emotionally and mentally to know that others are going through trying times right there with you. I am on a great team, and I could not be more thankful for that.”
Helms has always been driven by that same feeling of camaraderie, even during his time at Bridgton Academy. “Bridgton was one of the best experiences of my life. Being able to be around a group of guys with common goals, I will have those friends for the rest of my life. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for Bridgton. I think the Academy helped me realize how much I appreciated being a part of a team.”
For Casey, this time of pandemic and hardship has helped to reaffirm his belief in medicine and his dedication to helping and healing others. The community support he has felt has also been an amazing motivator. “I’m the kind of person that if I’m walking down the street and see a person in military uniform, I make sure to stop and thank them for their service. They are working for the greater good. I never expected I would have someone stop and recognize me for what I do. Now, when I’m walking to work in my scrubs, people stop me and say ‘thank you’ or share a kind word. This is really rewarding.”
As a new provider who has learned the ropes during an unbelievable time, Casey reflects on how much he has learned and is continuing to learn. For this young man, it all comes down to one thing: his passion for helping people. “I really work to make sure I take every individual as an individual. You need to respect, support, and accommodate all of the differences that we have, especially in a time when people are concerned and scared. You need to meet people where they are. Don’t downplay the emotions of others. Working to make other people feel comfortable and letting them know that they can reach out to you for help is the most important thing that a health care provider can do. Be adaptable, be open, and take the time to truly understand where someone is at that moment in time. This pandemic year, while hard, has reaffirmed why I went into medicine. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
BA
A native of Massachusetts, Casey Helms graduated from Bridgton Academy in 2010. During his time at Bridgton, this Massachusetts Hall resident played both hockey and lacrosse. Casey earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan. He went on to earn a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from The University of Akron. In 2020, he completed his master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Case Western Reserve University, where he also served as the vice president for his graduating class. Casey currently lives and works in Cleveland, Ohio. When not in the emergency room or studying medicine, Casey enjoys running, weightlifting, music, and attending sporting events.
