National Day of Prayer

Yesterday I had the chance to join the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council online for a National Day of Prayer event, which featured a presentation by Dr. Michael Hurwitz, Chief of Staff at Hoag Hospital. It was a fascinating review of what is happening at Hoag and a stark reminder of how blessed we are to have hospitals of this caliber and a medical community of this caliber in our area. I am convinced that one reason Orange County has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic relatively well is because of institutions like Hoag and personnel who take such a conscientious and informed approach toward our public health. 

It was impressive to hear how Hoag had planned their equipment and personnel for the worst-case scenario, such as deputizing some anesthesiologists and pulmonologists to be backup “intensivists” (intensive care specialists). It was disconcerting to hear that N95 masks, which cost about 53 cents each prior to the pandemic, can cost as much as $6.83 now. It was maddening to hear how some patients and even some doctors, using information from outside of the normal bounds of proven research, would demand certain drugs and treatments that the hospital staff was not accustomed to using. It was helpful to hear how the CDC made some of its early recommendations – such as not requiring masks for every encounter from the start – based on the concern that requiring masks for every encounter might have depleted the initial supply, which were needed for critical cases. And it was sobering to hear that Hoag had assembled an Ethics Committee to help establish thoughtful guidelines just in case the pandemic forced our area hospitals to make difficult triage choices. Thankfully, the local case load never came anywhere near that critical junction. 

In the end, the moderator of the meeting asked Dr. Hurwitz if there was anything that he would like the faith leaders to communicate to our congregations. The answer: When we see on newscasts how overwhelmed hospitals in New York City and some other large cities are, we are often left with the impression that hospitals are hotbeds of COVID-19 infection. Dr. Hurwitz argued that this impression is far from the truth at Hoag and other area hospitals. The extra-precautionary process for separation, disinfecting, disallowing visitors, and attending to the health of the health providers themselves means that Hoag is probably as safe as a public building can be. And that is important because, at the outset of the sheltering-in-place order, non-essential surgeries, treatments, and procedures were delayed for 4-6 weeks. That delay has now passed. Dr. Hurwitz specifically wants you to know that if you have a medical need – even if it is not life-threatening or COVID-related – you should not deny yourself out of fear of being in the hospital. Of course, elective surgeries will continue to be more of a judgment call, but for now there is no compelling reason to avoid addressing real medical needs. 

We concluded the meeting with prayers and songs from many different faith traditions that are represented here in our communities. We prayed for the world, our nation, our state, our county, our cities, our families, and each of us as individuals. When we say there are over 270,000 deaths around the world and almost 75,000 deaths in the US, the bulk numbers easily become statistics. When we remember that each life lost is a grievous event for family and friends, the numbers become more of a tragic reality. On top of that, the shutdown of so many businesses and schools, the tedium of sheltering in place, and the prospects of an economic shock to come gives us all justified concern. 

My prayer for you is health, hope, and an abundance of joy as we make sacrifices for the good of each other, serve one another with compassion, and live as a light in the world that has tasted the pain of darkness. 

Mark of St. Mark