COVID-19 in New Orleans: A Nephrology Clinical and Education Perspective and Lessons Learned

Abstract

New Orleans’ first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported on March 9, 2020, with a subsequent rapid increase in the number of cases throughout the state of Louisiana. Traditional educational efforts were no longer viable with social distancing and stay-at-home orders; therefore, virtual didactics were integrated into our curriculum. Due to an exponential increase in the number of patients with acute kidney injury requiring kidney replacement therapy, the nephrology sections at Louisiana State University School of Medicine and Tulane University School of Medicine adapted their clinical workflows to accommodate these increased clinical volumes by using prolonged intermittent kidney replacement therapies and acute peritoneal dialysis, as well as other strategies to mitigate nursing burnout and decrease scarce resource use. Telehealth was implemented in outpatient clinics and dialysis units to protect vulnerable patients with kidney disease while maintaining access to care. Lessons learned from this pandemic and subsequent response may be used for future responses in similar situations.

Keywords

• AKI
• COVID-19
• New Orleans
• ESKD