Chief medical officer in the middle of the crisis: "The hardest thing I did"

Her alarm clock rings at 06.30. At 9 o'clock, Marianne Reimers has a telephone conference with all unit managers in Stockholm's nursing home with an update of the latest in coronal mode. All 1,000 employees are informed via the intranet. The staffing of the various departments is coordinated in a special forum where staff are borrowed and exchanged between the units. Occupational therapists and physiotherapists are quickly trained to be included in the nursing work.

- Many are given new tasks and this raises reasonable questions about safety. Training, courage and confidence are needed. It is uplifting to see that many people are taking a step forward and want to contribute. There is a lot of good will and an adult attitude in this historic crisis, says Marianne Reimers.

She leads the emergency response work between the two hospitals belonging to Stockholm's nursing home, which usually care for the elderly and the sick. Now, patients are taken over from the heavily loaded Capio St. Göran's hospital.

When scheduled operations are canceled, the need for rehabilitation decreases. Then the staff can be used for other purposes. Part-time workers are encouraged to work more. Nurse and medical students are prepared to help. Newly retired as well. She wants more nursing staff and larger layers of protective material.

- We had to prepare and have layers of protective material but would have liked more. We have imposed a ban on visits and must make some tough priorities in order to protect patients in special housing. Procedures for advanced home care have also changed.

She and her staff are faced with difficult considerations for patients at the end of their lives who need to meet relatives.

- No matter what decision you make, you are faced with difficult ethical considerations. We must not be inhumane and must at the same time limit the spread of infection.

Marianne Reimers believes that the corona center is complex and difficult to communicate.

- The infection is not very dangerous for some, deadly for others. The situation is changing so quickly. This is not such a crisis that we have practiced - with a short explosive process. We must endure and count on months with enormous economic and social consequences.

In the evening after the end of the working day, Marianne Reimers makes a few phone calls to her children and to respond to emails. And have dinner. A new working day in the center of the storm awaits.

- This is the most difficult thing I have done in my professional life. We do our very best, the very best and we must also forgive ourselves if we do not make the right decision every time.