Overview
Explore a firsthand account of healthcare during the 1955 polio epidemic through this insightful 28-minute video interview. Gain valuable perspective from Claire McCarthy, retired Director of the Boston Children's Hospital Physical Therapy Department, as she recounts her experiences working through a viral pandemic. Learn about the challenges faced by medical staff, the use of iron lungs, and the impact on hospital operations. Discover the role of Boston Children's Hospital in groundbreaking polio research and vaccine development. Compare historical pandemic responses to modern practices and understand the lasting effects of the polio epidemic on healthcare. Delve into topics such as disease transmission, special precautions, and the gradual return to normalcy post-epidemic.
Syllabus
Introduction
Were you worried about acquiring this disease
Memories of the beginning of the large polio epidemic
How bad did it get
Stress on medical staff
Volunteers
How it was transmitted
Special precautions
Taking notes
Iron lungs
Elective cases
caregivers
How long did it take for things to get back to normal
How long did the pandemic last
The ultimate effect of the pandemic
Outro
Taught by
OPENPediatrics