NC doctor felt a call to help amid coronavirus pandemic. That pull took him to New York.
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Healthcare Heroes
The News & Observer is telling the stories of “Healthcare Heroes,” those on the frontlines of treating coronavirus patients. Others are managing the equipment that allows those patients to be treated safely. These workers are putting their own health and the health of their families at risk every day so they can help others. Here are their stories.
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Many in the healthcare field are on the frontlines of treating coronavirus patients. Others are managing the equipment that allows those patients to be treated safely. These workers are putting their own health and the health of their families at risk every day so they can help others. The News & Observer is telling the stories of these “Healthcare Heroes.” If you’d like to nominate someone, you can do so here.
Dr. Ray Baule, a neurosurgeon based in Rocky Mount, started his medical career at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, New York.
In 1992, he performed general surgery at Elmhurst and remembers the great experience he had during his time there. He was fond of the diverse community, meeting people from all over the world and the various foods he could get in the area, a full variety of dishes from all over the globe.
Yes, his time in New York at Elmhurst still resonates with him, all these years later. When he found out the hospital needed help and more medical personnel, he didn’t hesitate to make a return trip to Queens.
There have been more than 250,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York, with more than 14,800 deaths, as of April 21. Hospitals are running out of beds and space, transforming any area they can into a makeshift Intensive Care Unit.
More patients require more attention and considering there are way more patients than doctors, Elmhurst, like many other hospitals, was facing a serious issue. The hospital, according to The New York Times, has been at the “epicenter” of the outbreak.
Since Baule hasn’t worked in months — he can’t do any surgeries — he decided to use his free time wisely and volunteer at Elmhurst for two weeks.
“As soon as I heard they were having a problem there, I felt a pull,” Baule told The News & Observer on Monday. “I felt like God was pulling me to go and help out.”
Baule said he had a connection with the Elmhurst community 28 years ago, so it was a no-brainer to give back. Elmhurst provided him with an education, training and taught him the skills that he uses in his everyday professional life.
So he drove to New York, rented an Airbnb and got to work. Elmhurst normally has three intensive care units, but under the current circumstances, have repurposed some areas to makeshift ICUs.
That’s where Baule set up camp when he arrived. What he saw when he got to Elmhurst could only be described as shocking, he said.
“Patients were covered in plastic,” Baule said. “Patients are really sick, the mortality rate is really high. And you see now on the news that people are protesting and saying they want to get out. And I hear it, we all want to get out, but it’s real. There is no telling of how it’s going to manifest. You could get the disease and have mild symptoms or you can get the disease and be toast.”
Baule, 55, naturally had concerns for his own well-being, putting himself at risk to help others. His wife had concerns, too. Before he returned to their Rocky Mount home, he got tested for COVID-19 and stayed in Raleigh until his test came back negative.
While at Elmhurst, Baule worked 12-hour shifts, rotating day and night shifts, three days on. He worked alongside doctors from all over the world, many who traveled to New York to volunteer as well.
“I think just our presence there was really helpful to the people who are not volunteers,” Baule said. “Those people don’t get to go home. They are there for the duration. They are the real heroes.”
This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 8:00 AM.
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