QUEENS (WABC) -- Dr. Erik Blutinger, an emergency medicine physician at Mount Sinai Queens in his first year out of training, shared a video diary in which he gave a glimpse of conditions behind the scenes on the front line in the battle against COVID-19.
Blutinger begins the diary as he sits in his car before starting his shift, describing the high level of anxiety about going into work.
"I'm a little bit anxious going into work. I don't really know what today will be like," said Blutinger. "Every day is like a jack-in-the-box."
He then gives viewers a glimpse inside an emergency department crowded with patients.
"There are so many people in the hallways that are all COVID-19 positive," said Blutinger. "I am seeing young patients, old patients. Patients of all ages who are just incredibly sick."
Blutinger then tours two tents set up outside the hospital that are for patients when the emergency room reaches capacity.
"There's a lot of dark, difficult cases being handled right now," said Blutinger.
On a lighter note, he explains how the hospital plays 'Here Comes The Sun' by The Beatles on a loudspeaker whenever a COVID-19 positive patient is discharged.
"And I think on my drive home - like I do every night - what more I could be doing to fight this crisis, and what cures are possibly out there," said Blutinger. "And what next study is going to come out that will give us more of a direction in fighting this awful enemy."
Blutinger later appeared on World News Tonight and said that conditions had improved since he took the video diary.
----------
UPDATES
Grieving the lost: Tri-State residents who have died
RESOURCES
See how our communities are making a difference
Free educational resources for parents and children
How you can help victims of coronavirus
RELATED INFORMATION
Share your coronavirus story with Eyewitness News
Stimulus check scams and other coronavirus hoaxes
Coronavirus prevention: how clean are your hands?