Mary Cloud works with Health Department informing patients, tracing contacts

By Allie Shinskey

A University of Rhode Island College of Nursing professor is filling a key role in the COVID-19 fight, working with the Rhode Island Department of Health to inform residents who have tested positive for the disease, advise them what to do next, and trace any and all contacts the patient has had with other people.

URI Professor Mary Cloud has been a registered nurse for 46 years with a specialty in community health nursing, qualifying her to be an investigator and to give advice to COVID-19 patients. By phone, she notifies the person of the positive test and reviews the actions that should be taken to keep themselves and other family members safe. She also asks for demographic information and reviews the symptoms the patient has been experiencing.

“It’s important to understand what symptoms the person is experiencing now,” Cloud said. “And it’s important later when people are starting to really look back at what happened, what was the course, what could we do, when do we need to do it, to better understand how to cope in the future.”

Cloud then reviews the patient’s past medical history, noting any chronic diseases that could lead to a severe case of COVID-19, such as asthma, emphysema and any heart, kidney or liver diseases. Lastly, Cloud goes through all of the patient’s “close contacts,” meaning those people the patient has recently been within 6 feet of for more than 10 to 15 minutes.

Cloud noted that that, fortunately, people’s contact lists are becoming shorter. “I’m seeing this in the calls that I’m making because people are generally following the self-quarantine or the stay-at-home guidelines.”

On the other hand, Cloud has noted that there is still misinformation circulating that she has had to dispute during some of her calls, including a minimal concern about the severity of the virus some have expressed. One patient she spoke to even continued to go to work after showing symptoms and being tested, though it is unknown whether she was told to stay home until the results returned.

Cloud also spoke to a teenager who tested positive but was misinformed by a friend that COVID-19 is no worse than the flu. Cloud educated her about coronavirus and the severity of the strain that causes COVID-19, a novel virus against which humans have no natural defense.

“These calls are a perfect opportunity to dispel any false information or any rumors that people might have, and give people information and reassurance,” Cloud said. “And then I’m sure that teenager is going to talk with that friend and pass that information on.”

Cloud, along with other volunteers with the Department of Health, also serves as a counselor of sorts when speaking to people feeling isolated and emotional. Through these calls, she is able to reach out and tell people that they’re not alone. 

“This is someone from the Department of Health reaching out and saying ‘We care about you, and we want to help you,” she said. “And I think that’s a very powerful message to give to every patient that we contact.”

Allie Shinskey is a sophomore journalism major and intern with the Academic Health Collaborative.