Elmhurst Hospital in Queens is introduced as the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S., facing a surge of patients and supply shortages.

• Elmhurst Hospital is depicted as the central point in the crisis, struggling to manage the growing number of COVID-19 cases.
• The staff at Elmhurst is overwhelmed, and the hospital is described as the 'epicenter of the epicenter' due to the high volume of cases.
• There is a dire situation with dwindling supplies, as evidenced by body bags mistaken for supply deliveries.

The nurse discusses the scarcity of life-saving ventilators and the ethical challenges faced in deciding which patients receive them.

• Ventilators, described as essential in the fight against COVID-19, are in short supply, leading to difficult choices about patient care.
• The nurse expresses concern over the criteria used to allocate the limited number of ventilators to patients.

Erin reports on unethical practices, including misclassification of non-COVID patients and disregard for proper PPE usage.

• Patients who tested negative for COVID-19 were allegedly classified as confirmed cases, raising questions about the accuracy of patient records.
• Erin observes a lack of proper PPE standards and the mixing of COVID-positive with negative patients, contributing to hospital-acquired infections.
• The nurse questions the hospital's treatment protocols, especially the use of ventilators, which she believes is leading to unnecessary patient deaths.

Erin's background as an Army veteran and her role as a whistleblower at Elmhurst are highlighted.

• Erin's background includes military service in Iraq, where she received commendation and was wounded in combat.
• She becomes a whistleblower, documenting and sharing her experiences at Elmhurst Hospital through social media and proxies.
• Erin feels compelled to speak out against what she perceives as negligence and malpractice in the hospital.

Erin shares her observations of the hospital's mismanagement and her concerns for the patients' well-being.

• Erin provides examples of patients who were unnecessarily put on ventilators despite testing negative for COVID-19 multiple times.
• She notes the clustering of patients with and without COVID-19, leading to cross-infection within the hospital.
• Erin points out the financial incentives for hospitals to diagnose and treat patients for COVID-19, potentially compromising patient care.

The nurse discusses the financial incentives for hospitals to diagnose COVID-19 and the pressure on medical staff to follow questionable protocols.

• Erin suggests that financial incentives are influencing patient diagnoses and treatment decisions, with hospitals receiving funds for COVID-19 cases.
• Medical residents, often inexperienced, are tasked with critical care decisions, resulting in potential harm to patients.
• The nurse criticizes the hospital's lack of accountability and the practice of performing risky procedures on patients for training purposes.

Erin describes the demographics of the patients she treated and raises ethical concerns about their treatment.

• Patients at Elmhurst are predominantly from lower-income backgrounds, which Erin feels contributes to them not receiving proper care.
• She expresses concern that these patients, who often rely on Medicaid or Medicare, are seen as disposable by the hospital system.
• Erin believes that the patients she has encountered deserve better treatment and a fair chance at recovery.

Erin questions the effectiveness of the hospital's protocols and suggests that alternative treatments are being ignored.

• She compares the hospital's conditions and protocols unfavorably to her experience in military hospitals, suggesting a lack of proper care standards.
• Erin mentions successful treatments used in other areas, such as hydroxychloroquine and zinc, which are not being implemented at Elmhurst.
• The nurse expresses frustration at the reluctance to adopt treatments that have shown potential elsewhere.

Erin shares her concluding thoughts on the situation in the hospital and her eventual departure.

• Erin's last days at the hospital are fraught with feelings of helplessness as she witnesses more patient deaths and questionable practices.
• She records an emotional message questioning the circumstances surrounding the death of a patient she had been caring for.
• Erin is removed from her unit and reassigned shortly before the patient's death, leading her to suspect foul play.