{"id":116997,"date":"2020-04-28T13:34:06","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T23:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=116997"},"modified":"2020-07-02T09:32:20","modified_gmt":"2020-07-02T19:32:20","slug":"covid19-doctor-moves-to-treehouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/04\/28\/covid19-doctor-moves-to-treehouse\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> MD<\/abbr> alumnus moves into kids\u2019 treehouse during pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Barnes
Jason Barnes self-isolates in the treehouse during the COVID-19<\/abbr> pandemic. (Photo courtesy: Barnes family)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/a> alumnus and emergency room doctor is getting global attention for moving into his kids\u2019 backyard treehouse to self-isolate from his family as he treats patients during the COVID-19<\/abbr> pandemic.<\/p>\n

Jason Barnes<\/strong> is the director of emergency services for the Christus Spohn South hospitals in Corpus Christi and Beeville, Texas. He earned his MD<\/abbr> from UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> in 2011. He also earned his bachelor\u2019s degree in nursing from UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/a> and his paramedics certification from Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Barnes\u2019 treehouse quarantine has gotten widespread attention from news outlets and social media, including YouTube<\/a> and Time Magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In an email to the school, his mother Julian DeLara, who is a former Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> resident, said, “Out of concern regarding keeping his family safe while serving the community he loves, he and his beautiful wife, Jenna, have devised a way for him to stay close to his family while achieving the security of social distancing.”<\/p>\n

In his capacity at the hospitals in Corpus Christi and Beeville, Barnes is a fixture in the emergency rooms. This has placed him in direct contact with COVID-19<\/abbr> cases.<\/p>\n

\"barnes
The Barnes family in December 2019. (Photo courtesy: Barnes family)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Barnes checks numbers across the nation each day, including Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.<\/p>\n

“My wife jokingly suggested the backyard treehouse,” he said. The treehouse was built for his two sons, Bently, 9, and Kyle, 6. With the addition of an air conditioner, a commode, a bunk bed and a hammock, Barnes was set. <\/p>\n

“I know some other guys who sleep in their garage, or have a room at home with a private entrance,” Barnes said. “There isn\u2019t a doctor around who hasn\u2019t asked themselves if they should stay away from the family because of COVID-19<\/abbr>. The treehouse is cartoonish and quirky, but the situation is not. I\u2019d rather be in bed inside, and hug the kids, and kiss my wife goodnight.”<\/p>\n

Read more on the JABSOM<\/abbr> website<\/a>.<\/p>\n