CINCINNATI, Ohio— For health care workers this is not an easy time to be working. And for many of them, they’re also moms and dads. But with schools closed and many daycare facilities limited, these doctors and nurses are struggling to find care for their kids when they’re called to care for their patients. 

• Many doctors and nurses are struggling to find childcare for their children while working extra shifts and with schools closed
• The Juggle app is one option- parents can find vetted college aged sitters easily
• Health care workers say the support from the community is appreciated right now

It’s been an especially difficult time for Uma Lakshmanadoss- he’s a single dad with a 3 year old son named Shawn. But he’s also a cardio electrophysiologist at Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati and is needed in the hospital most days.

“It is challenging," Lakshmanadoss said. "It is particularly challenging in this day and age because on one hand schools are closed. Now I realized how important the school teachers are how great of a job they are doing. And that really puts a lot of pressure back on the home.”

Lakshmanadoss and Shawn moved to Cincinnati about a year ago. With no family around it was difficult to find someone to watch Shawn when he was called into work or needed to run errands. But thankfully, Lakshmanadoss discovered Juggle, a babysitting app started in Columbus that allows parents to post jobs, and choose a college-aged sitter that’s been vetted and reviewed by other families.

“It’s made my life easier and I’m able to accept the calls actually," Lakshmanadoss said. "In the past, I’ve always thought if I’m going to accept a call today, how am I going to manage if I have to go to the hospital. That is not the case now because almost all the time, for the past few months or so, whenever I need help, I always get help.”

And he needs extra time when he gets home, to sanitize everything, even showering in his garage before he can check in on his son.

Lakshmanadoss says his schedule can be unpredictable, especially when he’s on call. He remembers one of the first times he used Juggle, when he had just 30 minutes to find a sitter.

“Within 25 minutes, a babysitter was here," he said. "I was able to do what I wanted to. I was able to go to the hospital and take care of the people.”

He says says despite how challenging work can be right now, he is grateful for the community of people that continue to lift him and his coworkers up during such a difficult time.

“It really means a lot," Lakshmanadoss said. "It really means that okay, not only we are helping people, but at the same time, people are also helping us.”