Why This Matters
Delayed medical care is a major consequence of COVID-19.
Recognizing an Emergency
Sometimes people just cant delay getting seen by a healthcare provider.
Certain medical problems don’t get better without immediate medical or surgical interventions.
Lisa Maree Williams / Stringer / Getty Images
Healthcare providers should be routinely screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
What Can You Delay?
Some doctor visits can be postponed until the pandemic flattens.
People who delay a procedurecantake preliminary steps to prepare.
For example, patients getting ready for weight loss surgery can follow certain dietary recommendations.
What Still Warrants Care?
Even problems that arent truly emergencies can become serious and damaging if put off for too long.
Strategies to help get around this problem, like less invasive colon screening, are already starting to emerge.
How Will Doctors' Offices Reopen?
Many medical offices and facilities that offer non-urgent care are beginning their soft openings.
But things won’t look exactly like they did before the pandemic.
Healthcare providers can talk to patients about their symptoms and help them monitor conditions or adjust treatment plans.
In some ways, things may never be completely the same.
Infection control, including protective measures like desk shields, will remain a bigger priority than before.
And the convenience of telehealth is probably here to stay.
For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
Kaiser Family Foundation.KFF health tracking poll.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Framework for Healthcare Systems Providing Non-COVID-19 Clinical Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
