Patients Avoiding In-Office Visits Due to COVID Fear

Reports show that urgent care visits are down, as patients aren’t comfortable going to clinics and practices in person: "Some patients have expressed concerns about safety because they didn't understand the precautions we put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19," said Stacy Tarradath, MD, division chief of Urgent Care at Cedars-Sinai. "But not seeking treatment for a medical condition can be more harmful than the potential risk of catching the coronavirus, given all the stringent safety measures we follow at our offices." Patients may be in danger from not going to the doctor for potential health issus. Examples: a cut treated at home could become infected. Abdominal pain could be worse than just a stomachache.

According to according to Jonathan Grein, MD, director of Hospital Epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai, “patients face a greater risk of catching COVID-19 in their own home than at the doctor's office. Studies have shown that the largest risk factor for contracting the novel coronavirus is prolonged, close contact with others who have it, which occurs predominantly in households. He concluded, “Risk in outdoor areas drops dramatically as well as risk in environments like healthcare settings because of all the safety measures in place and access to masks and hand hygiene." Bottom line? Tell patients to listen to their body. To go to the doctor or urgent care clinic when something hurts. Do not put off care!

 

Read the full press release.