According to a May 29 article in the
Palm Beach Post
written by Wayne Washington, when it comes to hospitals, medical care, and training of healthcare professionals, changes in American life — from masks to temperature checks to telemedicine — are here to stay.
Changes in the Doctor’s Office and at the Hospital
Before coronavirus, patients could make an appointment with their doctor or, if they felt acutely ill, drive to a hospital emergency room or call for transport to one. Things won’t be that simple in post-COVID-19 America.
“Before they come into the office, (patients) might have to answer a questionnaire,” said Dr. Brent Schillinger, past president of the Palm Beach County Medical Society. “If people are sick, they might be asked to stay in their car.”
Doctor’s offices will first want to know if the would-be patient has an infectious condition. If the patient could have something like coronavirus, the doctor’s office likely will suggest a specific time for an appointment — a time when the incoming patient can be separated from others. The doctor’s office might provide care via telephone, again to eliminate the risk of infection spread.
For patients who go straight to a hospital, that experience will be different, too.
Medical staff will move quickly to determine if a patient might have an infectious condition that requires isolation. And complaints of respiratory distress probably will move a patient up on the priority ladder.
“Before, if you said you had chest pains, they moved you in right away,” Dr. Schillinger said. “There would be worry that it might be a heart attack. Now, if you have respiratory symptoms, you will be moved into a secure area very quickly.”
Patients in a doctor’s office or a hospital should expect to be told to wear a mask. It won’t be a request, Schillinger said.
Doctor’s offices and hospitals will be cleaned more regularly and more thoroughly, medical experts say. Hand sanitizer will be readily available.
Changes in Medical Training
Already, training for doctors and nurses has been altered by the pandemic, according to Dr. Terry Adirim, senior associate dean for clinical affairs at Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine.
Medical and nursing students will get less of their education in hospital settings, Adirim said, adding that virtual learning and simulation will become a bigger part of a student’s education.
“Simulation was already part of medical education, but I think it will take on a more prominent role because it’s safer,” Adirim said.
Hospitals would save on precious personal protective equipment, and, with fewer people near patients, the risk of spreading infection would be reduced.
Increased Reliance on Telemedicine
Just as nursing and medical students will lean more heavily on virtual learning, telemedicine will become an increasingly important aspect of care.
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