Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, medical practices have had to make changes to accommodate their patients’ needs. As the fear of the national health crisis grew, healthcare facilities realized the need to prioritize patient safety. Along with preventing communal spread, private clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare establishments had to find innovative ways to provide a positive experience. Continue reading to learn how these goals were accomplished.
Increased Cleaning and Sanitation
Medical facilities are riddled with bacteria, germs, and viruses that can spread quickly, which is why emergency management practices are vital. Though COVID-19 research is in the beginning stages, national health organizations have concluded that the virus can remain on surfaces for hours. Essentially, the best way to keep medical staff and patients safe is to increase cleaning and sanitation efforts. Medical facilities requested that cleaning personnel regularly clean patient and waiting rooms. They also sanitized hard surfaces in common areas.
PPE
Doctors, nurses, and other medical employees have always worn personal protection equipment when interacting with patients. However, in the wake of the coronavirus, slowing the spread and easing patients’ fears meant providing more protection for everyone. As such, healthcare providers increased their PPE orders to include face masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer for employees and patients.
Separate Waiting Areas
Separate waiting areas were implemented to prevent an outbreak in doctor’s offices and hospitals. Medical staff first screens patients in a common area, provide a test (if necessary), and distributes PPE to each patient. Then, they direct patients to either the general or COVID-19 waiting area. The separation makes everyone feel a lot more comfortable during their appointments.
Telemedicine
While some patients are simply afraid to visit a doctor’s office or hospital, others are significantly at risk of contracting and suffering considerably from the coronavirus. Realizing that this increased fear and heightened risks would keep regular patients from maintaining their health, medical experts turned to modern technology.
Telemedicine or telehealth is essentially a virtual doctor’s visit. With video conferencing and chat software, doctors can see their patients, assess medical problems, develop a diagnosis, provide prescriptions, and answer questions and concerns. On the other hand, patients have the advantage of tending to their needs without compromising their health and safety.
Faster Testing
From coronavirus and antibody tests to blood work and lab results, the rising healthcare demand has prompted many medical facilities to ramp up their testing. By providing patients with convenient, affordable, and rapid results, they can acquire the information they need to safeguard themselves and improve their health. From partnering with high-tech labs investing in an advanced blood analysis machine, doctors and medical experts streamlined processes while accommodating their growing patient base.
Drive-Thru Testing Centers
The need for COVID-19 testing seems to multiply overnight as medical professionals and government officials try to pinpoint hotspots and slow the spread. Millions of citizens were encouraged to request a test the moment they start to feel symptoms. Unfortunately, medical facilities weren’t prepared to handle the influx of patients. That’s when drive-thru testing centers became available. Patients simply find a testing center in their city, drive up, provide a list of symptoms, then receive the test without having to leave their vehicles or put others at risk.
Home Visits
The age-old tradition of house calls has returned in the wake of the national health crisis. Many private clinics offer elderly patients and those with existing health conditions to have the doctor visit them at home. It’s comfortable, convenient, and a lot safer for at-risk patients. Home visits provide a sense of privacy and personalized care that enhances the experience and cultivates stronger doctor-patient relationships.
It is the job of medical professionals to ensure the safety and well-being of the communities they serve. During the coronavirus pandemic, adjustments were made to ease fears, reduce risks, prevent outbreaks. The changes made above have not only helped to slow the spread, but they’ve also been instrumental in helping to improve doctor-patient relationships and overall satisfaction.
