S2E7 // THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW

Chances are, you’ve canceled a doctor’s appointment, procedure or elective surgery because of COVID-19. Federal and state health officials had called for hospitals to curtail elective surgeries and prioritize urgent care because of the pandemic.

But now’s the time for a safe return to everyday healthcare as officials have eased some restrictions designed to quell the global outbreak of coronavirus. People had skipped not only preventative check-ups but also emergency healthcare during the medical rollback. But surveys now show fewer people are concerned about going to the hospital during the pandemic.

Northside Hospital’s Debra Amick, who’s in charge of quality improvement for a system with five hospitals and more than 24,000 employees, told Medical Moments host Marlon Manuel that the declining level of concern is because Northside and other hospitals have followed COVID-19 safety guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Northside’s guidelines are available at northside.com/safety-faq