Is It Safe To Go To The Doctor During The Pandemic?

By Author: Advanced Optisurgical Inc.
Total Articles: 1
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This year has probably led you to ask questions you've never even considered before. Are two masks better than one? Is my dinner a little off tonight or am I losing my ability to taste? Was that cough just a cough, or something more? In this same line of thinking, you may be wondering if it is safe or not to visit your doctor. That's something you would have never even considered just a year ago! You're told to stay at home and keep away from being too close to others, so surely going to the doctor for anything less than an emergency should be avoided- right?

During the coronavirus pandemic, many people have had concerns about this. Know that you can safely visit your doctor during the pandemic. Keep a few things in mind:

#1 Determine your COVID-19 risk. Thinking about visiting your doctor’s office might scare you. It’s okay to feel reasonably comfortable seeking in-person care for essential visits. Before you decide whether it is worth it or not to book an appointment, the CDC recommends asking yourself a few key questions. Are you at an increased risk of becoming severely ill if you get COVID-19? How fast ...
... is COVID-19 spreading in your immediate community? Could you have close contact with someone who is potentially sick but asymptomatic? Remember, it's not just them spreading it to you but also you spreading it to the people in the office!

#2 Never let an emergency or serious care go. It's really important to seek emergency care if you think you have a serious health concern. That includes any neurological or cardiac symptoms, like a heart attack or stroke. If you experience anything where your life might be in danger, it’s important to go to the emergency room. People who need to visit hospitals or clinics for surgery or treatment to manage their health conditions, like cancer, should maintain their regularly-scheduled appointments. If you’re struggling with this decision, reach out to your care team and specialists who can help you develop a plan based on your particular health condition and needs. Do not stop chemo treatments or dialysis because of the COVID-19 risk!

#3 They're doing a lot behind the scenes! If you stop to think about it, doctors and nurses have been wearing PPE long before the rise of COVID-19. They know what they're doing! Wearing masks, disinfecting everything, properly washing their hands, and cleaning phaco handpieces has become second nature to them. This year, they've stepped up their efforts even more. By now medical offices have COVID-19 safety procedures in place. This means additional PPE, limiting sharing items like pens, extra education, and more.

Just like you don't know every time your doctor's office orders a phaco handpiece repair, you don't know everything they're doing to keep you healthy and safe. And again just like phaco handpiece repair, what they are doing is everything they can so you can avoid the virus and you get the care you need for a reasonable price. Everyone is in this together!