4 TIPS FOR SEEING YOUR DOCTOR

Hospitals are resuming nonurgent procedures, and doctor’s offices are reopening as the peak of the coronavirus pandemic appears to be passing.

Here’s what you need to know about going back to the doctor.

1. Consider other health issues

Without a vaccine for COVID-19, there is a risk of exposure anywhere you go — including the doctor’s office. But hospitals and doctor’s offices are taking extra steps to reduce that possibility.

It is important to weigh the risk of contracting the virus with the risk of other health conditions worsening by not seeking medical treatment.

“Don’t be reluctant to return if you haven’t been there in a while,” said Lawrence John, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and a family physician in Pittsburgh. “Continuity of care is important, especially for a chronic condition like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.”

2. Protect yourself

You can limit your risk of contracting the virus by practicing social distancing, wearing a face mask and using hand sanitizer liberally, especially after handling high-touch surfaces like doors, elevator buttons, and shared office objects, such as a clipboard and pen.

Hospitals treating COVID-19 patients have designated care units for those patients, often with dedicated entrances, to ensure they do not come into contact with patients at the hospital for other reasons.

Doctor’s offices are limiting the number of people in the office at one time by spreading out appointments, asking patients to wait outside or in their car after checking in, spreading out waiting room chairs, and removing magazines.

3. Try a phone or video visit

Telemedicine has dramatically expanded during the pandemic as a way for doctors to keep in touch with patients without seeing them in person.

If you are interested in a virtual visit, ask your doctor if it’s an option. Doctors can evaluate, for example, back pain, a rash or a swollen joint; go over results from an X-ray or MRI; and complete routine check-ups for chronic conditions through video visits.

Most major health insurers and Medicare have agreed to cover telemedicine visits during the pandemic, but it’s a good idea to double check with your insurer or benefit manager.

4. Be prepared for new questions and procedures

People who will be having surgery will likely need to be tested for COVID-19 a day or two before the procedure. On the day of your procedure, be prepared to go alone, as visitors are still not permitted at most medical centers. It may be a good idea to plan in advance how you will connect with family afterward — can you bring a cellphone and charger? Or can a nurse contact your family immediately after the procedure?

When you arrive, someone will take your temperature and ask screening questions about your potential exposure to the virus. If you’re not wearing a mask, you will probably be given one.

Interacting with your doctor may seem different, too: he or she will limit physical contact, including forgoing a welcome handshake, and may want to keep conversation brief, to limit the amount of time you’re in the office. Doctors and office staff will be wearing masks, which can make reading facial cues difficult.

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