Confirmed cases of coronavirus on the rise again. Hospital beds keep filling up and many Americans have reconsidered their elective surgeries. Johns Hopkins University reports that over 131,000 people have died from the novel coronavirus since January!
Should you keep your scheduled surgery appointment? Is it worth risking possible exposure to coronavirus?
We put together some key things to consider when you decide whether to postpone your elective medical procedures. Keep reading to learn important questions to ask yourself before you go under the knife.
How Severe Is the Virus Spread in Your Area?
The first thing you should think about is how bad the virus infection is in your area. Some parts of the country are getting hit much harder than others.
For instance, if you live in Vermont or Wyoming, you have much less to worry about than someone in New York or Florida.
If your area is seeing a surge in coronavirus cases, you might want to reconsider your surgery. Fewer hospital visits mean fewer chances to come into contact with coronavirus.
What Kind of Elective Medical Procedures Are You Having?
Some elective surgeries are more urgent than others. Not all elective surgeries are optional or should wait for the virus to subside.
Surgical kidney stone removal is sometimes urgent and necessary, so it’s not something you can put off. But, if you’re looking to get the best Brazilian butt lift Baltimore has to offer, you might want to hold off until there’s a coronavirus vaccine.
If you have an important surgery coming up that you need for health reasons, you might want to leave the choice to reschedule up to your doctor.
What Is the Capacity of the Local Hospitals?
Another thing to consider is the size and available beds at the hospital where you’re scheduled for surgery. Smaller hospitals may need to reschedule you so they have an open bed for patients with life-threatening illnesses.
Some doctors have started seeing patients over the internet using telemedicine services. This a super convenient service for patients trying to quarantine. Telemedicine also helps doctors see more patients than they would in a traditional office setting. If more patients use telemedicine services, hospitals will have more beds open for incoming patients.
The more open beds your hospital has, the better your chances are that you’ll keep your appointment and not contract the virus.
Healthcare in the Time of Coronavirus
We’re living in unprecedented times, so no one has all the right answers yet. There are so many unknowns that it seems almost impossible to know what the future holds as the virus rages on.
Everyone in America has a unique healthcare situation, though. So, be sure to consider your risks and benefits before you make a decision to postpone or continue with elective medical procedures.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned a few things to think about before heading to the hospital for your elective surgery. For more information about how the novel coronavirus affects the American healthcare system, check out this article.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
