When COVID-19 became a global threat, the healthcare industry had to act quickly and figure out a way to continuously provide services and ensure the people’s health and safety are met, maintained, and recovered. Innovations in processes and business models had to be created to meet the fast-growing demands as cases increased and fear among the people rose. Through the collaborative work of private sectors with the government, the health service industry has been recovering business-wise. It is now able to provide us services feeling reassured as patients and clients.
As far as innovations go, a lot has changed when it comes to providing effective and efficient healthcare here in the country.
Health and Safety Equipment
As mentioned above, PPEs and N95 respirators have become a must for HCP to keep them protected from the virus and help lower its spread within hospitals. For clinics, wearing surgical masks, lessening physical contact, and only allowing a limited number of people within enclosed spaces are followed. Regular sanitation schedules and heightened personal hygiene habits are also advised and encouraged.
It’s also worth noting how every household and establishment now has improved knowledge on good hygiene and sanitation. From hands-free sanitizer sprays to UV sanitizers, and especially washing hands correctly, the general public has definitely become more educated on this matter. Efforts of educating the masses are beginning to pay off, as even regular citizens invest in their own PPEs to use in moments where social contact (such as going to the market) is unavoidable.
Sanitation and Social Distancing
These two points are some of the first things that changed the way we live now. As we learned more information about the virus, we’ve come to the understanding that being close to others, whether we are aware of their health condition or not, is not the safest practice. A new habit has formed where we would have to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from each other, and this is very strictly followed within clinics and hospitals. To ensure patients’ and healthcare personnel (HCP) health safety, physical distancing is well implemented and must be respected in facilities where people come and go.
Sanitation practices and products have also improved within a few months of the pandemic. The use of personal protective equipment (PPEs), N95 respirators, surgical masks has allowed medical healthcare workers to continuously care for patients while minimizing the risk it poses for them. These have made it possible for them to keep working despite this climate, and to them, we are very thankful.
When it comes to clinics and other healthcare services, there have also been new practices that allow us to receive care for our own personal well-being. Services like dental and dermatology are now more accessible, thanks to good sanitation and physical distancing practices.
Virtual Consultations
Because of the fear that has grown among citizens during this pandemic, health care services understand the apprehension clients feel about going to their doctor for consultation. That is why telehealth has become useful for both patients and healthcare providers. Telehealth limits physical contact and reduces the risks, allowing the patient and the health professional to communicate without endangering themselves. By using video-calling platforms such as Skype or Zoom, doctors can offer patients credible diagnoses and prescriptions, all without needing to be in the same room.
More and more health care providers are beginning to take notice of this alternative form of diagnosing a patient. Its popularity is seeing a rise as the pandemic rages on. Even cosmetic and healthcare companies such as Freia Medical offer online consultation, making it accessible for even those of compromised immune society. While many healthcare services are putting in the effort to make their physical location as sanitized as possible, the option of a virtual consultation remains a viable option as long as the virus is around.
Future of the Medical Industry
It’s not an overstatement to say that this pandemic has affected the medical industry in a great way. Through multiple lockdowns and quarantines, the medical industry is constantly adapting and evolving. Many pharmaceutical companies are racing to develop a vaccine, and some have already succeeded. But what other changes can we expect to see, especially after the pandemic?
For one, we can expect that PPE technology will improve and be more accessible even to the public. Another change we can expect is in the healthcare system. The global situation has proven how effective or ineffective many countries’ healthcare systems are. That is definitely going to be one of the main topics of discussion for years to come. Lastly, the toll the pandemic has on healthcare professionals cannot simply be ignored, and this is something that we have to be prepared to address.